R
Ron 'The Hat' Clay (ACA)
Guest
I realise that on starting this thread I am on shaky ground, but what the hell, let's see what you think.
Throughout my life I have wondered why fly fishing, has by many, been elevated to the pinnacle of the piscatorial art. Evennon-anglers have oftenrevered the fly fisher with his little box of fur and feather beguiling the wily trout. Why, it was even thought years ago that only men of aristocratic blood could ever possess the ability to cast the tiny weightless object that we call an artificial fly.
"It is the ultimate deception between man and a wild animal" say many.
and of late: "Fly fishing is the most fun a man can have stood up!"
I have tended to consider the following lines, I certainly recite them to myself when I am out fly fishing:
"In my family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing."
and:
"As a presbyterian, my father believed that man by nature was a damn mess. And that only by picking up on God's rythms were we able to regain power and beauty. To him, all good things, trout as well as eternal salvation come by grace. And grace comes by art. And art does not come easy."
Norman Maclean
But I with temerity will add:
"And fly fishing is art."
But what do you think?
Throughout my life I have wondered why fly fishing, has by many, been elevated to the pinnacle of the piscatorial art. Evennon-anglers have oftenrevered the fly fisher with his little box of fur and feather beguiling the wily trout. Why, it was even thought years ago that only men of aristocratic blood could ever possess the ability to cast the tiny weightless object that we call an artificial fly.
"It is the ultimate deception between man and a wild animal" say many.
and of late: "Fly fishing is the most fun a man can have stood up!"
I have tended to consider the following lines, I certainly recite them to myself when I am out fly fishing:
"In my family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing."
and:
"As a presbyterian, my father believed that man by nature was a damn mess. And that only by picking up on God's rythms were we able to regain power and beauty. To him, all good things, trout as well as eternal salvation come by grace. And grace comes by art. And art does not come easy."
Norman Maclean
But I with temerity will add:
"And fly fishing is art."
But what do you think?