Why I love fly fishing

“Why”? I am often asked this when I describe my love for fly fishing. I likely do not fit the “typical” profile of a fly angler. For the past 20 years, I’ve spent and continue spend my Mondays-Fridays helping build pharmaceutical companies, launching new prescription drugs and providing guidance regarding compliance. Weekends I claim as my own. My love affair with fishing began almost 40 years ago when I became my dad’s fishing buddy in a rural town in PA. I would never have known then that he had given me the best and most therapeutic gift a father could ever give his daughter…peace.

Fly fishing is a critical part of my life as it provides me with the opportunity to recharge and refuel. Each day that I am on the water, I have no expectation of landing a fish. Rather, the peace and joy of fly fishing are attributed to being outdoors, being on the water, and most importantly, being present. Should I be so lucky to have a fish eat my favorite dry fly, it is a bonus, gift and reward. I have also discovered that fly fishing is much more than being a solo angler on the water. There is a tightly woven community of anglers from different places, different career paths, different lives, different beliefs and different backgrounds but the tie that binds is the love of the fly rod. It is being part of something that is bigger and greater than one’s own self.

Given the horrific tragedy our country has experienced this past week, may we be reminded that we are all part of something bigger than ourselves. We are a community. We are a family. We are Americans. To that end, we are greater collectively than as individuals.

Friends, I wish you peace, joy and love of life. 

Until next time, God Bless America and, of course, tight lines… 

Miree Lee