Finding Waters: Spirit of Fly Fishing

One of my greatest memories is from a trip up to the northern region of Michigan. It was mid-October and in the prime of fall. The leaves were fluorescent oranges, yellows, and browns. Water clearer than the Bahamas. There were king salmon free-swimming up and down taunting me to throw a fly at one. But I just had to sit back and embrace this moment of true peace between the fish and their home habitat. I just could not throw a line in without admiring the beauty that was painted on a natural canvas in front of my own eyes. These are moments that stay with you and make you rethink your place on this Earth. Fly fishing has given me many different moments just like this one. Fly fishing is not just a hobby for me, but it is an escape from the concrete jungle of everyday life. When you fly fish, it gives you a form of peace within your life and a sense of spiritual solitude that stays with you. Sometimes, the beauty of nature simply awes us, and lifts us up; at the same time, there is a lot of history and technique that make fly fishing such a worthwhile pursuit.

Fly fishing is an outdoor art form that has been around for thousands of years, and a whole set of specialized equipment has evolved with the sport. It is mostly known for river and stream trout fishing for a variety of fish species. There are many different stream types that can be fly fished. From high up freestone mountain streams for brook trout, all the way to large flowing rivers for migratory salmon. Fly fishing equipment includes an 8-13 foot rod to make the perfect and smooth swings to get that fly where it needs to go. It also includes the use of a round single action reel that has backing (heavy-duty fishing line) that is then connected to a fly line. Unlike traditional methods of fishing, instead of using heavy fishing lures to help cast your light fishing line out, you are using a weighted fly line. Each casting motion from front to back lets out more line to allow the nearly weightless fly to reach its target…

Find the rest of this chapter in Emerging Perspectives on Religion and Environmental Values in America HERE.