Did Fly fishing in US begin in FL in 1764?

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Mike N
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Did Fly fishing in US begin in FL in 1764?

Post by Mike N »

A letter now in the UVA archives seems to say so. What reel would have been used for fly fishing in Florida’s panhandle in 1764?

Here is a link to the article published by the American Museum of Fly Fishing:

http://www.amff.org/a-new-early-date-fo ... y-fishing/

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Re: Did Fly fishing in US begin in FL in 1764?

Post by Reeltyme »

Why would anyone fish for flies with all the wonderful fish in Florida? Aside from the obvious answer to that statement, I would venture a guess that a Nottingham/wooden style would maybe have been the only choice available at that early a date? Just an uneducated guess. :?:
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Steve
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Re: Did Fly fishing in US begin in FL in 1764?

Post by Steve »

What reel would have been used for fly fishing in Florida’s panhandle in 1764?
Either no reel at all or some tiny imported thing like this, maybe without a check, possibly with a clamp.

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Book: ANTIQUE FISHING REELS, 2nd Ed.
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"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose."
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Jim Schottenham
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Re: Did Fly fishing in US begin in FL in 1764?

Post by Jim Schottenham »

It may be a few years later than the date Mike mentioned, but this is about as close as you might get - a reel that Ed posted awhile back - dated, and just the coolest English side-mount/clamp I've ever seen....
Ed's English Clamp Reel
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Steve
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Re: Did Fly fishing in US begin in FL in 1764?

Post by Steve »

Frontispieces from Brookes' Art of Angling, 1766 (left) and 1770 and later editions. See any difference? The angler's reel, unused, is at home, busily adding to its patina.

(BTW, Quasimodo, the ghillie, hasn't aged a bit.)

Steve Vernon
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Book: ANTIQUE FISHING REELS, 2nd Ed.
Websites:
Antique Fishing Reels
Kopf reels
Hendrick reels

"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose."
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john elder
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Re: Did Fly fishing in US begin in FL in 1764?

Post by john elder »

the sunglasses are a nice touch :D ....need to morph in a pair of hip waders!
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Specializing in saltwater reels...and fly reels...and oh, yeah, kentucky style reels.....and those tiny little RP reels.....oh, heck...i collect fishing reels!...and fly rods....and lures
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Midway Tommy D
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Re: Did Fly fishing in US begin in FL in 1764?

Post by Midway Tommy D »

See any difference? The angler's reel, unused, is at home, busily adding to its patina.
:shock: It also appears that carbon emission via the chimney has, to some degree, affected the shade tree! :mrgreen:

EDIT: It my have been the bug invasion, as Steve has informed me, and not the carbon emissions, that decapitated that poor tree. :lol:
Love those Open Face Spinning Reels! (Especially ABU & ABU/Zebco)

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Mike N
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Re: Did Fly fishing in US begin in FL in 1764?

Post by Mike N »

Assuming the artist would have noticed a detail such as a reel— and I admit I doubt there was one, because a reel would have required that line guides were also missed by the artist—it still does not explain how the nobleman stored the fishing line when not in use to prevent a bad case of the the tangles.

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Re: Did Fly fishing in US begin in FL in 1764?

Post by Steve »

People somehow managed to fish without reels for thousands of years, even without the instructions shown below.
These three flyes with the help of the lob-worms serve to angle all the year for the night, observing the times as I have shewed you in this night-work, the white flye for darknesse, the red flye in medio, and the black flye for lightnesse. This is the true experience for angling in the night, which is the surest angling of all, and killeth the greatest Trouts. Your lines may be strong, but must not be longer then your rod. - Barker, Art of Angling, 1659
Now, if you insist on fishing for salmon:
I will now shew you the way to take a Salmon. THe first thing you must gain must be a rod of some ten foot in the stock, that will carry a top of six foot pretty stiffe and strong, the reason is, because there must be a little wire ring at the upper end of the top for the line to run through, that you may take up and loose the line at your pleasure; you must have your winder within two foot of the bottom to goe on your rod made in this manner, with a spring, that you may put it on as low as you please...You must be sure that you have your line of twenty six yards of length - ibid.
Barker's reference to his winder is considered the first reference to a fishing reel in English. Coincidentally, he illustrates his text with a drawing of Ed's reel.
(Please note that all books on fishing in English were required to have the same title until Victoria's reign.)

Steve Vernon
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Book: ANTIQUE FISHING REELS, 2nd Ed.
Websites:
Antique Fishing Reels
Kopf reels
Hendrick reels

"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose."
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