Relating to aquatic insects: becoming English fly fishers

In this chapter I analyse why and how, through the development of a fly-fishing recreation culture, English anglers have developed a deep association with, and understanding of, the aquatic insects that provide the focus of their enthusiasm. Today, that understanding combined with the substantial economy of recreational fly-fishing and its socially powerful 'disciples' means that the environmental needs of the insects figure in the conservation and management of fisheries just as much as the needs of the trout themselves. This extraordinarily intense association with insects that mainstream society eschews (but which spread rapidly to the United States, Canada, Australia, Chile, Scandinavia and to Japan) is extremely unusual and unique so its development is all the more important to understand (see Franklin 1996; 2002). This essay develops a textual analysis of the history of this association with insects and the nexus with trout through a reading of the rich literature of fly-fishing, beginning in the medieval period and stretching through to the contemporary period. It can be seen that although it has the appearance of an ancient practice, its essential properties and knowledge are actually a very recent development and relate more to modern than traditional practices with nature.