After a week of typing on my keyboard, the feeling of running my hands through the hackle to select the perfect feather for a new fly is a welcomed one. Catching the first striped bass on this newly tied fly after an exam week is an even more welcomed feeling. Then there is the more analytical side of fly fishing. My fishing journals and notes are like my old lab notebooks, serving to collate the findings of repeated experiments with variables tweaked here and there. Over time, patterns unveil themselves - some of the best fishing occurs not on the eve of a full or new moon, but rather a couple of days after. An East wind does not necessarily mean a fishless night. With more attention paid to these variables - moon states, fly design, fly color, tides, water and air temperatures, wind direction, and atmospheric pressure - one becomes a better angler. Each season brings more hypotheses and more experiments to be conducted. This beautiful blend of art and science in fly fishing stokes my love for the sport, which will undoubtedly fuel my insatiable curiosity for years to come.
Fly fishing contributes to my mental wellness by serving as a connection to past fishing friends, as well as an avenue to pursue advocacy and support the striped bass fishery. One of the most challenging points in my medical training so far is the lack of time to see loved ones, fishing friends included. However, the striped bass begin their journey north to Maine in the spring and the phone calls from old fishing buddies quickly follow. Rumblings of the first fish reaching New York typically start in early April. One friend checked in daily to see if they had reached me here in Maine. After a week of fishing at least 4 hours a day and coming up short, on May 17th, I was able to share pictures of my first striped bass of the season. These texts and calls are just the beginning. Pictures and accompanying fish tales flood text message inboxes for the rest of the summer and fall. Fly fishing brings me great joy by allowing me to reconnect with old friends, from 8 years old to 85 years old, around our one shared passion.
Advocacy fits into our wellness routines, as well. We are mindful of the state of the fishery. To put it lightly, there is room for improvement with striped bass management. We at Fishin’ Physicians are committed to advocating for this fishery which has provided us with endless joy and needed respite. From signing onto letters submitted by the American Saltwater Guides Association, to creating messaging around harm reduction of the striped bass population on our social media platforms, to practicing 100% catch and release, our advocacy provides an avenue of wellness by giving us peace of mind that these fish will be around for future UNE COM classes and generations to come.
"Fly fishing, similar to medicine, is a stunning blend of an art and a science.
"Our advocacy provides an avenue of wellness by giving us peace of mind that these fish will be around for future UNE COM classes and generations to come.
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