How did fly-fishing develop in North America?

Fly-fishing in North America developed as a unique variant of the sport, adapted to the continent's large, rocky rivers and streams, which differed significantly from the gentler rivers of Europe. By the 1780s, tackle dealers in cities like Philadelphia were already advertising a full selection of flies and gear.1

Early centers of the sport included Pennsylvania’s Cumberland Valley, Cape Cod, and the rivers of Newfoundland. The mid-19th-century expansion of the railroad opened the Catskill Mountains in New York, which became a primary seat for the sport, where pioneers like Theodore Gordon and Edward R. Hewitt helped establish a distinct American school of fly-fishing.1

By the turn of the 20th century, regional enclaves in the Rocky Mountains, northern Michigan, and the Pacific Northwest had cultivated their own local practices. Over time, the sport evolved from targeting primarily trout and salmon to encompassing a wide range of freshwater and saltwater species.1