Fighting The Slow Days

Swirling Pools and Splashing riffles what secrets do you hold?

I lay a cast and wait, tense patience coursing through my bones. Anticipation fills my lungs. Line floating on the water breaking the wild flow of western water. I hold my breath and wait. 

Nothing, 

I cast again,

My hand whips back perfectly timed with a hard stop, 

Line soars through the hair forming a tight loop that flies behind,

I feel the weight of the line load in my rod as I shoot line back out,

Upstream the loop of my line lays gently on the water,

I watch as my dry fly cascades down the water,

Slowly drifting toward the unknown,

Will I find a hungry trout,

Will my line go tight, 

Will I find nothing and lay another cast,

Quiet anticipation fills my body,

It has been a slow morning fishing and yet I do not care,

For in the slowness I have tried new things,

I have practiced technique I otherwise might not have,

And I have seen the world,

It is on these slow mornings when my eyes begin to open,

It is on these slow morning when my mind begins to wonder,

I have seen herds of elk moving along the stream,

I have seen moose leaning down for a morning drink,

I have seen bear searching for a meal through the dense forest,

Many fisherman will get frustrated or down on days like this but I know that these days can be filled with anything. It is the mystery and the unknown of it all that keeps me going back. It is the days when I catch nothing that tell me I have more to learn. So I continue to watch and wait. I move water, I try new things, and eventually things begin to happen. 

My line goes tight,

I fight the fish, 

I net a beautiful trout,

Just after another might have given up, just after another might have circled back. That is where I find the most fish. When I first was learning to fish my father told me something that has stuck with my ever since, “Fly fishing isn’t just about catching fish, it’s about what you find when searching for a fish to catch” These words have inspired me on many adventures throughout my time on the water. 

We are explorers at heart. We want to see that next piece of water, that next fish, that next river. As fly anglers it is who we are, it is in our blood. We don’t get discouraged or down on a slow day, we find a way to make it work or simply enjoy a day on the water. The possibilities are endless. SO get out there and EXPLORE. Find new water, try something new, and even if the fishing is slower, enjoy the day!

Fish well friends, see you out there.