Fishing rod

[Marcus Mummius]

Thanks for the input everyone, all very interesting.

@Brennivs: I look forward to what you will find!

Vale,
Jef

[Eleatic Guest]

Did Roman fishing rods already featured fishing reels?

[M. Demetrius]

It's doubtful that they used a reel that looked or worked much like ours, but I'm no expert. As far as I know (which admittedly isn't far) the mechanism is much, much more modern. I'd think a wood piece like a weaver's shuttle might make a good twine storage, but I don't think the loops you find on a modern fishing rod are very likely.

If anyone has any evidence to the contrary, I'm sure we'd all like to see it.

[brennivs - tony drake]

I dont think they would have or need reels the type of fishing that is seen in the mosaics from boats were you dont need a long line to catch fish. If they needed to catch at depth then a bait line would be used and just hauled in, just like it was of our coast line not so long ago. Other than that just nets would have been used. I think also that because fish were more abundant then and were not over fished as they are today you were more or less gauranteed a catch of the fish in season. Also if memory serves me salmon was eaten along the Tyne from finds, and sometimes during the migration up stream you dont need a line as I have seen them jump up onto the river bank. At Jarrow you can wade out at low tide with a club and catch them like that, thought about useing the club I sent you Marcvs for that :wink: :lol:
As for the Rod would a soldier carry one :? D
Regards Brennivs

[caiusbeerquitius]

hock:
[url:1vxpqsp5]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ly0DTSEDD0[/url]

[brennivs - tony drake]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Great one caiustarquitius
Regards Brennivs

[Nemonius Agricola]

Here is some pictures of me using my fishing net and fishing pole for the first time.

[John Conyard]

I've come late to this thread but found it very interesting. I've made various simple line winders from the 8th-10th centuries to be used with waxed linen or plaited horse hair. Such winders are easy to carry. I've never considered making a rod
:oops:
Hooks are good, but I've also made gorges for live bait and various bone hooks and harpoons. Gorge fishing just seems an easy option. But I believe it is illegal in the UK with live bait. I've also made various types of hooks using thorns.

My floats are simple half quills, capped with a small nail or tack. Such floats would leave no archaeological trace. My weights are all sorts of bits of stone, lead etc.

I have an eel trap, and I make nets for something to do at events.

And now comes the admission. I've never used any of them. :oops:

Back in 2004 I bought a cow skin River Boyne style two man coracle. I have great fun messing around in northern rivers during the winter. I supose I've always intended to stick a line out of the back of the boat, but never got around to it.

I understand the "Museum of Fishing", or something with a similar title, is a fascinating museum based in Alnwick, Northumberland. But I've never been.

It seems my interest is more theoretical than practical in this case.