The modern day fisherman has a large selection of fishing tackle at his fingertips. From fishing rods and reels such as spinning reels and fly fishing poles to bait and lures like silver spoons, plastic worms and flies, there is a variety of fishing tackle to choose from. Such fishing tackle and gear wasn’t always available to fishermen, however.
Before the days of baitcasting reels and fishing boats, fishermen had to find alternative ways to help catch fish, both for food and for sport. While a hook may be the most basic means used to catch a fish, before modern day hooks, fishers used what were called gorges. A gorge is a long, thin piece of stone or bone that is attached to a line. Once attached to the line, a piece of bait would be attached to the gorge and lowered into the water to await a bite from a fish. Like the fishing hook, fishing lines were not always made of the nylon and monofilament that we are used to today. Early fishing lines were made from plant stalk and leaves. Over the years, fishermen switched from using parts of plants and leaves to using threads of silk and even hair, although some fishing lines were even made of cotton.
Today, fishing rods are made from lightweight materials such as graphite, boron and fiberglass. However, this wasn’t always the case. Dating back to the days of ancient Egypt, fishing rods were made from bamboo, Calcutta reeds and wood and their handles were made from cork and cane. While fishing rods have changed greatly over the years, bamboo rods are still used in certain aspects of fishing, such as fly fishing.
Fishing reels also have a long history, dating back to Chinese paintings found in the 12th century. However, fishing reels didn’t receive any real recognition until 1651,when a piece of English literature referred to a reel as a “wind” that is installed within two feet of the rod. Since then, fishing reels have come a long way. From the first multiplying reels of the 19th century to the introduction of spinning reels from Europe during the 20th century, fishing reels continued to advance over the years.
There are a wide number of fishing lures for the modern fisherman to choose from. Whether you prefer jigs and surface lures or spoon lures and plugs, the possibilities are endless. It wasn’t until the early 1900s that the first modern fishing lures were made in the U.S. Before the development of such lures, however, fishers only had two choices when it came to lures: bronze or bone.
For centuries fishermen have been taking to the water to catch fish. While the fishing tackle and tools used have changed by leaps and bounds over the centuries, the fun and joy that comes from catching a fish remains the same. From rods and reels to lures, sinkers and fishing line, EverythingFishingTackle is proud to be your one stop shop for your fishing tackle needs.