A man should think when he fishing of all manner and shape of things, flowing as easily through the mind as the light stream among the rocks

... To this day I would rather see a fish, creep up to him and watch his rise to my fly than catch half a dozen fish unseen until they take.

There will be days when the fishing is better than one's most optimistic forecast, others when it is far worse. Either is a gain over just staying home.

I have fished through fishless days that I remember happily without regret.

A fisherman is always hopeful -- nearly always more hopeful than he has any right to be.

Anglers...exaggerate grossly and make gentle and inoffensive creatures sound like wounded buffalo and man-eating tigers.

A man should think when he fishing of all manner and shape of things, flowing as easily through the mind as the light stream among the rocks