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

A river is water is its loveliest form; rivers have life and sound and movement and infinity of variation, rivers are veins of the earth through which the lifeblood returns to the heart

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.

... 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.

I still don't know why I fish or why other men fish, except that we like it and it makes us think and feel.