Many dedicated anglers are not deterred by the cold weather and carry on fishing throughout the winter months. My hat goes off to these brave souls. As much as I love fishing, when fall arrives, I oil my reels, organize my tackle box and tuck them away until spring.
If it was a slow season, then sharing my fishing stories with friends may require a little more imagination. "There was no one there to take the picture though," or "it was so heavy that the hook bent right out of its mouth"; sometimes it is the only way to salvage one's pride-angler's pride that is. The more successful the season, on the other hand, the fewer words seem necessary to describe it; the photos and a raised chin should say it all.
Fishermen stories are not, however, always told simply to save face. Some write about the pastime because they have a deep appreciation for it. In addition to the thrill and adventure, some see and wish to express the spiritual side of fishing.
A good example is Norman Maclean, author of "A River Runs Through It." The novel's plot can be described as a coin toss between the beautiful and tragic aspects of life; what remained constant throughout were the memories of a river in Montana, which was a source of comfort and balance for the narrator. In the film adaption of the novel, the narrator is quoted as saying "in my family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing." The river was a source of salvation-a place where his troubled brother, a heavy drinker and gambler, could redeem his sins and flourish as a human being. This is captured in the scene where the narrator's brother, Paul, lands a massive trout after an epic battle that pulled him downstream. In the narrator's words, "my brother stood before us, not on a bank of the Big Blackfoot River...but suspended above the earth...free from all its laws, like a work of art."
Like Paul, Santiago in Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea" has a profound spiritual experience during an epic struggle to reel in a giant marlin. Throughout the novella, Hemingway employs a number of biblical references and symbols to liken Santiago's pain and suffering to that of Christ.
The list of authors that have made the connection between fishing and spirituality goes on. Why or how these authors were inspirited to make this connection is hard to say. Perhaps it is the peace of mind that we attain in nature. It is harder to imagine, for example, having a spiritual experience of any consequence while crossing a street in a busy urban setting. In nature, it is much easier to reflect about things like human nature and our place in the universe.
Fishing is also related to topics that are far less perplexing than the meaning of life. For example patience, environmental stewardship, and camaraderie-each has a direct relationship to fishing.
Patience is not only a virtue, but for an angler, it is a must. There will be times when you have to test out a multitude of lures or flies at a range of depths and speeds during different times of the day before catching something; despite putting in all this effort, you still may not have any luck. But it is important to keep trying. This is another one of life's lessons that we can take away from fishing.
Anglers are also at the forefront of environmental conversation. For example, many of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation's members and supporters are anglers. The federation oversees several programs across the province aimed at preserving fish and wildlife habitats.
Lastly, fishing is a great way to spend time with family and friends. Sometimes it is the perfect excuse to put work aside, switch off your phone and have a heart-to-heart with the ones that matter most to you.
This winter, although I won't be spending much time in the ice huts, I will be reminiscing about the great times I had fishing back in Ontario this past summer. I might also reread some of the books that I've mentioned here and seek out related ones in order to better understand why I love fishing so much.
