Category Archives: fly fishing

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True Joy

See that smile? The young child just caught her first fish. What was just an ordinary day at camp suddenly turned into a lifelong memory filled day at camp when the young girl suddenly shouted out one of those most famous of fishing quotes,…… “I got one, I got one!”

This past summer I got to witness a moment of true joy, joy that had to come from Heaven. You see that smile? The young lady on the right is one of the church camp’s fellows/interns. Their “job” is to provide the guests with, well, any and everything. The “fellows/interns” are an amazing group of young people. They commit to giving of themselves for one year here at camp. One full year of serving God by serving man in this most beautiful of mountain camps. One full year of Bible studies, serving meals, cleaning, preparing for the next family group, praise and worship, making lifelong friends, enjoying God’s majestic creations, and picking up straw and pine cones (an inside joke 😉 ) Today her “job” was to help this family go fishing. It’s pretty obvious that she too was filled with “Joy from Above”.

You see that smile? The young lady on the left is the Mother of the young child who just caught her first fish. Now, get this. She caught her first fish when her Mother took her fishing at this very same pond at this very same church camp 27 years ago. A tradition continues!!

You see that smile? Well, it’s the one I’m wearing behind the scenes. This past summer I got to take lots of folks fishing. I know, I know, it’s such a terrible suffering that I must endure having to take folks into the mountains here to fish. But what I’m fixing to say is so true. Yes, I take people fishing here in the mountains, but honestly I take them to experience God! Ask any or all of the families, or dads, or children, or grandpas,…….. or the Mother of this child. Ask them did You feel God’s presence today? Was the joy that you experienced something that had to be supernatural. A joy that could only be described as a “taste of what heaven is like”.

That’s my “job” here at the church camp. Well, my job description on paper is that I’m the groundskeeper. You know, chainsaw work, weed eating, landscaping, (and picking up straw and pine cones).

But here’s a little secret. I’m here to help people experience God. To truly see Jesus and His Love, to feel His presence in these mountains and streams and pond here at church camp……that’s my mission. Here’s how it works.

This particular day, I’m cleaning up the property of fallen limbs from the storm. (I call it dancing with the chainsaw,…… I dance a lot!) I notice several people at the pond fishing. This particular family is fishing, but they are using the wrong bait. Oh, the bait would be great for 5 pound bass, but not for the small brook trout in this pond. I go back to the truck and get a few flies that I know these fish will bite. Something about fishing over the years, I enjoy seeing others catch a fish as much or more than me catching one myself. I tell the young child to try one of these baits. I share one of another of those famous fishing quotes,…… “The fish will bite this!” The young Mother helps her daughter put the bait on the line and casts it into the pond. Now we wait.

The wait is not long. Fish grabs hook. Child shouts “I got one, I got one!” Everybody goes from half asleep to “Battle stations”! “Get the net”, another famous fishing quote is heard in all the business of landing her first fish. While all this hectic activity is going on, I run over with my phone and begin taking pictures. My daughter has taught me a lot about photography. It’s all about the angle. It’s all about the lighting. But today, …..today,…… it’s all about the moment!

Look at the picture. The moment was captured on that image. Oh sure it’s a picture of someone fishing. But, it’s more. It’s a picture of true joy. Joy like that can only come from one source…….. God.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Joy is a state of being. Happiness comes from circumstances. That’s why fishing brings joy to so many people. Even those days when the fish aren’t biting there is this sense of joy. But man when they do bite. Woohoo!!!!!

Now let’s talk about you. What’s your “job”? What’s your mission? This story shares some of the “behind the scenes” things that happened to make this fishing adventure come alive. (Example: Getting the right bait) You guys that are reading this have so many opportunities to help others see and experience God’s Love and Joy! (Examples: a kind word, a helping hand, sharing with another person’s burden, on and on) If you can spread a little joy, especially with all that’s going on in this world, there will be someone who has that smile of “Joy from Above”. And that someone, may even be YOU!

“I’ve got that Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy down in my heart…..” See Ya Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, fishing guide

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They That Wait On The Lord,…… Are Called Crazy??

The is the rainbow trail, very rocky and definitely not smooth and flat. Also it’s in the edge of the wilderness and is at 9000 ft altitude. Question…… Would you run, hike, trot, jog 100 yards on this path? How about one mile? How about, get this,…… 100 miles! You are reading this correctly! In the middle of our 10 day backcountry elk hunt/ fishing trip, we witnessed a most unbelievable site! People were running, hiking, trotting, this trail for a total of 100 miles. These people are crazy! Teenagers, young women and men, even a handful of 70+ year olds were determined to make the distance of 100 miles. I know, I agree, it’s just a crazy thing for someone to do. I’ve got it figured out now though. They do this because they are waiting……….

