Catch of the Day

Unlike other sports that evolved from a means of survival, fishing is among the gentlest and most tranquil. Whether trolling a lake or standing in a stream, the serenity of being surrounded by nature with the sole intent to outwit a fish has lured mankind to the waters time and time again. Outfitted with rod and reel, an assortment of lures and bait, and a creel or cooler filled with hope, lessons in patience and learning the life of a fish are ingredients for a successful catch. The art of fly fishing has long been a prominent sport, but in the mid-1930s spinning tackle was introduced and required less skill. Although spin fishing was less difficult, fly fishing enthusiasts would not let their passion and craft succumb to popularity. By the late twentieth-century, and perhaps partially in response to the stresses of hurried lifestyles, a continued interest in fly fishing has flourished. Photographed here in 1894 is a fly fisherman's catch of Michigan grayling, a much-sought fish that is now extinct in the state.