Centuries have passed since the original writings of Dame Juliana Berners in her book A Treatyse of Fysshinge Wyth an Angle, circa 1496. Since then, stories about fishing make for one of the most prolific collection of prose and fiction of modern times.

A few general rules or theorems about fishing can be formulated based on these writings, lore, careful observation of facts and work-induced daydreaming.