One elderly lady passed through our camp late at night as she was continuing her quest for 100 miles. (She looked 75 – 80ish) We asked her how she was doing. Her words were this…..”I’ve done 84 miles so far, looks like I’m gonna make my 100″. Those people are CRAZY!!

My job on this journey into the wilderness was to get my guys close to some elk. We were archery hunting. We definitely got into elk, but not close enough to bring meat home. These guys from West Virginia that I had the opportunity to “guide” were amazing! They were fun to be around, enjoyed God’s beauty in the mountains, and weren’t afraid to walk. They actually clocked in over 60 miles while on this trip. Unlike the runners, their walking was up and down the mountains, (9,000 to 12,000). Many days while hunting, they would hear an elk bugle and they would take off to its location. Didn’t matter how far or how hard! These guys were CRAZY!

Don’t let the picture fool you. It would take most folks 2- 3 hours of heavy breathing to climb this mountain. Would you do it? Most of you are saying no, cause that’s just crazy to climb that for a shot at an elk. But I’ve got this figured out. They do it because they are waiting…… and I guess that makes them crazy!

What about this picture? Would you hike a grand total of 11 miles to be able to fish this lake?

I made it to the top Macy Lake in the middle of this wilderness. A most beautiful place at 12,000 feet altitude. Caught two of the biggest cutthroat trout I’ve ever caught. Would I do this steep, 11 mile long trip again? Yep, why? Because I’m crazy and besides that, I’m waiting…………

Isaiah 40: 29-31 [The everlasting God, the Creator] gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,…….

But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength: They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Do you see a common thread in all these “crazy” people? They are definitely crazy (me included), but they are all also waiting……… Allow me to explain.

Here’s another example of waiting. I’m in the middle of WAITING on my daughter. She’s getting married in three weeks. It’s an outdoor wedding, which means that I’ve been truly busy landscaping, weed eating, graveling roads, and “yes ma’m”ing any and everything she needs.

See, waiting is not necessarily sitting on the couch eating ‘tater chips. It can actually be actively involved with whatever process is happening. The runners are waiting for that “runners high” to kick in as they are on the 35th mile. The elk hunters are waiting for a close up shot as they stalk up the mountain. I’m waiting on that big fish to hit my hand tied fly. Hope is eternal!

I’m now waiting on my daughter to enjoy her special day…… even as we enjoy this busy time preparing for what’s to come. Each day is about to wear me out as I wait on her “hand and foot”. Ha! But each day is a joy because my waiting on her is giving me the opportunity to wait for something even more joyful!

Waiting…….. look at it a little differently. Actively involved with current activities while expectantly looking forward to MORE. Bigger and better things. That’s my take on me waiting upon the Lord. I’m not in a state of “doing nothing”. I’m in a state of “being”. My focus is on the Lord and His Will for me. If in my spiritual journey that means I “run for miles”, or “stalk straight up a mountain”, or try “eight different flies before I find the right one”, then it means that I am “waiting on the Lord”. I’m following Him, BEING with Him, and fully expecting more to this life as time goes on.

I totally agree that there are times when we wait on God by slowing down, by just praying, by just having a quiet time by the creek. But what I came to realize while in the backcountry for ten days is this. They that wait upon the Lord,……… are crazy! They are not after a goal, but rather the journey. They are crazy! They don’t think like most people of the world…….. they are focusing on having the Mind of Christ. They are crazy!

They are waiting! Not by idly passing their time, idly flipping through the channels, or going through the motions. They are actively in pursuit of God and His activities. Actively chasing where He is leading them. Actively waiting! They are CRAZY!

God, please give me and my friends the strength to follow You. Amen

I’m waiting on God. Actively waiting that is. Call me crazy! What about you?

Crazy wilderness preacher Dan Ainsworth

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To Be Successful In Life, Fish Like A Girl!

“You’ve got to fish like a girl!” Those words still ring in my head. I was fishing with a professional guide on the Arkansas River. He gets paid to fish, and he gets paid to give advice. He makes a living by helping others be successful. Quite honestly, his success as a professional fishing guide depends on the success he gives others as they fish.

