Testament of a Fisherman

I fish because I love to; because I love the environs where trout are found, which are invariably beautiful, and hate the environs where crowds of people are found, which are invariably ugly; because of all the television commercials, cocktail parties, and assorted social posturing I thus escape; because, in a world where most men seem to spend their lives doing things they hate, my fishing is at once an endless source of delight and an act of small rebellion; because trout do not lie or cheat and cannot be bought or bribed or impressed by power, but respond only to quietude and humility and endless patience; because I suspect that men are going along this way for the last time, and I for one don't want to waste the trip; because mercifully there are no telephones on trout waters; because only in the woods can I find solitude without loneliness; because bourbon out of an old tin cup always tastes better out there; because maybe one day I will catch a mermaid; and, finally, not because I regard fishing as being so terribly important but because I suspect that so many of the other concerns of men are equally unimportant - and not nearly so much fun.

- Robert Traver

Michelle and I went to the library tonight and I found a compilation called Traver on Fishing. The above quote was on a page prior to the Introduction, and I resonated with it. I have since read three of the "yarns" and there were numerous other quotes I would have liked to list, given more time. I am looking forward to the spring already... so much so that I've begun to track the length of day. Since I started last week we've gained more than 10 minutes of daylight. Another couple months and I'll be fishing...