Where does fly fishing rank as Zen Meditation?
As with much of life, fishing is about anticipation of something good—at least in my perception. Collecting and caring for your gear, studying your prey, and planning a fishing trip offer almost as much pleasure as going fishing. For those who don’t understand “real fishing” (assuming they want to) they should start their studies by reading Izaak Walton’s, “The Complete Angler”. My interpretation of the teachings of Isaak Walton concerning angling is simple. He enjoys learning (and teaching) about fish and other aspects of nature, he harvests fish to eat, and he relishes in the contemplation of the sport. So, edfong, if your question is about making creatures suffer for your enjoyment, I think we need to examine the modern concept of “catch and release”. Jacque Cousteau once said “I think fishermen that catch a fish just to release them, are perverted”. I can’t say that he was right, but maybe we should consider his thoughts when planning a fishing trip. Some of the “holy waters” for f
It was Herbert Hoover who said, “All men are equal before fish.” I think he knew more about fishing than economics. Different people fish for different reasons. The fly-fishermen are really reather quaint, on that scale. I get catalogs with sonar fish-finders, which really seems to be, uh, shooting fish in a barrel. (The same catalogs also have automated deer feeders, which eject grain on a set schedule, so the deer show up at a predictable time. I have no problem with hunting, but that seems like cheating.) It’s the lures that I find hilarious. That’s the part that really does feel like trying to outsmart the fish. I’ve heard fishermen go on at length about the differences betweeen lures that mimic actual flies versus fancies, trying to get into a fish’s head, as if somehow the fish would really like to see a menu. But once you’ve gotten past that, it reminds me of juggling, another activity that requires just the right amount of mental engagement: enough to keep you distracted, not s
… in that you perform a simple, repeated, and near mindless task for hours on end in a beautiful and calming setting. The motion of the rod and whirring of the line soothes the soul and allows the mind to wander at will free from the physical body. The sound of the water and the leaves serves as a mantra to help one seek enlightenment. So it is indeed similar but… … to make it more like Zen Meditation there is one simple thing that I do. I fish with no hook. Yet my goal is accomplished because: I am out of the house and away from all wordly problems. Brain-size of either participant is of no moment. Other fisherpeople feel good about their own luck as compared to mine, for I catch no physical fish. Upon my return to the world my catch can be reported as being of any size because there is nothing to measure. My mind is free to seek enlightenment. No fish is harmed, no clothing snagged. And the fish are free to dance or not, as they wish.
