The thrill in fly-fishing really comes from pitting your wits against the most cunning fish nature have to offer. When you win, the victory is mental as well as physical and it is wonderful. There is a strong temptation to keep some kind of memento from that sort of epic battle. All types of fishing originated as a means to supplement the diet with one of the healthiest and best tasting foods out there, so it is natural for the fly-fishing experience to culminate in a delicious meal. Knowing you’ve caught and prepared that dinner yourself will give the whole thing a special zest.

The other option is to practice catch and release fly-fishing. This is just as satisfying as catching and eating your fish because you know that the fish you have just caught is going to go on to spawn many more like it. The stronger the battle to catch the fish, the more rewarding it is to know that it’s line will continue. You can take a picture to preserve your victory for posterity. So when fly-fishing make sure you decide beforehand whether you are fishing wild fish that need to be conserved or hatchery fish that are more likely to make a scrumptious meal.

There’s glory in both choices and a great deal of fun to be had just by being out there on the water.