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Thanks
This one is a week or so late but I still wanted to send it out. With Thanksgiving time just past and the Holidays near, hopefully comes some thought about what we are thankful for and the things that matter to us. Although I, wisely,wouldn't put fly fishing at the very top of my "Thanks for" list, it is most definitely somewhere near the top.
I am thankful for the chance I have to write about, teach, guide, and frequently participate in a sport that has absolutely captivated me from an early age and one that continually gives more in return than I could ever give to it. Fly fishing happens in the most amazing and beauty-filled places on earth, and the practice thereof graciously increases the angler's powers of perception such that we learn to truly absorb the essence of these places. I am constantly moved to awe by the both the large and small wonders that I encounter, even on quick trips to the bluegill pond, but especially to those more grand spots where nature outdoes itself hourly.
I’m reminded of a comment from a good friend and colleague spoken a few years back. As we reveled in an evening of almost embarrassingly great fishing for huge browns on dry flies, he said something to this effect: “You know, we are really lucky. Years from now we will look back on this time and this place and it will be among our best memories.” I’m not to that “years from now” spot in my life yet and I already know he was absolutely right. I appreciate the willingness of those brown trout that evening but I appreciate the camaraderie, the setting, and the opportunity more.
I am thankful for the lessons of fly fishing, for its grace, for the friends and acquaintances, and for the many rewards of fly fishing that are uniquely meaningful to each angler. I hope we all can remember that we are truly lucky each time we get the chance to venture out with rod in hand and the hope that a fish will bite.
Thanks to all for the support for RiverBum and for the kind words I hear from readers from time to time. I appreciate the chance to do what I do.
Jake Ricks
Fly Fishing Professional, Guide, and Author
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