This exchange took the cake for me.
me: I am putting together a little Drake Bake in Redding next Feb and I know your local to the area and wanted to shoot an invite your way.
http://www.drakemag.com/phpBB3/message-boards/ ... =1&t=24670
If you can't make it no worries but stay in touch maybe we can fish together soon.
Anonymous: Thanks for thinking of me for this. As much as I probably need the break, I won't be attending.
me: Its still plenty far out time wise. But no worries wanted to shoot an invite your way anyways.
How have you been? Able to get out fishing at all?
Anonymous: You will laugh or perhaps you won't.
After years of doing whatever I pleased my body finally gave me some feedback by having a heart attack. It gave me a moment to consider my options for the future. A year and a half has passed and I'm now a Zen Buddhist monk. I know..it's weird, but it works for me. Trust me when I say I'd love to join you guys for the bake, even if I didn't fish. I know it's going to be a good time.
I really should consider giving my shit away. I've got lots of gear that's still good. New reel, line and flies I've never swung. Seems a bit of a shame to have it just sitting. Another good reason for me to go to the bake, we can have drunk-monk trivia night where I give my gear away.
Best to you.
Me: That has to be one of the most interesting things I have ever read. I am a firm believer is to each is their own and I am glad you found something like that to have in your life. I hope your health has improved through this process as well.
If you want to make it to the bake then that works man. So you don't fish anymore at all? Is that a spiritual thing or a personal thing? I fished the Y in Early Dec and it was very fair, the early high water scoured it pretty good. I have been curious if the Skwalas were hatching though. Every time there is a high water year is seems the river has to rebuild itself all the time. Not like it was when I started fishing it in the late 90's.
Hope all is well for you man,
Anonymous: Yes, the Y is strange like that. It does kind of reconfigure itself in spots.
As for the fishing part, yeah, I'm more or less done. I made some vows that include not killing or harming anything without necessity and I'm afraid fishing for me was all sport, so whether I like it or not, fishing is off my list of activities. <sigh> The committed Buddhist lifestyle has it's pitfalls, and this is surely one of them for me. It's a difficult concept to explain to folks so I wouldn't be surprised if you were scratching your head about the whole thing.
Me: My best to you as well. The Y will always be a humbling river to me that when the stars align can be epic, just have to weed through the many slow days. I will keep ya posted as the bake goes and gets closer.
Take Care,
"In truth you can throw dries and swing flies and still be a loser. That would be an elite loser though.
Rare breed." - MTgrayling
"You guys know the Magic Hour???? Yeah it just happened I was there!!!" DK