Fly fishing is more than just a sport; it’s a journey into the heart of nature and a reflection of life’s deeper truths. Whether you’re an experienced angler or new to the stream, these 157 quotes will resonate with your love for the art of fly fishing. They capture the patience, beauty, and wisdom found in this timeless pursuit. Fly fishing allows us to immerse ourselves in the tranquility of flowing waters and the serenity of the natural world. It's a way to connect with the environment and appreciate its delicate balance. As we cast our lines and watch the dance of the fly on the water's surface, we are reminded of the interconnectedness of all living things and the need for harmony with our surroundings.
The act of fly fishing also serves as a metaphor for life itself. Just as we patiently wait for the perfect moment to reel in a catch, we learn the value of patience and persistence in our everyday endeavors. The rhythmic motion of casting and the gentle flow of the river mirror the ebb and flow of our own experiences. Each cast is a lesson in adaptability and resilience, reminding us to go with the flow and adjust to life's currents. Fly fishing is not just a pastime; it’s a philosophy that teaches us to appreciate the journey as much as the destination, to find joy in the process, and to savor the moments of stillness amidst the movement of life.
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1. "The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad." – A.K. Best
2. "Fly-fishing is solitary, contemplative, misanthropic, scientific in some hands, poetic in others, and laced with conflicting aesthetic considerations. It's not even clear if catching fish is actually the point." – John Gierach
3. "Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." – Henry David Thoreau
4. "Fishing is much more than fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers." – Herbert Hoover
5. "The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope." – John Buchan
6. "Fly-fishing is a sport that only becomes more enjoyable with age. In fact, like wine, it's better after 60." – Tom Brokaw
7. "A trout is a moment of beauty known only to those who seek it." – Arnold Gingrich
8. "Time spent fishing is time well spent." – Justin Morgan
9. "Fishing is not an escape from life, but often a deeper immersion into it." – Harry Middleton
10. "The best time to go fishing is when you can get away." – Robert Traver
11. "Fly-fishing is the most fun you can have standing up." – Arnold Gingrich
12. "Fly-fishing is like a four-hour lecture on patience and deception. But you always want to do it
again." – Richard Louv
13. "The act of fishing – for fish, dreams, or whatever magic is available – is enough. It transports us to a special world, and a state of mind, where we are free." – Fennel Hudson
14. "There is certainly something in angling that tends to produce a serenity of the mind." – Washington Irving
15. "If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles." – Doug Larson
16. "Catching fish is secondary to the immeasurable joy of fly-fishing." – Robert Spaight
17. "Fly-fishing is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope." – John Buchan
18. "A bad day of fishing is still better than a good day at the office." – Unknown
19. "Fly-fishing is the most fun you can have standing up." – Arnold Gingrich
20. "There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot." – Steven Wright
21. "To go fishing is one of the most pleasant activities that mankind has ever invented." – Norman Maclean
22. "Fishing provides that connection with the whole living world. It gives you the opportunity of being totally immersed, turning back into yourself in a good way." – Ted Hughes
23. "The two best times to fish is when it's raining and when it ain't." – Patrick F. McManus
24. "Fly-fishing is the beautiful thing about fly-fishing. The thing we seek and sometimes never quite achieve." – Christopher Camuto
25. "Fishing is a discipline in the equality of men – for all men are equal before fish." – Herbert Hoover
26. "The river is a holy place for those who understand the nature of its offerings." – Roderick Haig-Brown
27. "To fish or not to fish? That's a dumb question." – Unknown
28. "The world is full of bastards, the number increasing rapidly the further one gets from Missoula, Montana." – Norman Maclean
29. "Fishing is much more than fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers." – Herbert Hoover
30. "The fisherman knows that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reasons for remaining ashore." – Vincent van Gogh
31. "Most of the world is covered by water. A fisherman's job is simple: Pick out the best parts." – Charles Waterman
32. "The best way to a fisherman's heart is through his fly." – Unknown
