The Next Bend

"You need to get your passion back, guy."

That was the Monday morning remark of a co-worker of mine after telling her that I hadn't fished over the weekend. She seemed rather appalled. I laughed it off, but I knew she was right.

Post-funk brown from new water. Photo by Ben Pierce.

Perhaps I was suffering from a bit of post guide-season burnout. Maybe I was depressed about my best fishing buddy moving away. My new weekend-warrior status certainly wasn't helping things any. Whatever it was, my funk was short-lived, but real enough to have me thinking about what exactly I love so much about fly fishing.

A couple of recent solo outings were enjoyable, but they were a great reminder of just how much I enjoy the camaraderie of fellow anglers. Some of my best friendships have been forged on the water, so there's that.

The never-ending learning curve of fly fishing holds great appeal. The time spent communing and connecting with Ma Nature, in some of her most beautiful haunts is certainly a factor. But perhaps more than anything else, I'm realizing that my continued interest in fly fishing is rooted largely in exploration of new water.

There's a lot to explore out there.

I'll always enjoy fishing my home waters, whose curves are as familiar as those of a longtime lover. But it's the allure of the new and the unknown that truly calls to me. It's the desire to discover what is around the next bend, so to speak, that fuels my passion.