A friend came out on Sunday & gave me some instruction on 21st century fly fishing. A lot harder than 18th century fly fishing. This modern fly fishing line is far longer than an 18th century fly fishing line and the method used to cast this modern line needs far more skill and coordination.
My friend Deer Slayer also showed me a pair of forceps that he uses to work on flies, and to remove hooks from the fish. I had been wanting some forceps for ages for suturing, just in case I should need them. Now I had a double purpose for getting some.
"THe rod light and taper,
thy tackle fine,
Thy lead ten inches upon the line;
Bigger or lesse, according to the stream,
Angle in the dark, when others dream:
Or in a cloudy day with a lively worm,
The Brandlin is best, but give him a turn
Before thou do land a large wel grown Trout.
And if with a flye thou wilt have about,
Overload not with links, that the flye nay fall
First on the stream, for that's all in all.
The line shorter than the rods, with a naturall flye:
But the chief point of all is the cookery".
Thy lead ten inches upon the line;
Bigger or lesse, according to the stream,
Angle in the dark, when others dream:
Or in a cloudy day with a lively worm,
The Brandlin is best, but give him a turn
Before thou do land a large wel grown Trout.
And if with a flye thou wilt have about,
Overload not with links, that the flye nay fall
First on the stream, for that's all in all.
The line shorter than the rods, with a naturall flye:
But the chief point of all is the cookery".
BARKER'S DELIGHT: OR,
THE ART OF A N G L I N G.1659
Fly fishing from a boat requires a shorter rod and shorter line:
"There is no better sport then whipping for Bleaks in a boat in a Summers 206evening,
with a hazle top about five or six foot long, and a line twice the length of
the Rod".
Fishing from the bank requires a long rod and a long line, but not as longer line as used these days.
"Let your rod be light,
and very gentle, I think the best are of two pieces; the line should not
exceed (especially for three or four links towards the hook) I say,
not exceed three or four haires; but if you can
attain to Angle with one haire; you will have more rises, and catch more fish.
Now you must bee sure not to cumber yourselfe with too long a Line, as most do:
and before you begin to angle, cast to have the wind on your back, and the Sun
(if it shines) to be before you, and to fish down the streame, and carry the
point or tip of the Rod downeward; by which meanes the shadow of yourselfe, and
Rod too will be the least offensive to the Fish, for the sight of any shadow
amazes the fish, and spoiles your sport, of which you must take a great care".
THE COMPLETE
ANGLER;OR, THE CONTEMPLATIVE MAN’S
RECREATION. By ISAAK WALTON. 1653.
RECREATION. By ISAAK WALTON. 1653.
In Summary:
Yesterday, these forceps arrived in the mail from a very close friend of mine, Grey Wolf. How on earth did he know! Just what I wanted. These of course are modern locking forceps, but they are not a lot different from various types of 18th century forceps. See below:
18th century case of suturing needles. Just like the modern ones I carry in my medical pouch.
Grey Wolf also sent me this excellent kettle hook which he made himself.
Thank you my Friends, Deer Slayer and Grey Wolf. Very much appreciated.
Regards, Keith.
2 comments:
Very cool!
Merry belated Christmas, and a Happy New Year. :)
All the best Jenny, I hope we both have a good one.
Regards, Keith.
PS: Good to hear from you again.
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