| Fly fishing has been around in various | | | | anglers fished both dry and wet flies. |
| forms for many years. Early historical | | | | This materials have continued to develop |
| records indicate that Macedonian | | | | over the years. Significant advances |
| fishermen were using artificial flies to | | | | have been made in this equipment, |
| catch fish as early as the second | | | | including rods, line and flies. |
| century. The Roman Claudius Aelianus | | | | Early fly fishing rods were made from a |
| described the Macedonian anglers as | | | | tropical wood known as greenheart. |
| using six-foot rods with six-foot line. | | | | Bamboo replaced greenheart as fly |
| Aelianus detailed how the Macedonian | | | | fishing popularity spread. Bamboo rods |
| fishermen would craft artificial flies | | | | were further refined as American rod |
| from a hook with red wool and insect | | | | builders developed advanced rod building |
| wings tied on. These Macedonian | | | | techniques that involved cutting the |
| fishermen were apparently quite | | | | bamboo into strips before gluing the |
| successful with their technique. There | | | | bamboo back together around a solid |
| is also some evidence that fishing with | | | | core. Following World War II fiberglass |
| artificial flies may even predate the | | | | became a popular material for fly rod |
| second-century Macedonian techniques. | | | | construction. The fiberglass rods were |
| Unfortunately, little else was written | | | | more affordable than their bamboo |
| about ancient fly fishing methods. It | | | | predecessors since bamboo rods may take |
| was 1496 before any major work was | | | | as much as 100 hours to build. Modern |
| published describing fly fishing. | | | | rods are usually made from a graphite |
| It is thought that modern fly fishing | | | | compound. Modern rods are less expensive |
| probably developed in England and | | | | than earlier rods and perform |
| Scotland. This techniques similar to | | | | exceptionally well. |
| modern techniques began to be developed | | | | Artificial flies were originally made |
| in England in the 19th century. Around | | | | from natural materials like feathers and |
| this time fly fishing clubs were also | | | | fur. Most modern flies are made from |
| formed in England to accommodate a | | | | synthetic materials. |
| growing interest in the sport. Part of | | | | Fly line has also been improved quite a |
| the interest in this fishing in southern | | | | bit. Fly line used to be made of horse |
| England was because of the prevalence of | | | | hair. Horse hair line was replaced by |
| shallow, weedy rivers. It proved to be | | | | silk line. The silk line was an |
| well-adapted to this type of water | | | | improvement over horse hair but the |
| course. | | | | line still had to be removed from the |
| It quickly became something of an | | | | reel periodically to allow it to dry. |
| elitist sport in England. It purists | | | | US interest in fly fishing peaked in the |
| insisted on fishing with dry flies only | | | | 1920s with Maine, Vermont and Wisconsin |
| and looked down on wet fishing as being | | | | being the most popular areas for |
| inferior. Wet fishing continued to be | | | | fishing. Interest increased again in the |
| developed around the same time, however. | | | | 1950s with the development of |
| The US and Scandinavia also saw fly | | | | affordable, fiberglass fishing rods, |
| fishing popularity increase during the | | | | synthetic fly line and monofilament |
| 19th century. However, anglers in the US | | | | leaders. These developments served to |
| and Scandinavia did not share the | | | | make it a more affordable sport for many |
| English view concerning the superiority | | | | people. |
| of dry fishing. US and Scandinavian | | | | |