On the Winter Solstice

December 25, 2004 By: Marshall Cutchin

One of the benefits of writing the daily fly fishing news is that we get to talk about days, rather than months or weeks, of importance to fisherman. None ranks more important in our eyes than the winter solstice, if only because we believe that fish are happier when days are getting longer (though we understand there might be more than a little anthropomorphic projection here). Most religions founded in the northern hemisphere have marked the beginning of longer light with a major celebration or two. Regardless of culture, it’s one of those coincidences that people who enjoy the out of doors welcome, because we feel it in our bones.
The return of light can mean just about anything you want it to. It’s traditionally celebrated as a birth of something new, a feast to mark better times ahead, and a reason to give back to those who’ve meant something important in the year past.
We’d like to suggest starting the season this year by bringing something new into the mix. Try something you haven’t tried before. Engage someone who wouldn’t normally be pulled into your orbit. Or just promise yourself that you’ll step back one or two steps and see yourself as a smaller part of a much larger game in which we are all lucky participants.
Most of all, MidCurrent hopes you have a wonderful holiday. It’s only going to get better.