The Magical Art of Fly Fishing

May 18th, 2011

Few activities offer the sport and serenity of fishing. That unlikely combination has made fishing a popular pastime for people of all ages and backgrounds. Presidents Jimmy Carter and Herbert Hoover did it. So did literary giant Ernest Hemingway.

Fly fishing elevates this rather humble sport to a true art form. A fly fisherman must develop a rhythm and style for his cast, and then practice unending patience. That’s why Izaac Walton called fly fishing “The Contemplative Man’s Recreation.”

Fly Fishing Factoids

Fishing has long been a means of sustenance, but it has also grown into a competitive sport and a relaxing pastime. Here are a few little-known facts about fly fishing.

• Roman Claudius Aelianus was the first to record fishing with an artificial fly. That was toward the end of 200 AD.
• Shakespeare was a fly fisherman. His fishing companion, John Dennys, wrote six verses on angling that Izaac Walton later quoted in The Compleat Angler.
• The Compleat Angler is the second most reprinted book in the world, after the Bible.
• Charles F. Orvis, an American fly fisherman, crafted the first modern fly reel. Reel historian Jim Brown called Orvis’ design “the benchmark of American reel design.”
• Brown trout were originally exported to Australia in 1864–solely for the purpose of giving young men access to a “manly sport” that would keep them from seeking entertainment in casinos and bars.
• Early fly rods were made of greenheart wood. Eventually bamboo replaced greenheart, but fiberglass replaced wood in the 1950’s. Similarly, flies once made of fur and other natural materials are now generally made of synthetics.

If you love to fish, what is your favorite part of the sport?

Further Reading:

The American Museum of Fly Fishing

Entry Filed under: collecting,gift ideas