The History of Fly Fishing

Nobody really knows for sure when or where fly fishing first began. It is thought to have existed long ago in ancient times. Claudius Aelianus made one of the earliest written references to fly fishing. In 200 AD he referred to people that were fishing in a river using a hand made fly. He described how they attached red wool and feathers to a hook. What they used for rods were about six feet long and had a short string attached. These ancient people are known as the Macedonians. Since the time of Aelianus through the present people have been writing about fly fishing. Perhaps more importantly, many thousands of others people have been actively enjoying the sport.

Long ago the Princess of Soapwell, England, was a passionate fly fisherman. Her name was Dame Juliana Berners and she was a master at the sport. While Columbus was searching for the New World, she was publishing an extensive essay on the art of fly fishing. In her treatise she described the twelve different types of fly, including detailed instructions about how to tie them. These patterns were put into categories identified by the month they were most often used.

In addition she described the rods that were being used for fly fishing at that time. In general they measured about 18 feet long and were quite flexible. They were made of various types of wood, each used for their flexibility. By today's standards the lines were short, and consisted of hand-braided horsehair. The general rule of thumb at the time was that the line should be no longer then the fishing rod itself. The lines were tied directly to the tip of the pole.

Many fly fishermen have used these same patterns today. Often they are just as effective today as they were more than five hundred years ago. Some of the more popular patterns include the Wooly Worm, Black Gnat, Whirling Dun and the Stonefly.

In the mid 1600's Isaak Walton published a book called "Compleat Angler." Izaak Walton has been considered the patron saint of anglers, and of fly fishing in particular since the publication of that great work. It turns out that it was actually his friend, Charles Cotton that supplied the portion of the book that focused on fly fishing. The flies and rods that were described in this book are strikingly similar to those described by Dame Juliana. The lines described were, however, somewhat different. Horsehair was still used but they were about six feet longer than those described earlier. In addition some of the lines were tapered. This is believed to be the first time that tapered lines were described in writing.

Fishing line makers began mixing silk in with the horsehair in the early 1800's. By the time of the Civil War all silk lines were being made for the first time. They were coated with an oily substance that made them water resistant. Pure horsehair lines were almost never used after that.

In 1948 the first nylon line was made. Synthetic materials have been used extensively from that point on and continue to evolve. In 1952, a technology was developed that made a precisely tapered line possible in an automated process. Great strides have been made in the production of fly fishing equipment since that time and with every innovation comes an increased ability to make the perfect presentation to a trophy fish.

Mike H.

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Dry fly fishing was developed in southern England in rivers and chalk streams that were full of vegetation, as this was the best method of avoiding the weeds and other water vegetation that grew near the surface of certain bodies of water and, to some, acquired the reputation of the only acceptable method of fishing the slower clear rivers of the south.

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The History of Fly Fishing

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