If a Doctor were to say...

So..the doctor says,
You're out of shape.
Here's what I want
you to do.

Find a stream
with various sized
rocks covered with
green slimy moss ~
the slippier the better.

The ideal river
will have varying
degrees of depth
and varying degrees
of current speed.

Unbelievably steep
and rocky banks
are a plus.

What I am handing
you are called
waders.
When you get to the
river put these on and
wade into the river.

Before entering the stream
put these boots on
to add to the overall
weight of the outfit.

Attempt to wade
with the current and
against the current at
random.
Wade across the
stream at random
as well.

At all times maintain
your balance.
You may fall a few
times ~ but that is OK.

Remember the feeling
of "pushing water"
is good. Leg cramps
at night after a full
day of doing this is
indication of "success'!

For a change of pace,
attempt several crossings
with the water lapping
as close as possible to
top of your waders.

Oh yes,
upon occasion
fall in.


While doing this
exercise
swing this stick
above your head.

Follow this routine
as often as is possible
and report back to me.

To which the average
person would say
"Are you crazy? You
could get killed doing
that ~ drown or have
a heart attack or simply
get really tired.

And yet a fly fisherman
does the routine
as often as is possible.

And gladly!

Gordon

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Comments

• 
  davem

  14 Nov 2010 at 11:09

  To funny, for a guy like me at 5’ 11’ 250 lbs (just slightly overweight), a pack a day smoker, the very thought of getting up at the crack of dawn to travel 2 ½ hours to my sacred fishing hole and then hiking in for another hour to find my “happy place” has more than once made me question this pastime.
  Is it a passion or an addiction?
  
• 
  Spokane

  14 Nov 2010 at 14:00

  Hi David,
  
  I don't know about you, but for me it is a strange mixture of addiction and passion. I know I start to twitch and get moody as Hell if I'm away from it for any period of time (kinda like when you're first in love). In the Spring I can hardly wait to get "back at it" and usually end up freezing my buns off as a result. But, I love it even when I'm freezing!
  
  I should have included the added exercise of slapping mosquitoes to the original blog!! In Northern Idaho and Montana their presence always adds to the experience and add exercise for the small and large muscle groups.
• 
  FLYFISHINGDOJO

  14 Nov 2010 at 15:31

  A great story. Perhaps there should be a sequel where a psychiatrist advises a patient to engage in fly fishing for stress reduction & good mental health. How many would be better off if they desired to cast little feathery objects at magnificent fish? For now, let it be our mutual little secret while the rest simply wonder, "Why, do they do it?"
  Thanks for the good read. --- Sensei John, Director of Fly Fishing Dojo.
• 
  Spokane

  16 Nov 2010 at 06:45

  Hi John,
  
  Glad you enjoyed it. I've had this reoccurring theme/thought several times during my fly-fishing life, i.e. if a physician asked me to do this I would refuse! One night in particular after a hard day of "pushing water", I had cramps in both of my legs in both the quads and the calves. I thought I was going to die! The next morning I was back on the stream. I thought at the time this is complete craziness.
  
  Gordon