Fly fishing history

[Terry Coging]

So, how did they fly fish 400 years or so ago? It was already well established in Izaac Waltons time.
What sort of rods, lines and flies did they use in the 17th century?
Izaac Walton was born here in Stafford and his retirement cottage with a tackle museum gets visitors from all over the World. I have been helping the museum staff identify some of the exhibits and it prompted me to try and replicate what old Izaac and his young friend Charles Cotton did in those days.
Spliced wooden rods and horsehair line  Eat your hearts out Sage and Rio 
Anyway I demonstrated the results on the opening day of the museum last week. learnt a lot about horse hair.   

[Mike Barrio]

Sounds really interesting Terry 

[Terry Coging]

One of the things that intrigued me was a statement by Charles Cotton saying that a man who cannot land a 20" trout on 2 strands of horse hair cannot call himself an angler! I have tested the breaking strains of various horse and pony hair and a single strand will break at around 1lb with a knot and almost double when whipped to a hook. Fly lines were made by twisting strands for length as long as the hair permitted than tying the lengths together to form a line maybe 6 yards or more long. The line was tapered, usually starting at 2 strands up to 7 strands. Are you listening Mike 

[Mike Barrio]

Fly lines were made by twisting strands for length as long as the hair permitted than tying the lengths together to form a line maybe 6 yards or more long. The line was tapered, usually starting at 2 strands up to 7 strands. Are you listening Mike 

Interesting stuff - but I'm not going to be experimenting with this any time soon Terry 

[James Laraway]

if i read on the news that horses are mysteriously loosing their tails round your neck of the woods.....

One of the things that intrigued me was a statement by Charles Cotton saying that a man who cannot land a 20" trout on 2 strands of horse hair cannot call himself an angler! I have tested the breaking strains of various horse and pony hair and a single strand will break at around 1lb with a knot and almost double when whipped to a hook. Fly lines were made by twisting strands for length as long as the hair permitted than tying the lengths together to form a line maybe 6 yards or more long. The line was tapered, usually starting at 2 strands up to 7 strands. Are you listening Mike 

[Terry Coging]

if i read on the news that horses are mysteriously loosing their tails round your neck of the woods.....

Well, I am banned from the riding stable  , however a supply of prime white gelding tail hair is due to arrive  this w/e . Male horse hair is stronger than female due to urine. So, the mares are safe.

[James Laraway]

blimey - you learn someone new every day !