Here at Lawrence Bay Lodge, there are few things we find more enjoyable than spending an afternoon on Reindeer Lake, fishing rod in hand. As 2016 and a new fishing season approach, we would like to take a few moments to look into the past at the early beginnings of one of our favorite activities: Fly fishing. Fly fishing is the most common form of fishing today, in which you cast a hook with a fly into the water to lure your prey.
The First Hooks
While man has fished – for food and for sport – throughout all of recorded history, he hasn’t always used a hook, rod and fly. The earliest fisherman used a sharp piece of wood or stone that was wrapped in bait. This piece, called a gorge, would get stuck in the throat of the fish, making it easy to pull in with the line it was attached to. Hooks were first introduced in Europe about 3,000 years ago and the development of flies occurred shortly after.
The First Flies
Originally made out of brightly colored feathers and string, flies are placed on hooks and look like the aquatic bugs that fish love to prey on. These artistic traps were first developed in Rome during the second century AD, although scholars are not sure by whom. Throughout the years, fly fishing spread across Europe and Asian, with each group of people making their own changes and improvements to the practice. Nowadays, most flies are made of plastics and other man-made materials, mimicking insects in color and size.
Whether you are an avid fisherman or a first-time angler, Lawrence Bay Lodge is the perfect place to visit if you are interested in fly fishing for Northern Pike. Large flies and a heavy weight fly rod will be needed to catch these massive fish, and our fly fishing guides will be along to ensure you have a great time while out on the water. To learn more about Lawrence Bay Lodge and to book your stay, call us at 701-262-4560.
