ctrl+r is great

so is modifying your inputrc so you can still use up arrows but filter the options by first typing a bit of text

i.e. $ find <up arrow to just show lines starting with find>

tada:

    $if mode=emacs
    "\e[A": history-search-backward
    "\e[B": history-search-forward
    $endif

I do a bit more in that if block, but trimmed it down to make a point