Fishing is lots of things and the whole experience exceeds the sum of its parts, but chief among them, fishing is observation. An inexperienced (or lazy) angler might sit him or herself in the first waterside spot they encounter or in the swim nearest to the car, but the serious angler takes time to choose thier pitch and makes the decision based on the data taken in through their eyes. As necessary as the ability to cast with accuracy is the need to pay attention.
Rivers, lakes, ponds and streams, like poker players, have their "tells." A slack on the edge of a fast current, the protective (or ambush) qualities offered by a bed of reeds, undercut banks, or a clean gravel bottom may all provide clues to the potential of a stretch of water, along with the more obvious signals given by the ripples left by a rising fish.
It was the venerable "godfather" of angling, Isaak Walton who, almost half a millennia ago entreatied the would be captor of fish to "study to be quiet", and as year succeeds year in the unfolding story of my own obsession my appreciation of the sagacity of his advice grows.
This priority of observation also has benefits that go beyond the mere landing of fish and posesses what a modern businessperson might describe as "added value." In a world characterised by indecent haste and stress inducing hurry it forces the angler to slow down and to stand (or sit) and stare, and in looking for clues of where to locate or target fish to discover and to be exposed to wonder. As that doyen of angling literature, BB, famously wrote when describing his own experience "The shapes of things: their colours, lights and shades. These I saw" before exhorting the reader to "look ye also while life lasts." We, as humans, may unfortunately be uniquely adept in our ability to bespoil the natural world but there is still beauty to be found and that beauty most often finds me when I'm fishing, and for that I'm truly grateful.
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