What is it about angling and memorable lines? Fly fishing, and indeed all forms of fishing, has always inspired us and provided time to reflect. The great writers our sport has produced is incredible, and their sayings range from the profound to the hilarious.
Picking out the true classics or best fly fishing quotes of all time is no easy task. There are simply too many to choose from. However, here are ten that always make us smile.
“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
We love this quote because it sums up why we fish in the first place. Even the grumpiest among us cannot help but feel a tingle of optimism when we fish! “It’s called fishing, not catching” to echo another popular refrain- and it’s that sense of what might happen that is magical.
2. “Even if you catch nothing, fly casting is, like virtue, its own exceedingly great reward” - Fred Maher
This line sums up one of the great joys of fly fishing, the cast! More than any other style of fishing, the way we do this is intensely satisfying and an artform in its own right, before we even add fish!
3. “The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper” -Eden Philpotts
We’ve taken a little artistic licence with this quote. It was not written about fly fishing originally, but perfectly captures the essence of what we do. A good fly fisher is a keen observer, noticing subtle signs and details, whether that’s a gentle rise form or a tiny hatching insect. Fly fishing is an invitation to watch a separate, secret world.
4. “Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it” - Norman Maclean
This line is not only irresistible but contains the name of fly fishing’s greatest big screen success, inspired by Macleans’ novel.
5. “Rich people have therapy, for the rest of us there’s fishing” - John Buchan
This line neatly sums up the deeper value so many of us get from fishing. Nor is this just a woolly idea, with recent studies proving that all forms of angling are good for our mental health. And by similar logic, we also love the late John Geirach’s logic that “the solution to any problem- work, love, money, whatever- is to go fishing, and the worse the problem the longer the trip should be”!
6. “We fly fish for hours, to hold a fish for seconds” - Unknown
Time is elastic when we fish, so absorbing is our sport. It’s all relative, and perhaps this quote from an unknown angler acknowledges that it’s not really about the “prize” at all, but the anticipation and the journey. If we caught a fish a cast it would quickly become dull.
7. “The two best times to fish is when it’s raining and when it ain’t raining” - Patrick McManus
One of the funniest fishing quotes ever, this one also tells a simple truth- we cannot choose the weather and the best time to fish is often just whenever we find space. And even if it’s chucking it down, the fish are already wet, right??
8. “If I fished only to capture fish, my fishing trips would have ended a long time ago” - Zane Grey
There is so much more to fishing than catching fish, to coin another phrase! We also love the beautiful settings, the solitude or company, the little details. Just look at a tumbling stream with rising fish and tell us there’s any other place you’d rather be in the world!
9. “Fly fishing is not a bragger’s game. It’s not about growing ego but removing it” - Daniel J Rice
This is another beautiful quote that sums up the meditative quality of angling. On some level when we tackle up on a river, lake or beach, we become part of something much bigger. When we are in the zone, we achieve a perfect state of mindfulness.
10. “Fly fishing is the most fun you can have standing up” - Arnold Gingrich
And to finish our list, no further explanation is necessary! If angling is in your blood, there are very few things that can compete- and they tend to be… how do we put this? Shorter lived?
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