John Dennys - The Secrets of Angling

It is well-known that the best places to fish are on our own "Wild and Scenic" Rogue River, the Illinois River or Lake Selmac.

If you not able to get to one of these fabulous fishing spots today, why not read a poem dedicated to fishing.

It is believed that the poet and fisherman John Dennys wrote the first fishing poem.  It was entitled "The Secrets of Angling," and was first published in 1613.

The first few lines go like this:


Of angling and the art thereof I sing
What kind of tools it doth behove to have
And with what pleasing bayt a man may bring
The fish to bite within the watry wave.
A work of thanks to such as in a thing
Of harmless pleasure have regard to save
Their dearest soules from sinne and may intend
Of pretious time some part thereon to spend.

Google has a digitized version of Dennys' work.  You can even save it as a PDF to read at your leisure.

The Secrets of Angling - John Dennys