Fly fishing history

Gordy you asked a very good question when you mentioned that you wondered how many of these innovations in fly fishing and casting were made by people who were not given credit. Credit by angling historians has to be given to the first "documented" example of the innovation obviously because it is the only recorded example. But common sense allows for the fact that it was almost certainly done before it was recorded. A very good example if this is: There have been many discussions about when and who first fished a fly in America. Serious students of our literature will note that Richard Franck, a retired English military man and ardent angler, toured the Americas during the early 1600's which at that time involved a very arduous journey. Franck was a serious salmon fisherman of note and strictly a fly fisherman, so it is widely accepted that he fished American waters for salmon. However he does not mention this fact in his book "Northern Memoirs" (1694 but written 30 years earlier) nor does any other author make mention Franck's American excursions in their books. So without documentation he is not given credit for this bit of history. Common sense also tells angling historians that most "new" methods, techniques, casts, etc. actually only occur when technology allows the change, for example the changes in casting with rods of today's materials as opposed to rods of yore made of Aspen, Hickory of Greenheart. Whenever you read about something being done for the first time, you can be fairly certain it was in reality in practice long before it was documented. So whenever you walk the banks of your favorite river consider that you may well be walking the same path and in the shadows of one of these long-forgotten innovative anglers.

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Some may be wondering, "How in the Dickens can this subject help us in our quest to become Master Instructors or better Masters ?"

There are many reasons, as I see it. First of all, any in depth understanding of a discipline must have roots in the past. Fly casting and fly fishing are not different. The instructor who is versed in only the techniques of the present must necessarily have a shallow understanding of any subject.

I've learned a great deal by reading works from way before my time .... gives me a much better appreciation of how things probably developed.

It is amazing to me to look back and see what we did in the 1930's as we fly fished ..... "seat of the pants" instruction, like, "Just do it this way" ...... phasing out our older greenheart rods with brass tunnel guides and improving our bamboo rods .... Using gut leaders (we called the leader the, "cast" before nylon had been invented), treated silk lines, Cuttyhunk (linen) backing, red agate stripper guide inserts which would crack, trying to make tackle made for sweet water last in the salt (a daunting challenge), etc., etc.

My grandfather followed the casting, "greats" such as Jon Tarantino, Marvin Hedge, Charles Ritz and others and would bring back casting tips which made us better able to reach the fish .......

Sometimes I'll even ask a brief question on the history of fly casting when giving a MCCI exam, especially if I have the luxury of testing a really well prepared individual. I don't hold the candidate responsible for this knowledge, but the response gives me a better understanding of the likely quality of the candidate from a standpoint of how good a Master instructor he or she is going to be. When I do this, I'll occasionally learn something I didn't know previously.