The Language of Fly-Fishing

Fly-fishing has one of the longest recorded histories of any pastime and one of the most extensive literatures. Within that written history is a unique and well-developed lexicon, consisting not only of words concerned with fish (grilse, kelt, mort) and fishing techniques (dapping, dibbling, trolling) but also of terms that reflect the way fly-fishermen have spoken and thought about the discoveries and landscapes inherited by rod and line. Included here, therefore, are words about lakes and rivers, about flies and fly-life, and about technical controversies and inventions. There is also generous illustrative quotation from the pastime's magnificent literature, from the 15th century Treatise of Fishing with an Angle down to works of the present day. Important and unusual dialect words, and phrases that have passed from specialist use into wider currency, are also included. The emphasis throughout The Language of Fly Fishing is on the relationship between fly-fishing's language and fly-fishing's history. From "ant" to "wet-fly", from "action" to "whitling", this lexicon offers both curiosities and rewards.