By Aaron Motley
Zen is a total state of focus that incorporates a togetherness of body, mind, and an activity.
Many of us daydream of the next time we are able to go fly fishing. Our lives are hectic, week-to-week, but an outing to the river can be a blessing to an angler’s soul. Time spent listening to the stream constantly flowing downhill, birds singing their songs, and the rustling of the leaves as the wind swirls around you – These, and many more reasons, keep me going back to the streams and rivers of WNC.
A recent trip took me to a small brook trout stream. The hike in was beautiful with blue skies, gentle breezes, fresh rain in our creeks, and warm sun on my face! Once my feet were immersed in the water and rod read for action, I began my day wading for small brook trout. Soon, I was rewarded on a nice drift by a fish rising up and taking my dry fly! Top water takes are, to me, the quintessential fly fishing moments an angler can experience while fly fishing. I release the fish, and begin mindful wading through the stream. Cast after cast, pool after pool, I fish my way up the stream losing track of time, and stopping at a majestic hole in the stream!!!
First cast…My fly finds the trees!
Second. SNAP!!! Goes my leader.
Third. My 11 month old son starts crying at the top of his lungs!!!
At that moment, I realized it was time to stop and make readjustments. I put a new diaper on little man, played in the dirt, ate a snack, drank water, tied tippet and fly, played with a rhododendron branch, ate more food, loaded everything back up, and began fishing again. Quickly followed by the littlest fisherman falling asleep.
I fished up to the creek to the trail and hiked out to the truck. We each find activities that are enjoyable causing us to focus energy into a task. Enjoy the moments where “all the stars align” because we can quickly be distracted. May you experience a moment or two of “Zen” on your next adventure outside!
Aaron is Operations Manager at the Waynesville Hunter Banks. His waterfowl hunting addiction supports his fly tying addiction. He learned his fly-fishing craft from “fishy” people and pursues large trout, bass and musky on a daily basis. He teaches others to do the same.