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Why were the Catskill Mountains important to the history of American fly-fishing?

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The Catskill Mountains became the central hub of American fly-fishing in the mid-19th century, largely due to the expansion of the railroad, which provided accessible travel to the region's numerous high-quality trout rivers.1

This region was pivotal in the evolution of the sport because it served as the base for pioneers such as Edward R. Hewitt and Theodore Gordon. These figures were instrumental in developing a distinctively American school of fly-fishing, moving beyond the traditions imported from Europe to adapt to the unique characteristics of North American waters.1