Angling History - A Short Introduction

Angling history is a minor chapter of Historical studies, a branch within the History of Technology.

But, it's a fascinating aspect of how mankind used its intelligence and imagination to feed itself in the first place, a little step in trying to control and dominate an unpredictable and alien environment..

As hobbyst fishing rods builders we are aware that we are continuing a craft which is rooted in a universal tradition, even if the need to fish for survival is gone. And that bamboo rod making belongs to our European, American and Far Eastern tradition (China in the first place, then Japan come to my mind). Perhaps it was rooted in Africa, too, but I don't know of any document, yet (which doesn't mean it did not exist).

By reading through angling history books, we happen to understand the life conditions of the generations before us, the technology available to them and the main events that affected their lives (wars, precariousness, chances, discoveries, luck and missfortune).And this add a dimension which, in turn, increases our interest.

Quick Navigation

History of angling - from wood to bamboo (the real beginning of what we do today)
Angling Tradition and History - in America (why America is so important)
History of angling - in the modern era (my view)
History of angling - resources (my "secret" for you to loose yourself in a time machine)
Fishing Tackle Books (a short list that I created)

An antique Chinese Drawing of the 12th century portraying a fisherman with a fishing rod and reel on a boat

The story begins by saying that traditionally (and this since the very beginning (i.d. ancient history, Egyptian hieroglyphs) people used natural material such as wood for making fishing rods (e.g. Hazelnut-wood, Ironwood, Greenheart, Willow, Bethabara, etc..).