There aren’t many articles in fly fishing magazines that lay out the technique required for taking a streamside nap. However, it is an aspect of angling that has been connected to the culture for centuries. Some swear by the practice. Some unintentionally integrate it into every expedition. Some have a particular process; some happen into naps if they sit still for more than the better part of a minute.

One does not need a reason to take a nap while fishing. And yet, there are plenty of reasons. It could be as simple as the fact that you’re tired. The morning could have been early and the hiking may have been rigorous. There is also the kind of sleepy that comes from a seasonably warm afternoon and the contentment of being somewhere beautiful. The biological impulse to pause should not be overlooked.

It might be a tactical nap. The heat of the day, a lull in insect activity, or a wait to connect with an angling companion  could be the next item on your itinerary. You could keep hammering the water, even though the odds are less in your favor. Or, you may benefit from lowering the quantity of your fishing to increase the quality.

Catching a nice fish is a justifiable circumstance. So is losing a nice fish. Some may want to allow their body to process a hearty shore lunch. Others may need to give their body a chance to work out what they consumed the previous evening.

More than once I’ve found myself under a large evergreen, eyelids drooping from the droning thumps of raindrops on forest floor. Waiting out a passing shower is a very utilitarian reason to put down your rod and be still for a while. The sensations of sleeping in a tent during a light rain is what many white noise devices attempt to emulate. Under a pine bough, wrapped in waders and a jacket, you can  experience this scenario in its most concentrated form.

It would be wise to take a few precautions. Don’t nap on an island in a tailwater. Don’t nap with a half eaten roast beef sandwich in your lap while in bear country. Don’t nap late in the afternoon if sunset is only a few hours away. But with those few outliers accounted for, it is a relatively accessible activity.

So, give it a shot. Maybe ease into it by intentionally sitting down on the streambank. Then, lay down and see how that feels. Take a moment to observe the bark of a log or watch the clouds pass by. Close your eyes. Remember that the trout respect a slow, deliberate approach. Contemplate the repetitive, calm finning under the surface and count the mayfly nymphs that pass over the fish’s head. Then wake up an hour later, ready for the rest of your day of fishing.