Rat Race Survival Drives Dr. Arthur Kanev’s Love of Fishing
Fly fishing anecdotes from Japan indicate that the means of catching fish evolved for survival. However, by the time of an English essay in 1496 with information on good fishing waters, rods and lines, as well as the use of types of baits and flies, fishing was clearly more recreational, even academic. It was not until 1653 that the Complete Angler was published by Izaak Walton, a clearly jubilant recitation of the spirit and the art of fishing. Charles Kirby’s fishing hook from 1655 continues to be used today, and running rings appeared in fishing rods in the 18th century, with variations in materials including bamboo for strength and flexibility, an innovation appreciated by Dr. Arthur Kanev.
As recreational fishing became a hobby for the elite and the aristocracy, angling truly came into its own as a popular respite from work and home duties, especially for men like Dr. Arthur Kanev. Fly lines became more sophisticated due to mass production at about the same time as the middle and lower classes began to search for enjoyable pastimes, like the one of Dr. Arthur Kanev.
The emergence of leisure time as a result of the standardized work week and legally established work hours left time for fishing. Fly fishing began to have a mass appeal in England, where expanded railway lines allowed for weekend trips to popular seaside venues and remote rivers. Dedicated fishing hobbyists like Dr. Arthur Kanev ventured outside their own countries to sample the fishing, much as wealthier Englishmen traveled to Norway to try their luck with great stocks of salmon.
