An History Of Fly Fishing

Fly fishing has been around in various forms forshare the English purists' view concerning the
many years. While we are unable to be precisesuperiority of dry fly fishing. North American and
about the dates early historical records suggestScandinavian anglers fished both dry and wet flies.
that Macedonian fishermen were using artificialFly fishing materials have continued to develop
flies to catch fish as early as the second century.over the years. Significant advances have been
The Roman Claudius Aelianus described themade in fly fishing equipment, including rods, reel,
Macedonian anglers as using six-foot rods withline, flies, and knots.
six-foot line. Aelianus detailed how the MacedonianEarly fly fishing rods were made from a tropical
fishermen would craft artificial flies from a hookwood known as greenheart. Bamboo replaced
with red wool and insect wings tied on. Thesegreenheart as fly fishing popularity spread.
Macedonian fishermen were apparently quiteBamboo rods were further refined as American
resourceful with their technique. There is alsorod builders developed advanced rod building
some evidence that fishing with artificial flies maytechniques that involved cutting the bamboo into
even predate the second-century Macedonianstrips before gluing the bamboo strips back
techniques.together around a solid core. Following World War
Unfortunately, little else was written about ancientII fiberglass became a popular material for fly rod
fly fishing methods. It was not until 1496 beforeconstruction. This made the fiberglass rods more
any major published works describing fly fishingaffordable than their bamboo predecessors since
were known.bamboo rods might take as much as 100 hours
It is thought that the origin of modern fly fishingto build as they required less labor and finishing
as we know it today probably developed intime. Modern fly fishing rods are usually made
England and Scotland. Fly fishing techniques similarfrom a graphite compound. Modern rods are now
to modern techniques began to be developed inmuch less expensive than earlier rods and
England during the 19th century. Around this timeperform exceptionally well.
fly fishing associations were also known to haveArtificial flies were originally made from natural
been formed in England to accommodate thematerials like feathers and fur. Most modern flies
growing interest in the sport. A major reason forare made from synthetic materials.
the interest in fly fishing in southern England wasFly line has also been improved quite a bit. Fly
because of the prevalence of shallow, weedyfishing line used to be made of horse hair. Horse
rivers. Fly fishing proved to be well-adapted to thishair line was replaced by silk line. The silk line was
type of water course and enabled thosean improvement over horse hair but the line still
participating in the sport to show off their fishinghad to be removed from the reel periodically to
rods and other fly fishing equipment.allow it to dry.
Fly fishing quickly became something of an elitistUS interest in fly fishing peaked in the 1920s with
sport in England. English fly fishing purists insistedMaine, Vermont and Wisconsin being the most
on fishing with dry flies only and looked down onpopular areas for fly fishing. Interest increased
wet fly fishing as being inferior. Despite this puristagain in the 1950s with the development of
position wet fly fishing continued to be developedaffordable, fiberglass fly fishing rods, synthetic fly
around the same time. In North American andline, and monofilament leaders. These
Scandinavia fly fishing's popularity continued todevelopments served to make fly fishing a more
increase during the 19th century. However,affordable sport for many people.
anglers in North America and Scandinavia did not