The History of Fly Fishing
“Fly fishing” is a method of catching fish in which the “angler” (the person doing the fishing) “casts” (tosses) a fishing line with an artificial fly onto the surface of the water to attract fish.
This method of fishing which has gained popularity in the US in recent years, actually has its roots in ancient history. There is some debate about whether the first recorded account of fly fishing was Claudius Aelianus in the Second Century or Marcus Valerius Martialis, two hundred years before Claudius Aelianus.
Advances in technology have impacted fly fishing materials and techniques. Fly fishing practices have also influenced other kinds of fishing, like bass fishing. The original elements of fly fishing are the rod, the fishing line and the decoy fly. Reels were developed later; artificial materials replaced natural materials as technology evolved.
The earliest account of creating a decoy fly described tying red wool around a hook and attaching rooster feathers. Flies are designed to attract fish either by imitating the mayfly, dragonfly and other prey the fish actually eats, or to trigger an instinctive response in the fish.
In the case of imitation or decoy flies, they not only look like the real thing, but they positioned to behave like the real thing. So a fly that looks like a caddis fly, will also be designed to float on the water’s
surface. Likewise, a decoy designed to look like a nymph will be positioned just below the surface of the water. The ability to tie flies is an art in itself.
The type of fishing line used impacts how a person casts. Historically lines were made of silk or horse hair, which had enough weigh to land the fly in the desired place. These materials did become water-logged after repeated use. By the mid-20th Century, not only were braided and monofilament nylon lines available, but it was possible to control the thickness of the PVC coat on new fishing line. The ability to control the weight and diameter of waterproof modern fishing line made improved casting easier.
Historically fishing rods were made of wood, like greenheart
and bamboo. The development of the fishing reel in the late 19th Century also allowed the angler to control the movement of the fly line to control the response of the fish. In the late 1940’s, after World War II, fishing rods were made out of fiberglass.
Even with the latest materials, anglers need to develop an effective technique. Fly fishing