33. "A river seems a magic thing. A magic, moving, living part of the very earth itself." – Laura Gilpin
34. "A trout is a moment of beauty known only to those who seek it." – Arnold Gingrich
35. "The solution to any problem – work, love, money, whatever – is to go fishing, and the worse the
problem, the longer the trip should be." – John Gierach
36. "Fishing is a delusion entirely surrounded by liars in old clothes." – Don Marquis
37. "Fishing, with me, has always been an excuse to drink in the daytime." – Jimmy Cannon
38. "There is no greater fan of fly-fishing than the worm." – Patrick F. McManus
39. "I go fishing not to find myself, but to lose myself." – Joseph Monninger
40. "Fishing is a quest for knowledge and wonder as much as a pursuit of fish." – Paul Schullery
41. "The fisherman fishes in the fresh water for the truth." – Thoreau
42. "Fly-fishing is an art worth all the costs." – Norman Maclean
43. "The great charm of fly-fishing is that we are always learning." – Theodore Gordon
44. "The best fisherman I know always said that the fish he caught were 'all that I could reach.'" – Charles Kuralt
45. "It has always been my private conviction that any man who pits his intelligence against a fish
and loses has it coming." – John Steinbeck
46. "I fish because I love to; because I love the environs where trout are found; because I suspect that men are going along this way for the last time, and I don't want to waste the trip." – Robert Traver
47. "Fly-fishing is a sport invented by insects and perfected by men." – Unknown
48. "A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king, and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm." – William Shakespeare
49. "There is magic in the feel of a line, and the tug of a fish, making you feel alive in a part of the world that has grown old and tired." – Bill Watterson
50. "Fishing is not an escape from life, but often a deeper immersion into it." – Harry Middleton
51. "The water is wide, I cannot get over. Neither have I wings to fly. Give me a boat that can carry two, and both shall row, my love and I." – Anonymous
52. "A fishing rod is a stick with a hook at one end and a fool at the other." – Samuel Johnson
53. "Fishing seems to be the favorite form of loafing." – Edgar Watson Howe
54. "A fisherman's job is simple: Pick out the best parts." – Charles Waterman
55. "The angling fever is a very real disease and can only be cured by the application of cold water
and fresh, untainted air." – Theodore Gordon
56. "Fishing is much more than fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers." – Herbert Hoover
57. "The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad." – A.K. Best
58. "The angler forgets most of the fish he catches, but he does not forget the streams and lakes in which they are caught." – Charles K. Fox
59. "Fly-fishing may be a very pleasant amusement; but angling or float-fishing I can only compare to a stick and a string, with a worm at one end and a fool at the other." – Samuel Johnson
60. "Fishing is a... discipline in the equality of men – for all men are equal before fish." – Herbert Hoover
61. "A trout is a moment of beauty known only to those who seek it." – Arnold Gingrich
62. "Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in." – Henry David Thoreau
63. "The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad." – A.K. Best
64. "Fishing provides time to think, and reason not to. If you have the virtue of patience, an hour or
two casting alone is plenty of time to review all you’ve learned about the grand themes of life." – Carl Safina
65. "The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad." – A.K. Best
66. "There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot." – Aldo Leopold
67. "The two best times to fish is when it's raining and when it ain't." – Patrick F. McManus
68. "Fly-fishing is the most fun you can have standing up." – Arnold Gingrich
69. "Fishing is not an escape from life, but often a deeper immersion into it." – Harry Middleton
70. "Fishing, with me, has always been an excuse to drink in the daytime." – Jimmy Cannon
71. "Fishing is much more than fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers." – Herbert Hoover
72. "Fly-fishing is the beautiful thing about fly-fishing. The thing we seek and sometimes never quite achieve." – Christopher Camuto
73. "There is no greater fan of fly-fishing than the worm." – Patrick F. McManus
74. "A fishing rod is a stick with a hook at one end and a fool at the other." – Samuel Johnson
75. "Fly-fishing is a beautiful thing about fly-fishing. The thing we seek and sometimes never quite achieve." – Christopher Camuto
76. "Fly-fishing is a pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope." – John Buchan
77. "Fishing is much more than fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers." – Herbert Hoover
