Fly Fishing: A Validation Of Freedom

Over many years and through many different experiences I find fly fishing the most freeing experience outside the coffin. This is a sport where even weather has little or no effect on your activity (ruling out hurricanes, tornadoes and any weather of similar severity), with the proper clothing and rain gear. Freedom of thought, not first amendment stuff but simple zeal for fishing thought usually begins as I slip into the moving water of a river or stream. Water and its movement are essential to the concept as it is the medium from which all life comes, without water there would be no life. We have a deep connection to water; a connection that most fly fishermen can feel. The sound of moving water quiets the mind and soothes tense muscles. This dilates the blood vessels and gives a general feeling of calm allowing us to focus on what we are doing. As our focus narrows down, intrusive, negative thoughts are blocked from our consciousness. We begin to cast, being where we want, focused on what we love with only fleeting contact with others, if any; we at this point are free. The validation of this freedom is the change that we experience and the tug! As I see it true freedom is only as far away as your rod and your favorite body of water.