Fly fishing began as a sport of kings and aristocrats. Costly equipment and the rarity of leisure time prior to the Industrial Revolution kept it that way for centuries until a determined group of men and women brought fly fishing into the mainstream of European and American culture. In sportfishing, few things are more beautiful and productive than a well-designed fly. The individuals who create them, and those who teach others how to use them, are an essential part of the history of fly fishing. If the discipline of fly fishing can be described as an art form, then these pioneering individuals are truly, Artisans of the Fly.