Fly Fishing is a Waiting Game
Yes, fly fishing is a waiting game. We wait for the fish to bite, the tide to turn, the hatch to start, the wind to stop, a thunderstorm to move, a big moon to rise, a migration to begin, the sun to drop, a warm front to push in, a cold front to pass. Waiting, waiting.
The Waiting Game
In his book The Long Silences, Tom McGuane, one of America’s most respected authors, speaks to these intervals of waiting. He suggests that these quiet times, when no fish are biting, are a crucial and essential part of our sport. A time to easy the mind, mediate, to reflect on the natural world, a chance to understand ourselves, a time of insights.
But some of us hate to wait. Makes us antsy, makes us restless, perhaps even angry. When on the water, we still march to the incessant drum beats of the modern world. We’re amped for action, can’t dial it out, can’t shut it off. We check our watch, check our cell phone. Armed with unrealistic expectations, we complaint about the fish, the fly, the guide, the captain, the river, the lake, the ocean. We deserve better. Don’t we?
Chill out! Never let life grab you by the short hairs.
