Scientific angling and the art of being in the present moment

By Kirston Koths

Studies of Turbulent Water shows Leonardo’s understanding of how vortices move.

This is the 500th anniversary of the publication of Leonardo da Vinci’s studies on water turbulence. Leonardo may not have been a fly fisher, but he was profoundly talented at observing the scientific world around him. He was fascinated, as are many fly fishers, with the complexity of the currents and vortices in moving water. To study them, he fashioned glass tanks and scattered grass seed into flowing water to help track the motion of its currents (see photo).

Fishers of dry flies, nymphs, and streamers are all well advised to understand currents and vortices -- and to stop and observe the aquatic world into which they are attempting to present a life-like imitation of something that fish might eat. Michael Checchio’s fine piece in the current edition of California Fly Fisher points to the publication of Richard and Swisher’s book, Selective Trout, as the origin of what may be called “scientific angling” -- the art of observing, gathering evidence, and forming conclusions about fish, their habitat, and what they feed upon. “The more we inquire, the more we discover what has been hidden from us...” writes Checchio. In the fifty years since the publication of Selective Trout, the concept of “matching the hatch” has been engrained in those who will take the time to observe.

I have noticed of late, in our harried, urbanized world, more and more people embracing one restorative tenant of Buddhism, “living in the present moment”. Checchio concludes his piece by noting “Fishing is one way to bring us back to earth. It’s a way for us to live in the present moment and to see the world as it really is.”

Leonardo da Vinci noted how water flows past a planar object & the patterns were stable & repeatable, noting flow was subject to physical laws. Images courtesy of the Royal Collection Trust.