Early Use
Diarist Samuel Pepys wrote in 1667 that fishing line was made of gut material from cows and goats. Fisherman Col. Robert Venables wrote in 1676 that lute string was also used.
Plant Stalks
Early American Indians used plants stalks to make fishing line.
Sea Grass
The Norse made fishing line, or what they called "ON dorg," from sea grasses and stalks. A culture deeply dependent on the sea, the Norse made fishing line as early as the 700s.
Silk
The Chinese were using silk for fishing line in 3000 B.C. The "Silk Road" brought silk to Western society about 200 B.C.
Modern Line
DuPont has received credit for modern, high-tech fishing line. In 1938, DuPont announced the invention of nylon, which was molded into fishing line, and this is still in use today.
Article Written By Eric Cedric
A former Alaskan of 20 years, Eric Cedric now resides in California. He's published in "Outside" and "Backpacker" and has written a book on life in small-town Alaska, "North by Southeast." Cedric was a professional mountain guide and backcountry expedition leader for 18 years. He worked in Russia, Iceland, Greece, Turkey and Belize. Cedric attended Syracuse University and is a private pilot.
