Sporting, Angling & Hunting - General

From handmade reels to cane poles, antique angling and fishing gear celebrates the heritage of one of the oldest practices of humankind. Antique and vintage sporting, angling, and fishing materials for sale reveal a fascinating history of a task originating from the need for survival that evolved into its own sport.

Evidence ranging from cave paintings to surviving artifacts suggest that even the earliest cultures of the Paleolithic age fished nearby waterways for sustenance. These early anglers typically relied on spears and harpoons to ensnare their fish, but fishing grew more refined as the ancient world advanced. By the age of ancient Egypt, fishing nets had become an essential tool for Nile River harvests.

The fish trade exploded during the Middle Ages with the export of codfish from northern Europe. By the 1400s, seafaring vessels had advanced to the point that fishing was becoming its own economy. It was during this boom that recreational fishing became an established practice, a tradition that persists in the present. Today's anglers aim to incorporate the most contemporary equipment into their casting, and many true enthusiasts also enjoy the history of the sport so brilliantly reflected in antique and vintage examples.

Quick Facts

• Rare examples of early fishing hooks survive from the late prehistoric Stone Age
• The average American angler spends more than $1,000 a year on sporting supplies
• "The Compleat Angler," written in the early 17th century by Englishman Izaak Walton, is considered one of the earliest guides for recreational fishermen