So, I hired this guy to help me learn more about fishing for trout in the river. Good guy, fun to be around, full of knowledge, and ready and willing to help me have a successful fishing trip.

We met at the local fly shop. He picked out various flies and lures that the fish had been biting lately. We had some small talk. (I think he just wanted to hear me talk, with that Southern drawl thang I got goin’ on ya’know!)

He asked me what goals I had as far as fishing the river today. I pondered the question. Should I say, “I want to catch twenty fish, or I want to improve my casting abilities, or I want to catch the largest trophy trout ever caught from these waters.?”

I think my answer was pretty clever. “I want to be successful today!” My answer to his question should cover any and all desires, goals, plans, …… whatevers that are out there. Make me SUCCESSFUL! Brilliant! He should be impressed, cause I am! Teach me O wise guide. Er, Ah,…… I know how to fish, just tell me your secrets, techniques, hidden skills so that I can catch more………… and be successful.

He looks right through me with that “this guy is full of it” look. Sizes me up as if he’s got x-ray vision with those sunglasses of his. Then he says this. “I don’t know if you can do it. But to be successful in life, in love, and in fishing, you’ve got to fish like a girl!”

Well, alrighty then! Didn’t know I was talking to a psychologist or some kind of life’s guru. I want to catch fish and he’s telling me that if I want to be successful in life I’ve got to “fish like a girl”?

This could be a most interesting day is what I’m now thinking. Is this guy going to guide me fishing, or is he going to tell me how to live my life? Come to find out,…… he did both.

As we wade into the water to begin our fishing adventure, my guide begins to explain. “Here’s what I mean when I say you need to “fish like a girl”. Every man I guide fishing does the same thing. They wade out into the middle of the river as deep as their waders will take them. Then they cast their lines out forty, fifty yards, or even more!!! Looks like they are trying out for one of those Hollywood movies. Trying to impress everyone, (mainly themselves). Listen, basically it’s all about themselves. How far they can cast, how deep they can wade. They think their technique is better than anyone else’s. When the fish don’t bite, it’s never their fault. A man fishes and it’s all about “me, myself, and I”.

“But when a girl fishes……” he continues. As he’s talking, a smile big as Colorado itself shines on his face. “When a girl fishes, she’s all about the experience of fishing. She will wade out into the water maybe ankle deep. She throws her line maybe 20 feet ahead of her. And by George, she catches fish. Here’s why. “

“She’s not all about herself first of all. She’s into the fishing. She doesn’t wade but ankle deep into the water. Don’t know exactly why this is, but….. this gives her an advantage to see the waters (and fish) ahead of her. She doesn’t have to impress herself and others by throwing the fly way, way out there. She throws it closer to her. This gives her more control. She can naturally present the lure better. Also, she can set the hook quicker.

This guy is good! He is definitely giving me lessons on flyfishing, (and life in general). What I’m realizing is to “fish like a girl” means to quit letting everything be about me, myself, and I. Focus on the fish, watch the waters ahead of you. The next cast. That’s all that matters.

The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope. John Buchan

When us guys (and some ladies) go fishing, isn’t it about I, I, I? That’s why we get frustrated when we don’t catch anything. That’s why we get discouraged after fishing for a time. That’s why we want to “give up” and call it a day way too quick. It’s because we feel that we are not successful. You and I think that there is something about us that is “not good enough” that is causing us to not catch anything.

Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. John 7:18

That scripture is telling us to “fish like a girl ” as well. See, if it’s all about you, whether in life, love, or fishing……. there is only so much to gain. It only takes you so far when it’s about me, myself, and I. Then it’s back to frustrations. But to see the whole truth. To BE REAL, in life, love, and fishing,…… then live your life and “fish like a girl”! Focus on what’s ahead. Focus on the experience not on yourself. In my way of believing AND living, that means focus on what God is doing in and around me. Live life each day talking (and listening) to God. How do you do that? Best way I’ve found to explain living like that is to …….. you guessed it…….. “fish like a girl”.

This week starts my ten day backcountry elk hunt/fly fishing trip with seven other guys. I’ll give you highlights to our adventure in a few days. Basically I’ll be guiding them into the Sangre de Cristo mountain range and teaching them to live and “fish like a girl”. Just don’t expect to hear any little giggling going on.

Ladies, girls,……. let’s go fishing. Allow me to tag along and fish with you. I’m pretty sure I can learn a lot from you. About fishing….. and life in general.

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth, wilderness preacher and now living life “fishing like a girl”