The History of Fly Fishing

Although fly fishing was credited first to the Roman Claudius Aelianus sometime during the second century, modern history of fly fishing is said to have really originated on the rivers of Scotland and northern England. Fly fishing was directly associated with a book called The Treatyse of Fysshynge with an Angle, published in 1496, attributed to Dame Juliana Berners within her Boke of St. Albans. This boos provided instructions on how to carefully dress a fly at different times of the year, along with proper lessons on line, hook, and rod making.

However, the very first detailed history of fly fishing writing came in two different chapters of the book Compleat Angler, published by Izaak Walton. This book that talked about the history of fly fishing was actually written by Walton’s good friends, Charles Cotton, while Derbyshire Wye described the fishing.

British Fly-fishing

During the nineteenth century, British fly-fishing went on with its development after the fly fishing clubs emerged. The appearance various helpful books that dealt with fly tying methods and fly fishing techniques has added interest to fly fishing enthusiasts.

In southern England, dry-fishing has actually obtained an elitist reputation. Accordingly, this is the only legal method of fishing the rivers of the south like the River Test and some other streams in Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, and Dorset. The history of fly fishing tells us that later dry-fly developments were done after it was discovered that the weeds normally found in the rivers of the south grow very close to the surface. This required better techniques that keep both the fly and the line right within the surface of the stream.

But to the horror of dry-flying enthusiasts, George E.M. Skues wrote two books that greatly influenced developments of wet fly fishing. The books, The Way of a Trout with a Fly and Minor Tactics of the Chalk Stream gave way to wet fly fishing. The history of fly fishing, particularly wet-fly fishing, dating back early in the nineteenth-century, was all thanks to W.C. Stewart who published a book in 1857 called The Practical Angler.

History of Fly Fishing in America

During the late nineteenth century, American anglers like Ray Bergman, used fly tackles to fish into streams rich in trout; streams like Willowemoc Creek and Beaverkill. A lot of American fly fishermen developed better fly patterns and extensively wrote about this outdoor sport.

Today, upon knowing the history of fly fishing, more fishing enthusiasts have greatly appreciated the art of fly-fishing. With so many techniques to consider and so many places to visit, fly-fishing is one outdoor experience worth a try.