Why Trout Strike? It’s Why I Choose to Fly Fish

Revealing the Mystery

There are many reasons why I choose to fly fish. Revealing the mystery of what lies beneath the darkest reaches of the river temporarily satisfies an insatiable curiosity. The process of bringing a trout to net stimulates the body, the mind, and the soul.

Fishing envelopes me in the present. Thoughts of the past and fears of the future are no match for the intentional focus required to coax a suspicious trout to take my fly.

In that moment, that split second when a trout strikes, the world around me pauses.

My response to the trout’s misjudgment is the difference between sheer exhilaration and utter disappointment.

A lapse in concentration, slack in my line, or an unsharpened hook can deprive me of an opportunity that provides no guarantee of presenting itself again that day.

Missing that opportunity restarts the world around me, letting me slip back into the past or become daunted by the future.

When a Trout Strikes

But when a trout strikes, and I am ready for it, I am rewarded with raw anticipation. The weight of the trout on the end of my line and the pulsations of its motion against the current provide a jolt of adrenaline and an authentic connection with the natural world.

I am inspired by the trout’s spirit and surprised by its strength. I admire its determination and respect its will to survive.

Eventually, the trout acquiesces its right to live and surrenders to my net. But I have no intentions of depriving it of life. Instead, I spend a moment with it, enamored by its magnificence and awed by its beauty. I express gratitude for the encounter without gloating over my small victory.

When that moment ends, I release the trout back to the river. I watch it swim toward freedom until it disappears back into the mystery I unlocked.

This experience creates a desire for more. So, I begin to fish again, hoping I can get another trout to strike.