The History Of Fly Fishing
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Fly fishing is a popular sport among people of all ages. For these people, there is nothing better than spending a day with friends and family out on the water trying to catch a big fish for bragging rights. As much fun as these people have doing this sport, how many people have actually stopped to consider the actual history of fly fishing? For those that do stop to consider it, they will find that the history of fly fishing is an interesting one.
The Mediterranean And European Connection
The earliest instances of fly fishing were recorded by a Roman named Claudius Aelianus. It was during this time (the end of the 2nd century) that he told of how Macedonian anglers used long poles cast out in the water (much in the manner of modern fly fishing) of the Astraeus River.
Fly fishing as it is commonly known today originated on the rocky shores of Northern England and Scotland. The sport continued to be developed during the 19th century in Britain. During this time, there was a rise in popularity of clubs and books on the subject.
Dry fly fishing became an elite hobby in Southern England, as it was considered the only appropriate way to fish in rivers such as Dorset, Hampshire, Berkshire, and Surrey. The reason for this was that the weeds grew very close to the surface of these rivers, and so it was important to develop this dry technique, so that the line and the fly could be kept on the stream’s surface.
Fly Fishing And The United States
The American attitude towards fly fishing during the 19th century was not as particular as what was adopted in Britain. Dry and wet methods of the sport were implemented according to the different water conditions throughout the country.
Also during this time, Americans experiments with different materials to be used in the fly fishing experience. Fishing lines were made out of horse hair or silk, and rods were made out of woods such as greenheart (a tropical wood) and bamboo.
Fly fishing reached the height of its popularity during the 1920s. Many famous people delighted in the sport, and the most popular locations for the sport were in Wisconsin, Vermont, and Maine. Literature and movies have also contributed to the sport’s popularity. Ernest Hemingway’s book The Sun Also Rises, as well as the Brad Pitt movie A River Runs Through it, both featured this sport in their storylines.
Thus, for those who enjoy this sport, the next time they embark upon a fishing trip they can now know that it is a sport that has been hundreds of years in the making. Indeed, this sport is just getting better and better with new techniques being developed all the time to make the experience the best that it can be.
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