78. "Fly-fishing is the most fun you can have standing up." – Arnold Gingrich
79. "The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad." – A.K. Best
80. "Fly-fishing is a sport invented by insects and perfected by men." – Unknown
81. "Fishing provides time to think, and reason not to." – Carl Safina
82. "A bad day of fishing is still better than a good day at the office." – Unknown
83. "There is magic in the feel of a line, and the tug of a fish, making you feel alive in a part of the world that has grown old and tired." – Bill Watterson
84. "Fly-fishing is a sport that only becomes more enjoyable with age. In fact, like wine, it's better after 60." – Tom Brokaw
85. "Fishing, with me, has always been an excuse to drink in the daytime." – Jimmy Cannon
86. "Fishing is not an escape from life, but often a deeper immersion into it." – Harry Middleton
87. "The best way to a fisherman's heart is through his fly." – Unknown
88. "Fly-fishing is an art worth all the costs." – Norman Maclean
89. "Fishing is a discipline in the equality of men – for all men are equal before fish." – Herbert Hoover
90. "The two best times to fish is when it's raining and when it ain't." – Patrick F. McManus
91. "Fly-fishing is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope." – John Buchan
92. "There is no greater fan of fly-fishing than the worm." – Patrick F. McManus
93. "The best time to go fishing is when you can get away." – Robert Traver
94. "Fly-fishing is like a four-hour lecture on patience and deception. But you always want to do it
again." – Richard Louv
95. "The great charm of fly-fishing is that we are always learning." – Theodore Gordon
96. "Fishing provides that connection with the whole living world. It gives you the opportunity of being totally immersed, turning back into yourself in a good way." – Ted Hughes
97. "Fishing, with me, has always been an excuse to drink in the daytime." – Jimmy Cannon
98. "The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope." – John Buchan
99. "Fly-fishing is a beautiful thing about fly-fishing. The thing we seek and sometimes never quite achieve." – Christopher Camuto
100. "Fly-fishing is solitary, contemplative, misanthropic, scientific in some hands, poetic in others, and laced with conflicting aesthetic considerations. It's not even clear if catching fish is actually the point." – John Gierach
101. "A bad day of fishing is still better than a good day at the office." – Unknown
102. "Fly-fishing is the most fun you can have standing up." – Arnold Gingrich
103. "Fishing is much more than fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers." – Herbert Hoover
104. "Fly-fishing is a sport that only becomes more enjoyable with age. In fact, like wine, it's better
after 60." – Tom Brokaw
105. "There is certainly something in angling that tends to produce a serenity of the mind." – Washington Irving
106. "Fly-fishing is like a four-hour lecture on patience and deception. But you always want to do it again." – Richard Louv
107. "Fly-fishing is an art worth all the costs." – Norman Maclean
108. "Fishing provides time to think, and reason not to." – Carl Safina
109. "Fly-fishing is the beautiful thing about fly-fishing. The thing we seek and sometimes never quite achieve." – Christopher Camuto
110. "Fishing, with me, has always been an excuse to drink in the daytime." – Jimmy Cannon
111. "The best way to a fisherman's heart is through his fly." – Unknown
112. "Fly-fishing is solitary, contemplative, misanthropic, scientific in some hands, poetic in others, and laced with conflicting aesthetic considerations. It's not even clear if catching fish is actually the
point." – John Gierach
113. "The two best times to fish is when it's raining and when it ain't." – Patrick F. McManus
114. "There is no greater fan of fly-fishing than the worm." – Patrick F. McManus
115. "The best fisherman I know always said that the fish he caught were 'all that I could reach.'" – Charles Kuralt
116. "Fishing is much more than fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers." – Herbert Hoover
117. "A trout is a moment of beauty known only to those who seek it." – Arnold Gingrich
118. "Fly-fishing is a sport invented by insects and perfected by men." – Unknown
119. "Fishing provides that connection with the whole living world. It gives you the opportunity of being totally immersed, turning back into yourself in a good way." – Ted Hughes
120. "There is certainly something in angling that tends to produce a serenity of the mind." – Washington Irving
121. "Fly-fishing is a pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope." – John Buchan
122. "Fishing is a quest for knowledge and wonder as much as a pursuit of fish." – Paul Schullery
123. "A bad day of fishing is still better than a good day at the office." – Unknown
