While scanning my bookshelves for a reference book — for an obscure factoid needed in a ponderous work underway for the last 18 months of my life — a copy of Fieldbook for Boys and Men came into view.

This story was originally featured on Field & Stream. Fishing line has advanced remarkably in the past few decades. Nylon monofilament, fluorocarbon, and so-called “superline” give fishermen ...