The history of fishing lures goes back a lot further than some might think. In fact, man has been making and using fishing lures since ancient times.
- Not just spear fishing. Many people probably imagine ancient man using spears to catch fish, or maybe even snagging them out of the water with their bare hands. But remains found in ancient habitats, like caves, have included things like hooks made of bone and bronze, which just goes to show how far back the history of fishing lures truly goes.
- Fishing in Ancient Egypt and China. As you might imagine, early fishermen used mostly handlines to catch fish. But, as early as 2,000 B.C., anglers in China and Egypt were using fishing rods. And, ancient Chinese fishermen are thought to be the first to make fishing line. Of course, that early fishing line was made of fine spun silk, rather than the materials more commonly used to make fishing lines today.
- Ancient Romans liked to fish, too. Fishing was a popular pastime among the ancient Romans. Back in the third century A.D., Claudius Aelianus wrote extensively about the joys of fly-fishing. He made his own fishing lures out of things like feathers, bronze and lead. He made his own fishing line too, using things like horsehair.
- Fishing lures made by individual craftsmen. Throughout most of the history of fishing lures, you’ll find that creating fishing lures was mostly an individual pastime. Many fishermen enjoyed making their own lures, trying to come up with new and innovative creations that would be more effective in catching fish. Some of these individual craftsmen turned creating fishing lures into an art form.
- The history of fishing lure manufacturing. It wasn’t until about the mid-19th century that creating fishing lures became a commercial venture. By the early 1900s, fishing lures were being mass produced, and Heddon and Pflueger, a firm in the United States, led the way. And many of those early, commercially-made lures were inspired by successful lures made by individual craftsmen. However, while lures have been widely available commercially for over a century, many anglers still preferred making their own. In fact, making fishing lures has remained a very popular hobby among fishermen to this day.
- Types of lures. The history of fishing lures has seen the creation of many types and styles of fishing lures. And they include the following below.
- Plastic worms. These are among the simplest and most basic of fishing lures. Bass fishermen swear by them, and many believe artificial worms work better than the real deal.
- Spoon lures. Pike fishermen love these fishing lures, which look like the inside of a spoon, a shape which causes them dart around in the water and flash in the light.
- Jigs. Jigs are weighted hooks that are covered with something that will attract the attention of the fish, like minnows or plastic worms. Many tuna fishermen use feather jigs.
- Crankbait. These fishing lures are designed to look and act like a fish’s natural food. Generally, they have a body made of plastic or wood, and several hooks distributed throughout the body. And, many insist these are the best fishing lures for catching walleye.
What Others Are Reading Right Now.
6 Signs the Beard Is Just Not Working for You
You may need to grab a razor and ditch the facial fuzz.
Acting, comedy and strong spirits converge in Speakeasy. When host Russell Peters interviews entertainers about all sorts of topics, neither the drinks nor the conversation is wate …
10 Red Flags That Kill Your Chances With Women
Wondering why that first date didn’t lead to a second? Read on.