For me, fly fishing is a meditation. The rhythm of stripping streamers, the intentionality of every mend, the sharp focus of a timely hookset– all of these things draw me into the present moment. It is a humbling process of realizing all that you are and all that you could be. Loose knots and lost flies for the hundredth time. Knowing better, but anxiously palming a screaming reel well into its backing. The joy of fly fishing is rooted in overcoming these frustrations. I am forever in debt to all of the rivers I’ve waded in since I was a little girl, for they have taught me what it means to be aware. Coming into my 17th year, I am only beginning to realize what being a responsible outdoors woman entails.
I’ve learned that fostering a personal connection to the land is essential for contextualizing all that is happening to the natural world. These intimate moments spent in nature bridge the space that leaves so many people detached from headlining environmental issues. I feel fortunate to be able to fish rivers like the McCloud because I know my experiences on it are uncommon to many people.
MY ANGLE
Genevieve Chiu-Schaepe
CalTrout Member since 2016