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Scrolling through social media, a video of a guy loaded down with gear caught my eye. The title mentioned hiking miles to photograph trout. It had my attention for three seconds before the doom-scrolling recommenced. His backpack, with way more gear than anyone should take fishing for brook trout, made me watch a bit longer. Then, he had me for good with the next view. A stunning underwater shot of a Southern Appalachian Brook Trout. It was colored up more than a carnival clown. I sent the video to my wife, whose response says a lot about me, “Oh great, is this another hobby?”

Honestly, it had not crossed my mind to hike miles deep into the Smoky Mountains carrying a drysuit and camera gear that cost more than my truck. The photographer’s passion was evident, and his finished product brought about an appreciation for a fish we can take for granted. But me, try this as a new hobby? What was she thinking?

Maybe it was my hobby of shooting skeet. One afternoon of shooting organized skeet with some older gentleman was all it took for me to dive headfirst into a pool of clay pigeons. My standard pump shotgun was upgraded to a target double barrel shotgun with inserts to allow it to shoot 12, 20, 28, and .410 gauge. 

Quickly, I signed up for the weekend tournaments. I practiced once a week at the range. But every broomstick, golf club, or regular old stick lying around was used to practice looking down the barrel and proper gun mount. Gaining an understanding of the shotgun brought about a better appreciation of it in the field.

If my wife wasn’t thinking of skeet, it could have been archery hunting for white-tailed deer. After rifle hunting for a few years, the alluring call of the stick and string sunk me into the depths of the internet, where advanced tree-climbing techniques, deer urine, and the psychology of focus live symbiotically.

If my wife wasn’t thinking of archery, it could have been tying flies for fly fishing. That hobby has ended up taking more square footage of our house than any other hobby. My obsession quickly acquired more tails, feathers, foam, and hooks that needed more than a bag to store. They are now in the “fly-tying room.”  Fly fishing not only needs flies but also fly rods. So, of course, I had to start building fly rods. Another endeavor one can study their whole life and still know very little.

Skeet shooting, archery hunting, and fly fishing take up less of my mental space than they did when I first started each hobby. I guess I am the typical “Jack of all trades, and master of none” when it comes to outdoor pursuits. Each deep dive into a new hobby brought a deeper understanding of our natural world and detail to its approach. It is healthy to constantly learn new skills throughout life. 

Maybe my wife is right. Backcountry underwater photography may be my new hobby. I’ll think about it as I research underwater cameras.