Fly Fishing - A Popular Sport Worldwide

The history of fly-fishing dates back to nearly 2000 years many cultures around the world have adopted the numerous fly-fishing styles. In recent years, it has become a very popular sport and is being practiced all over the world.

The basics of fly-fishing are simple enough to be learned within a few hours, with the assistance of a guide. Mastering the advanced techniques of the sport is a different ball game altogether and takes many years of dedicated effort. These factors hold the interest of anglers for a lifetime.

Fly-fishing is versatile enough to be adapted to a range of fishing conditions. It does not matter whether you are fishing for trout in a mountain stream in Europe or North America, or even casting a fly for bonefish in the Caribbean. The sport is so flexible that it has become very popular all around the world.

Early records of fly-fishing show that this type of fishing was carried on by the Macedonian anglers. They used six-foot rods and six-foot lines attached to artificial flies comprising of a hook decorated with insect wings and red wool. Very little was written about fly-fishing over the years, but in 1496, The Treatise of Fishing with an Angle was published. Later, in 1653 Isaac Walton wrote 'The Complete Angler' a book that contained many chapters on fly-fishing. All the information in these books points out to the fact that fly-fishing was a well – known fishing sport in England and Scotland. Numerous fly-fishing clubs came up in the 1800s in England and this served to popularize the sport greatly.

The shallow waterways of chalk streams of South England were suitable for dry fly-fishing, due to the growth of weeds just below the water level. North England and Scotland also saw the growth of wet fly-fishing. The anglers in South England were in favor of dry fly-fishing and considered wet fly-fishing a poor distortion of their sport. Even today, the English continue to undertake fly-fishing in the chalk streams, but access to the streams is mostly through private property.

American anglers from the Catskill Mountains in New York began to experiment with the dry-fly designs in the late 1800s. They began to design artificial flies to imitate the insects that trout feed on. Some of the anglers published their fishing adventures, which served to increase the interest in fly-fishing, even more. The American anglers were more open to experimenting in wet-fly fishing, compared to the English.

Interest in fly-fishing has continued to grow in USA and Canada. After the Second World War, fiberglass fly rods were manufactured along with synthetic leaders and line. The sport thus became affordable for people interested in fly-fishing. Dry flies are used for inland fishing in rivers and streams. Coastal fishing is carried on in bays and mostly uses wet flies. Bass anglers have also adapted fly-fishing.

The locations in the southern hemisphere and the Caribbean are popular destinations for saltwater fly-fishing. Anglers travel long distances to fish for tarpon and bonefish. Belize in South America offers both, saltwater and freshwater fly-fishing.

The basic equipment needed to start fly-fishing is becoming very affordable due to the technical improvements in the field. The popularity of the sport is growing around the world. There are plenty of opportunities and the choice of locations for fly-fishing is limitless.