Content Summary : This description of fly-fishing was written by Aelian more than 17 centuries ago. It is not known whether they fished for food or for sport but clearly fly-fishing has been around for a very long time. The earliestwritten reference to fly-fishing in America dates from 1775. The early American fly rods were anywhere from 12 to 20 feet long and made of three sections – butt of ash, middle of hickory, and tip of lancewood. These rods eventually evolved to split bamboo in about1850, to fiberglass, then to the graphite rods of today. The fly reel was developed at about the same time as split bamboo rods. Previously line hung to the side of the angler. The horsehair lines also became tapered – having more strands in the middle than at the end.Fly casting as we now know it began to develop a few years later when silk oil dressed lines were intro-duced. How is fly-fishing different from spincasting? The biggest difference between spincasting and fly-fishing is that the line, not the lure or bait, provides the weight for casting. So in essence you cast the line, not the bait. The fly rod is commonly seven to 10 feetlong, much longer than spinning rods. The rod provides the means to propel the line. The reel serves as a storage unit for the fly line. In spincasting the line is cranked back into the reel between casts. During fly-fishing the fly line is left hanging or coiled on the ground between casts. Fly line is different from the monofilament line used for spincasting. It’s much heavier and thicker be- cause it provides the weight to get the fly to the target.