Wolfman Jack used to say "I've go the angles if you've got the curves." But as far as Dame Bemers is concerned, I remember reading somewhere that the fishing tools of that time consisted of a long, bamboo rod upon which a line was attached. The fishers would hold the rod out and let the line dap down. The line and the pole could be seen together as an angle, thus "anglers".

When I was a boy my friends and I spent many a happy summer fishing for Bluegill with a similar rig. We would l cut down a long willow, strip of the branches then attach a length of fishing line with a single hook to the end. When we wanted to fish, we would catch a grasshopper and were on our way. The fish were always willing, and were all released, since nobody we knew had ever eaten a Bluegill. But we knew Bass ate Bluegill, and each of us had the experience bringing in a Bluegill and suddenly having a big Largemouth explode out of nowhere and grab our fish.

Tom Davenport

On Sunday, January 12, 2003, at 09:59 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

I'm wondering about the term "Angle"....Dame Berners (1496) wrote "A treatyse of fysshyng with an angle"; P. Fisher (1835) wrote "The Angler's Souvenir"; and Eric Travener (1933) wrote "Trout Fishing from all Angles", etc. I've associated the term with using a bait or lure to entice fish to bite a hook but how did this use of the term come about.?? We've become known as "Anglers" as a result of the use of this term.
Why did Dame Berners use the term in 1496? What was her angle??
OK, O' DonO, the perveyor of all knowledge with regard to fly fishing, whom also dated Dame Berners and taught her everything she knew....Put on your Johnny Carson, 'Swami Hat', and tell us o'learned one.
Steve Schalla


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