A Brief History of Fly Fishing
Fly fishing and history? Do you really want to bore your friends to tears at your next gathering? In all seriousness, the history of fly fishing is a fascinating topic that spans centuries and continents around the globe. Knowing its history can help us appreciate the roots of our passion.
In this article, we’ll break down fly fishing’s origins and development that have brought us to where we are today.
Key Points for the History of Fly Fishing
Fly fishing, in some form or another, has been practiced for centuries across the world. The first evidence of the pastime came from Roman author Aeulius in 200 AD and anglers in Japan were known to sling bugs on a long rod. Fly fishing began to take its modern form in 15th century Europe and as time progressed, works like “The Compleat Angler” by Izaak Walton popularized the pastime amongst the British upper class. Fly Fishing in America developed as European settlers arrived, especially in the Catskill region of New York. As Americans expanded West, so did fly fishing. Fly Fishing really took off in America with the release of “A River Runs Through It” and continues to grow in popularity in America and around the world.
Where Did Fly Fishing Originate?
The first recorded evidence of fly fishing came from Roman author Aelius in 200 AD. He described Macedonians anglers using artificial lures made from wool and feathers to catch fish on the Astraeus River. In his book On the Nature of Animals in Volume 17, he writes:
“..they have planned a snare for the fish, and get the better of them by their fisherman’s craft… They fasten red wool… round a hook, and fit on to the wool two feathers which grow under a cock’s wattles, and which in color are like wax. Their rod is six feet long, and their line is the same length. Then they throw their snare, and the fish, attracted and maddened by the color, comes straight at it, thinking from the pretty sight to gain a dainty mouthful; when, however, it opens its jaws, it is caught by the hook, and enjoys a bitter repast, a captive.”
Aelius, on the nature of animals
That sure as hell sounds like fly fishing to me. Using wool and feathers on a hook to fool fish sounds strikingly similar to what we do today and is wild to think that ancient Romans were doing the same when they weren’t fighting wars or philosophizing.
Some historians claim that Martial (Marcus Valerius Martialus), born hundreds of years before Aelius, made mention of anglers using flies in his writings, though there is some debate on the translation of his work being accurate.
Either way, the history of fly fishing was first documented by ancient Romans nearly two millennia ago. It’s likely that fly fishing was practiced for some time before that, though no one bothered to write it down. They were probably having too much fun fishing.
Hundreds of years later in a different part of the world, another style of fly fishing was awakening. During the 12th century, Japanese anglers began to hunt for fish with long rods and lures resembling flies. This was the very early stages of modern Tenkara fishing and was known as “Ayu” at the time.
With the Ayu style of fishing, anglers used long rods and thin lines to place their flies on the surface to entice bites. No physical casting was required (similar to modern Tenkara), anglers simply “dabbed” their flies along the surface and waited for fish to approach. Japanese men and women used this style of fishing as a necessity to catch food to eat and sell. It quickly became a standard practice.
Ayu fishing became so popular that it became official policy of the Bushi (Japanese warriors) to take part in the pastime in order to train their minds and hone in their focus. Sounds like the benefits of fly fishing we still feel today had the same effects on these anglers centuries ago.
While there is little documentation of the specific dates in which fly fishing was established, it’s clear that it in some shape or form, fly fishing was becoming popular in different parts of the world right after BC became AD. These ancient styles of the pastime expanded to different parts of the world and began to develop on into the modern version of fly fishing we know today.
When Was Fly Fishing Developed?
As fly fishing and its different forms sprouted around the world over different eras, it began to develop into its modern version in the 15th century in England.
The development of fly fishing took off during this time as the British made innovations to rods, lines, and casting techniques that quickly popularized the sport. Contrary to its humble origins, fly fishing in England was a sign of wealth and status, reserved only for the upper class of the social hierarchy. This is certainly where the elitist, snooty reputation of fly fishing stems from that has persisted for hundreds of years. That image of a tweed wearing aristocrat with a fly rod in his hand, scoffing at the peasants fishing with live worms you have in your head? Yes, it has historical merit.
While there were mentions of fly fishing in poems and other writings for centuries, the first book dedicated to the pastime was A Treatyse of Fysshynge wyth an Angle by Dame Juliana Berners, first published in 1496 (jeez, I felt like an aristocrat just typing that sentence). Anyway, it was the first book to specifically outline fly fishing ranging from diagrams of rods, setups, and fly fishing techniques. While the term “fly fishing” wasn’t directly mentioned, Fysshynge wyth an Angle described the gear and techniques synonymous with what we know was modern fly fishing.
Dame Berners, who was actually a nun, left an indelible mark on the history of fly fishing with her book. If you want to take a gander at it, check out the eBook from Project Gutenberg.
With the first ever instructional manual on fly fishing, the pastime grew all over England. Aristocrats took breaks from their poofy-haired ballroom dancing and hit the rivers with their fly rods. Things took a more serious turn during the English Civil War (1642-1651), but after that settled, fly fishing’s popularity accelerated even further. Peacetime gave more the British nobility more time to fish and develop fly fishing into what it looks like today.
No history of fly fishing would be complete without mention of perhaps the most famous fly fishing book ever written. Izaak Walton’s The Compleat Angler, published in 1653, celebrated the art of fly fishing and help popularize the sport even further throughout England. While it wasn’t necessarily the how-to technical book that Fysshynge wyth and Angle was, it’s philosophical prose offered bits of wisdom on nature and the human spirit. Walton’s book celebrated the natural world all through the lens of fly fishing and was greatly impactful on the growth of the sport not only during the 17th century, but also for centuries to come.
Who Invented Fly Fishing?