124. "The world is full of bastards, the number increasing rapidly the further one gets from Missoula, Montana." – Norman Maclean
125. "Fishing, with me, has always been an excuse to drink in the daytime." – Jimmy Cannon
126. "The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope." – John Buchan
127. "There is magic in the feel of a line, and the tug of a fish, making you feel alive in a part of the world that has grown old and tired." – Bill Watterson
128. "Fly-fishing is the most fun you can have standing up." – Arnold Gingrich
129. "Fishing is a discipline in the equality of men – for all men are equal before fish." – Herbert Hoover
130. "The best time to go fishing is when you can get away." – Robert Traver
131. "Fly-fishing is like a four-hour lecture on patience and deception. But you always want to do it again." – Richard Louv
132. "The great charm of fly-fishing is that we are always learning." – Theodore Gordon
133. "Fly-fishing is solitary, contemplative, misanthropic, scientific in some hands, poetic in others,
and laced with conflicting aesthetic considerations. It's not even clear if catching fish is actually the
point." – John Gierach
134. "Fly-fishing is a sport that only becomes more enjoyable with age. In fact, like wine, it's better after 60." – Tom Brokaw
135. "A fishing rod is a stick with a hook at one end and a fool at the other." – Samuel Johnson
136. "Fishing seems to be the favorite form of loafing." – Edgar Watson Howe
137. "The angling fever is a very real disease and can only be cured by the application of cold water and fresh, untainted air." – Theodore Gordon
138. "Fishing is much more than fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers." – Herbert Hoover
139. "Fishing provides time to think, and reason not to." – Carl Safina
140. "The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad." – A.K. Best
141. "Fly-fishing is a pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope." – John Buchan
142. "The best way to a fisherman's heart is through his fly." – Unknown
143. "Fishing is not an escape from life, but often a deeper immersion into it." – Harry Middleton
144. "A bad day of fishing is still better than a good day at the office." – Unknown
145. "Fly-fishing is the most fun you can have standing up." – Arnold Gingrich
146. "The best fisherman I know always said that the fish he caught were 'all that I could reach.'" – Charles Kuralt
147. "A river seems a magic thing. A magic, moving, living part of the very earth itself." – Laura
Gilpin
148. "Fishing is much more than fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers." – Herbert Hoover
149. "Fly-fishing is a beautiful thing about fly-fishing. The thing we seek and sometimes never quite achieve." – Christopher Camuto
150. "A trout is a moment of beauty known only to those who seek it." – Arnold Gingrich
151. "Fishing provides that connection with the whole living world. It gives you the opportunity of being totally immersed, turning back into yourself in a good way." – Ted Hughes
152. "Fly-fishing is a pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope." – John Buchan
153. "The two best times to fish is when it's raining and when it ain't." – Patrick F. McManus
154. "Fly-fishing is a sport invented by insects and perfected by men." – Unknown
155. "Fishing is not an escape from life, but often a deeper immersion into it." – Harry Middleton
156. "A bad day of fishing is still better than a good day at the office." – Unknown
157. "Fly-fishing is a beautiful thing about fly-fishing. The thing we seek and sometimes never quite achieve." – Christopher Camuto
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These quotes remind us that fly fishing is not just about catching fish; it’s about finding peace, connecting with nature, and reflecting on life. The wisdom and joy it brings are unparalleled, and for those who understand its magic, fly fishing becomes a lifelong passion. The gentle rhythm of casting, the soothing sounds of the flowing water, and the beauty of the natural surroundings create a profound sense of tranquility. It's a way to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immerse oneself in the serenity of the great outdoors.
Moreover, fly fishing offers a unique opportunity for introspection and self-discovery. As the angler waits patiently for a bite, there is ample time to contemplate life's mysteries and appreciate the simple pleasures that often go unnoticed. It's a pursuit that encourages mindfulness and a deep connection to the environment. Whether standing in a rushing stream or casting from the shore of a peaceful lake, fly fishing provides a space for inner reflection and a chance to appreciate the beauty of the natural world.
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