Excuses to go fishing -- fr...

The fundamental verities are very important, if we acknowledge them; if not, they have no meaning. One of the fundamental verities is that in this temporal sphere you only truly live Now -- and that few live Now. Most often, we live in a yesterday vision which we transpose upon today -- "Today will be like yesterday." Thus we are always assuming the future from the past but are never present. Through contemplative fishing we may experience moments of the present; of course we cannot seek them or they will be future; we just wade through them and focus on the delight in the moment -- not the joy of the delight, for then we are looking at our emotion. However, we have hope:

The mind roams and rambles all around in all directions. Meeting with the Holy, it is overpowered and brought under control, just as when the fisherman spreads his net over the water, he catches and overpowers the fish. (Shri Guru Granth Sahib, Section 32 - Raag Kaanraa)

"A weak fisherman caught a strong fish in his net and not being
able to retain it the fish overcame him and pulled the net from his
hand.

A boy went to bring water from the torrent.
The torrent came and took the boy away.
The net brought every time a fish.
This time the fish went and carried off the net.

The other fishermen were sorry and blamed him for not being able
to retain such a fish which had fallen into his net. He replied: 'O
brothers, what can be done? My day was not lucky but the fish had
yet one remaining. 'Moral: A fisherman cannot catch a fish in the
Tigris without a day of luck and a fish cannot die on dry ground
without the decree of fate."

THE GULISTAN OF SA'DI
by Sheikh Muslih-uddin Sa'di Shirazi (1258)

After almost 800 years, that is still the best excuse for losing a fish -- "in š? 'All?h" or in the Latin "Deo Volente" -- God Willing.

Sometimes, not only is God willing that you catch a fish, but a particular fish:

17:27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

(King James Bible, Matthew)

21:2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.

21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

21:4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

21:5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

21:6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

21:8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.

21:9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
(King James Bible, John)

Note, Jesus already caught His fish, but, like all good anglers, He shared his skill and knowledge with others. Of course, you may find a more profound moral here; but all I present is that the endeavor of fishing provides you with moments of hope, time to quiet your mind, an opportunity to acknowledge the presence of God, and a chance to experience the real world, not the vain constructs we assume to be real.