Fishing as know it today has evolved into a much loved hobby for people, whereas for many it is still an important means of livelihood. How did fishing actually begin? It's difficult to state the exact date, but it's believed that fishing existed along with hunting as the main source of food, in the Upper Paleolithic period. Over the years, many fossilized fish bones and cave paintings have shown that sea food was often eaten in large quantities. Much like the weapons used in hunting, the men in this period must have used a rudimentary form of a harpoon to catch both fresh and salt water fish.
Fishing features in different cultures as well. The Egyptians consumed fish and may have been the first to practice the art of drying and salting so that the fish stayed edible for a longer period of time. Master inventors that they were, they often used reed boats for fishing, woven nets, baskets and even harpoons to catch fish. They even devised the first hook and line which was most likely attached to a stick or short branch. The Chinese had silk lines, hooks made from needles and even used cooked rice as bait for the fish in the 4th century BC. The Greeks considered fishing to be a pastime of people of low birth whereas rods with joints were used in Rome during the 4th century AD.
Improvements in various methods of fishing and in the tools used slowly came about from the 12th century onwards and many of them were from England. Besides boats that went to regularly catch fish, people began to take an interest in angling too. For the first time, hooks were made from proper metal and by the 17th century the gut string, lute string and landing hooks to catch big fishes were all used in England. During this time, Charles Kirby invented a unique hook which had a distinct shape called the Kirby bend. The reel commonly used by the 18th century was called the Nottingham reel which had a wide drum and was suitable for casting bait in all kinds of sea fishing. This later influenced the fly-fishing reels as well and by 1880 the first reel which turned leaving one side of the spool open was invented. This reel was a marked improvement over others and was especially popular for catching salmon. Improvements in tackle design were also made with linseed oil covered silk eventually replaced horsehair used for the fishing line. Rods made from tough elastic woods and strips of bamboo also replaced the earlier primitive versions. They were not only tougher but were not so thick and easier to handle as well.
Over the years, more study and thought has gone into developing the best equipment for bait fishing, fly fishing, spinning and trolling. There are even competitions held for professional anglers giving this ancient pastime the attention it deserves.
S. George writes about fishing and history. She does work for different fishing guide services including one that has one of the most practiced Oklahoma striper fishing guides in the state.
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