While people were technically fly fishing for centuries, there is no real identifiable inventor of the pastime. Writers like Aelius, Dame Berners, and Izaak Walton laid out fishing with artificial flies, but did not use the term “fly fishing.”
However, the fishing styles and techniques laid out in those works became what we know as “fly fishing” over time, especially when an addition was made to The Compleat Angler.
Charles Cotton, one of the Izaak Walton’s fishing buddies, wrote an addition to The Compleat Angler that laid out fly fishing more directly into what we know it as today. Specifically, he wrote how to “angle” for trout and grayling in clear streams using flies that gave people more direct instructions on how to fly fish.
So while the pastime was pretty well established at the time, Charles Cotton is credited with inventing the modern form of fly fishing. He’s contributions to The Compleat Angler detailed practical instructions on making flies, selecting patterns, and casting techniques. His description of the pastime is the most reflective of modern fly fishing, so while he didn’t coin the term, he does deserve credit for fly fishing’s growth and development.
Did Native Americans Fly Fish?
Before European settlers arrived in America, Native Americans had diverse and sophisticated methods of fishing, but fly fishing was not known to be one of them.
Many people believe that Native Americans were the originators of fly fishing, though their styles of fishing revolved more around catching fish for survival, rather than for pleasure. Techniques such as spearfishing, trapping, netting, and traditional hook and line methods were popular for many indigenous tribes around the continent.
While Native Americans did not practice fly fishing in the same way it developed in Europe (and later America), they had a rich and varied array of fishing techniques that were highly effective. Their methods reflected a deep understanding of their environment and became intertwined in many of their cultures.
Fly Fishing in America did not originate from Native Americans, but was rather adopted as Europeans began to settle in American soil.
When Did Fly Fishing Start in America?
While fly fishing was popular for British aristocrats in the 1600s, it did not exist yet in America. Well, that’s because America wasn’t a country yet, but nonetheless once the British began settling in America, fly fishing quickly became popularized.
British naturalist Joseph Banks recorded fly fishing for brook trout in the New England region as early as 1766 and is regarded as the first mention of fly fishing in America. There is some dispute on this being the first reference to fly fishing, as a letter written in 1764 by Rodney Home suggests he was slingin’ bugs down in Florida (read more about that here). Either way, Banks’ diary entry is the more established mark of fly fishing in America and its growth exploded from there.
Much of this growth centered around the Castskills region of upstate New York. Local guides would take wealthy New Englanders fly fishing for brook trout and Atlantic salmon, similar to the opportunities the British had across the pond. Fly fishing was a sport for the wealthy but soon became more accessible to more Americans.
Advancements in fly fishing equipment began to take place. In the 1800s, Bamboo rods were developed along with new materials and techniques that popularized the pastime. In the late 1800’s, Theodore Gordon, along with English angler Frederic Halford, created and adapted the dry fly in the United States. Fly fishing was traditionally done with what we would call “wet flies,” but Gordon and Halford were the first to design flies that floated on top of the water. Gordon is credited with adapting dry fly fishing in America and to this day the Catskills region is known as “the birthplace of American dry fly fishing.”
In early 1900’s America, fly fishing was still reputed as a pastime for the wealthy and upper class. That began to change as the pastime became more visible to more people. Conservation efforts lead by President Teddy Roosevelt brought fly fishing (and all other outdoor pastimes) more attention to the American people. Clubs began to form and more people became familiar with the pastime. Technological advancements, such as the development of lighter lines, rods, reels, and flies took place which gave more people the opportunity to sling bugs. Further expansion out West, where fishing was and still is prominent, gave more people more access to fly fishing.
However, by the mid 19th century, interest in fly fishing was stagnant, even on the decline. Along with the advancements in fly fishing gear came developments in traditional spinning gear, and many people didn’t feel the need for the fly rod. Plus, it’s snooty reputation as a sport for the British elite likely drove some people off it.
That all changed with a book and a movie. No history of fly fishing in America would be complete without mention of Norman MacLeans “A River Runs Through It” and its 1992 film adaptation (check out a short review of the book here). Directed by Robert Redford and starring Brad Pitt, “A River Runs Through It” skyrocketed the popularity of fly fishing in American and propelled the pastime into the national spotlight. The film brought fly fishing into the mainstream and captured an audience who were previously uninterested or even unaware of the pastime. Fly fishing equipment retailers reported huge boosts in sales as interest grew. With its depiction of natural beauty, and romanticized portrayal of fly fishing, “A River Runs Through It” undoubtedly was a key moment in fly fishing’s history and inspired further growth of the pastime in America and around the world.
Fly fishing continues to grow in America. A study done 2022 reported that 7.5 million Americans fly fish with a steady climb since 2010. Modern developments in gears makes fly fishing more affordable and popular media like YouTube propel fly fishing’s growth and exposure. Fly fishing is on the rise!
Conclusion
The history of fly fishing is a fascinating journey that spans centuries and continents, blending ancient techniques with modern innovations. From its origins in Roman times to its development in medieval Japan and its evolution into a sophisticated sport in 15th century England, fly fishing is a testament to human ingenuity and a connection with nature. The pastime, once reserved for the elite, has spread to mainstream America and around the world and continues to grow.
The influence of literature, like Izaak Walton’s “The Compleat Angler” and later Norman Maclean’s “A River Runs Through It,” played a significant role in popularizing and romanticizing the sport. These works, along with technological advancements in fishing gear, helped fly fishing become more accessible and widely practiced.
Today, fly fishing is not just a sport but a cultural phenomenon that continues to inspire and connect people to the natural world, demonstrating the timeless appeal and enduring legacy of this unique form of angling.
