As previously stated, elsewhere on the website, I am a gadget collector. I have been known to expend a considerable amount of time in researching something that might exist, based on an almost random idea that flits through my mind in a moment of what I really hope is clarity. Sometimes they add to future adventures, sometimes that simply don’t pan out, but the path is interesting to me, nonetheless. I have things on my fly fishing vest that are there in case I encounter that one possible situation where it could be essential…but I have not had to use them, so far. Do they come off the vest or out of the pockets? No. Never know when that one item will make all the difference … a minor difference … or might just be fun to finally make use of it
My fascination with this extends beyond physical objects, as well. My “smart”phone has a full page of apps that reference the outdoors (camping, fishing, hiking, etc). The value of them is in the planning phase, rather than attempting to intrude them into the still and peace of the moment. One of my favorites is River Flows (http://www.riverflowsapp.com/), which I use at least daily in fishing season, as part of analyzing the conditions and relative successes of selected days. I keep a file of the pictures I take (yes, my cellphone, in airplane mode, hangs around my neck in a waterproof clear bag, while fishing) and make note of the date and either water depth or rate of flow, so I can better envision the conditions I am likely to see on a given day, in the future.
On a day in July of last year, one of my favorite rivers looked like this at 147 cfs:
Roughly three weeks later, at 66 cfs, it looked like this:
Different stretch, but I know both of them in context, so the comparison still works for me.
The one thing that is interesting to note is that I do not allow more than just the occasional picture taking to intrude into the moment, when fishing. There is, and needs to be, a filter between the preparation and the execution, in order for the experience to be what it should be…at least for me. I will put a lot of time and effort into building a model for what could be a good day to go fly fishing, but in the end, the actual outing on the water needs to be unencumbered by such thoughts, if it is to be a break from the world, a chance to truly relax, and an escape. And, make no mistake, it must be those things. That is why, despite all the apps, etc, the irony is that the best places to engage in these activities have NO cell/data reception, at all! Could I get a more scientific analysis by selecting a fixed point to consistently take the comparison pictures? Sure. Would I enjoy the time on the water as much, with the nagging thought that I had to remember to do that? No. I take the pictures in the moment, because something about the view makes a connection for me.
So, how I enjoy my retreats will continue to feed the gadget aficionado side of me, but only as a side note that just happens to sync up, in the background.
Tight lines!