craftfishing

Craftfishing is a term used in recreational angling to describe a practice that emphasizes artisanal, handmade, or customized tackle, boats, and gear. It encompasses the design, modification, and fabrication of equipment by individual anglers, often drawing on traditional craft techniques. While not a formal discipline, craftfishing is a recognizable subculture within fishing communities and spans freshwater and saltwater environments.

Practitioners may build or modify lures, flies, and lines; construct or refurbish rods and reels; and create small craft such as boats or skiffs suited to specific locales. Common activities include fly tying, wooden lure carving, metalwork for custom hardware, and boat maintenance. Knowledge is often shared through clubs, maker spaces, forums, social media, and print publications.

The approach tends to favor durability, ease of repair, and aesthetics as much as performance. Materials are frequently sourced from reclaimed or local sources, aligning with sustainability goals in some communities. Craftfishing also emphasizes safety, compliance with local fishing and vessel regulations, and ethical angling practices.

While the term is informal and definitions vary, craftfishing has contributed to a broader maker culture within fishing, encouraging skill development, preservation of traditional craft techniques, and community-based knowledge exchange.