One day at lunch on a guided trip a client, who happens to be a writer, made a simple but profound comment that I think about often. Sloppily paraphrasing, he basically said that to him fly fishing is so appealing because there are so many different things about it from which you might derive enjoyment. I am repeatedly and pleasantly surprised to find this true in different places and situations.

I seem to enjoy hitting pockets on freestones for small mountain trout as much as stalking and sight fishing to big browns. I like figuring out a hatch, finding the best depth to fish a chironomid, plying the depths with buggers, swinging streamers, drifting nymphs, heaving deceivers, plopping poppers into the reeds, or even slowly sneaking flats for carp. It’s amazing to be able to watch ospreys, otters, ouzels, deer, eagles, weasels, and all the other wild things. And, though its a cliche, it actually is great to just be out in nature with fishing buddies, whoever they might be.

This thought isn’t new to most of us that enjoy this sport, and my apologies to Thoreau, but I thought it a good time to remind us all to fish deliberately. Wherever and however we find ourselves flipping our finely feathered inventions we’ll undoubtedly be rewarded by even just the hope of a fish.