In Defense of Young, New Anglers

The definition I am using here for this article is simply this: Anyone who is younger, newer, less schooled, in a different generation, brought up with different values, anyone of a different background than you, any angler other than you.

Cynicism is not always a great feeling, or not always a direction you should take when viewing, judging and/or commenting on anglers other than yourself.

Just because any other angler is not doing it, not how you’d like them to do it, or how you think they should do it does not make it incorrect.

Not all anglers aspire to be just like you Sir, or M’am.

And, all of that above, is OK.

Do I believe, or think some of those thoughts above, or that I will discuss below? Sure I do. It is natural in our fucked up society to think these things. Self Centered as we have been trained by the media, and the damn cell phones stuck to our faces, we think everyone would think and do and be like us, like ourselves.

I also recognize that the beauty of fly fishing is just this: You can do it how ever you want to do it. Just don’t bother others, respect the land and water, and let your soul free.

So, just because it is not how you do it, does not make it wrong. We live in a dynamic world, so get used to it.

I choose not to spend too much energy on things that I cannot change. And how others enjoy themselves, is not in my sights.

I do believe we can set a good example of etiquette and show others how to behave in conjunction with Mother Nature, and others/humans. We should shoulder that burden for others, for the greater good.

P.S. Hailey Walpoole with that brown trout up top caught that one on a PMD dry fly. Yep, that is one of the next generation of anglers that kick ass. Nice work Hailey.