 Reflections Of A Campfire: It's Not Always About The Fly Fishing
Posted by rickw on March 26, 2005
(2318 reads)
Campfire: (kamp’ fîr’) n
1. An outdoor fire in a camp, used for
cooking or for warmth.
2. A meeting held around such a fire.
Greetings.
Last summer, I took a few days and headed off by myself to the Adirondacks near Lake Placid. The reason for the trip was to do some “serious” fly-fishing for trout on the legendary Au Sable River.
The weather was good for fishing; it was cool for July, slightly overcast with scattered showers. The water levels and temperatures were perfect .The scenery along the river was breathtaking, and it felt great to be
on my own timetable, with no distractions except for what part of the river to fish next. The fishing was remarkable, and I wondered
how things could possibly be any better.
The first night I made a campfire, which I enjoyed for a while, until the rain persuaded me to call it a night. The second evening’s campfire was even better. The night was a little cooler, and I was really enjoying the fire and the solitude. Watching the flames and embers, I started thinking about other campfires, how many had there been? How many different places?
In my mind I started counting them off….. Eighth Lake, Eagles Nest Pond, Nick’s Lake,……Cold Brook,
Fish Creek Ponds, Moose River Plains and The Five Ponds area,…………. Wellsley Island, Cedar Point, Adirondak Loj and Brown’s Tract Ponds,………. Limekiln Lake, Forked Lake, Long Lake, Caulkin’s Creek,……. Gilbert Lake, and Stony Creek Ponds,……… Oswagatchee River,
Lake George and Arcadia National Park,………Constable Pond, and Raquette Lake…… Lake Eaton, Grasse Point, Piseco Lake outlet………
Along with the names of these places came memories of camping trips long passed. There were other fishing trips, there were family camping trips, there were canoe trips, and there were backpacking trips. There were campfires in July, there were campfires in May and June. There were campfires in August and September and the”most best” time to enjoy a campfire, chilly nights in October.
It was then that I realized that the reason for this trip was not to fish, but to have a campfire………….
this campfire, and to remember not just those other places, but also the people I shared these campfires with. Some who are no longer with us, some no longer in touch, either by circumstance, or just by distance and the pace and demands of everyday life.
……….So, here’s to the experience, the total experience, it’s not always about the fishing.
Rick
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Reflections Of A Campfire: It's Not Always About The Fly Fishing
by jeremy on March 26, 2005 http://www.fliesandfins.com | For me it sometimes is ALL about the fly fishing. Ever since I was a kid - I have chased the fins from sun up till sun down. I have always fighted the setting of the sun - there is never enough sunlight - time flies so fast when i am on the water - 12 hours goes by in the blink of an eye. i charge upstream, downstream, across stream...and fly fish until i can not even see straight. It's always been that way for me. When i was a kid - I would start up my Boston Whaler in a small Rhode Island cove every morning at 4am and catch stripers until 9am...then moore my boat - grab my trout rod and go trout fishing until 3pm...then ride my bike to one of many channels and striper/bluefish until dark.
If the fish were not biting - I would put on my wetsuit and spear fish for them or pick up some lobsters....
Then one day my dad said, "You gotta get a job!" I think he was thinking pizza delivery or something - boy wasn't he surprised when at 16 years old I said, "I got a job!" I am going out to sea on a commercial fishing boat! Yup! I walked the docks for weeks - working for free - begging any captain to take me out with his crew and giving me the priviledge to work as a deck-hand. Most captains laughed at me...but one said,"If you work for free while I am switching out my engine and get here every day at 5am and work till sundown, I will take you out." So, I cut chains, mended nets, painted the wheel house.....and then went out to sea. "Yup, I was in heaven, while my friends were working at Dairy Queen, I was going out to sea for 3 weeks at a time and fishing round the clock...LITERALLY round the clock for 3 week stints. We never stopped fishing. 16 years old and long lining for swordfish, tuna, mako sharks. To top it all of I would come in after a trip and in 3 make 5 or 6 thousand bucks -- not too bad for a 16 year old.
Then that was not enough....So I took took my hard earned money and bought a plane ticket to alaska...I pounded the docks and found work...Again...I fished round the clock and the sun never set...In between the commercial fishing I would fish for salmon all day and all night...
Now - here is the thing...when I was young I would have fleeting moments where everything would stop. I would look around the stream or the ocean, breathe the air and relax. I would reflect on all that I had done and all that was around me...then that moment would pass and I would be right back into the fishing....As I get older I find these moments happening more and lasting a little longer...Nowadays...I find myself take a minute here and there to reflect and take it all in.....I would imagine that as I get older these moments will happen more frequently and last longer...Then one day...I will be an old man and the minutes will turn into hours and the act of fly fishing and chasing the fins might not even happen on a fly fishing outting.
There will come a day when it will be all about the reflections and not about the fly fishing....This day will come naturally...so for now I will continue to enjoy the fleeting moments and focus on the fly fishing!
Thanks Rick - Great Story. |
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Reflections Of A Campfire: It's Not Always About The Fly Fishing
by joey on March 26, 2005 http://www.fliesandfins.com | | there is something about a camp fire. I am always looking forward to an event that involves burning wood. It gives us all a chance to gaze at something simple for hours and hours. great story rick. |
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