Tag: fly fishing

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Ian HunterLeave a comment

In the early days of my career

I was very ambitious and worked hard

Long hours and weekends were consumed

By my relentless drive to reach every working goal

As soon as I achieved a promotion

I set myself a new target for the next one

It was like running on a treadmill

That went faster and higher without a break

One day a good friend said he was concerned

That my work-life balance was all wrong

He said we were going on a fishing trip

To take my mind off work for one day

I thought it was a waste of time but agreed

We caught no fish the first day

Vowing to try again the following weekend

And so started a new passion outside my job

My fishing knowledge improved through focused learning

Progressing from pure leisure to competitions

Pitching my fishing skills against others

Winning lots of trophies and prizes

My performance at work also improved

I no longer worked weekends

Enjoying more time with my family

Fishing was my weekly stress relief

My work-life balance was restored

It took me a long time to realize

That fishing is a form of meditation

Clearing your mind of all random thoughts

As you focus on a single thing 

If you practice meditation you can find the answers  

To problems that had seemed unsolvable 

Retirement put an end to working goals

Replaced by goals for learning, lifestyle, family and friendships

I rarely go fishing now but I do find time to meditate daily

Namaste

Fly fishing on a remote lake in Wales

Ian Hunter4 Comments

It was late summer back in the 70s

I was fly fishing on a remote lake in Wales

a solo outing in a small boat

fitted with a small outboard motor

I knew the area well

the big lake was very deep and cold

I was fishing the evening rise

when the trout feed on hatching insects

I loved the solitude

no other fishermen on the lake that evening

the flat calm water would explode

as trout jumped to drown hatching flies

I watched the sunset over the mountains

darkness would soon follow

it had been a fun fishing session

time to head to the shore

I wrapped the pull cord around the motor top plate

one sharp pull and she roared up

I turned her to the shore

a cool breeze in my face

suddenly the boat stopped with a jerk

the engine died instantly

the stern was hanging low

I knew I had hit something

I tried to tilt the engine up

but the boat almost capsized

I could see something on the propellor

a discarded anchor rope 

I had to think fast as the boat was now tied to the lake bottom

no cell phones existed back then

no way to signal for help from the middle of a remote lake

getting into the water was too risky

I did not want to spend the cold night in the middle of the lake

I took out my fishing knife

lashed it to the pole of my landing net

pulling the motor up slightly with one hand 

guiding the pole under water with the other

the nylon rope was very tough

my arms were screaming in pain

after maybe twenty minutes of cutting the rope severed

the back of the boat popped up instantly

I was in a cold adrenalin sweat

I quickly cleared the strands from the propellor

headed for the shore in relief

using the familiar dark mountain peaks for navigation

it was fully dark when I pulled the boat up onto the shore

I loaded up my gear and the freshly caught trout

heading for the safety of home in my car

reflecting on how I had just escaped a potential tragedy

moments like this remind you how fragile life can be