FLYFISHING RUINS LIVES

Miles Nolte and the finer points of flyfishing escapism--an examination of the flyfishing obsession.

...All fishermen are escapists, like alcoholics, adrenaline junkies, or television addicts (some of us are all of these things), we seek a way out of the drudgery that overwhelms everyday life. Fishing is a black hole of resources: time, money, mental energy. Many people have written of the virtues fishing teaches to the youth: patience, observance, silence, respect for wild places and an understanding of the importance of conservation. They claim these virtues transcend from the water to the office or the home. I say bullshit, that’s just an excuse to justify a constant vacillation between selfishness (fishing) and responsibility (work, family, etc). My patience on the river translates to an overwhelming impatience with being in an office or watching re-runs of Friends on the couch with a girlfriend. A true, bone-deep fishing jones has caused more than a few people to shirk all of their important responsibilities. I’ve given two hours notice, stripped healthy bank accounts, and left women crying in confused anger as I loaded up the truck, grabbed the dog and took off...

Subscribe to see the entire piece.