There is something about fly fishing that makes it feel so pure. Maybe it’s the atavistic simplicity, or perhaps it’s that one must concentrate on the task at hand, leaving no room for stress or worry. Just as any other hobby or sport, fly fishing takes focus to be successful. Loss of said focus results in poor casts and even poorer reactions. You must be in the moment and nowhere else. This is also true of fly tying. Trust me, don’t try to tie angry — it does not help your mental state, because you are bound to make mistakes which only add to your fury. Also, the flies completed will most certainly be sub-par.

Casting a fly rod and tying flies are very therapeutic, both physically and mentally. I know several people (in addition to myself) who use fly casting as a way to get back to center. Merely casting — no fly nor even water — will get the job done. Just go out on the lawn or to your local ballfield and cast away. The basic rhythms and peaceful motions of the fly cast can be like a mind-altering drug that promotes a state of calmness and well being. Focus on improving your technique. Improve your accuracy over varied distances, or cast with the wind hitting you from different angles so the next time you are presented with a target on the water you will be confident in your ability. When you are truly focused on a task, everything else seems to fade into the background.