Fly Fishing

Heading onto the water with a box of flies and a good quality rod can be the start of a great day of fishing. However, you want to make sure the fly fishing lines on the reel are designed for the type of fishing you will be doing. Similar to fly fishing rod, fly fishing lines are rated by weight and the larger the fish you target, the larger the line you will need to withstand the challenge the larger species will present when hooked.

Most fly fishing lines are categorized by weight with one through five being exceptionally light for use with light rods for short, accurate casting. They are ideal for small rivers and streams where the accuracy of fly placement is more important than the distance of the cast. They can also be used for casting under obstacles such as tree limbs or shrubs. A short rod, about eight or nine feet can also provide excellent casting accuracy when used with light fly fishing lines.

For the beginning, fly fishing lines with a weight between six and nine are good for casting further, where obstacles are few and far between. Used with a medium strength fly rod, these fly fishing lines can be snet further, but will have less accuracy than the lighter lines have.

Heavier Lines Needed For Heavier Fish

While stories abound about huge fish being harvested on light tackle, to guard against telling stories about the one that got away, heavier lines will be needed for heavier fish. Fly fishing lines weighted between 10 and 15 are typically used for larger game fish between 40 and 150 pounds, but they also require larger reels on which the line can be stored.

Many of the original fly fishing lines were made of cotton, but it tends to rot quickly after becoming wet. Most of today’s fly fishing lines are coated in plastic to protect it from the elements. The reels are also larger to accommodate not only the line but the leader and the backing and depending on where you are fishing, they can add upwards of 300-yards to the line on the reel.

Just as the rod and reel should be matched to the type of fishing, fly fishing lines must be matched to the rod as well. Lighter rods for accurate casting will require lighter lines and conversely, larger, heavier fly fishing rods will need heavier lines in order to be cast by the heaver rods.

Don’t automatically reach for the least expensive fly fishing reels as they may not perform as you might expect! Reels perform other tasks than just serving as a receptacle for your fishing line like the ability to release line in an efficient, smooth and tangle-free way. Of course, nothing is simple when it comes to fly fishing reels as there are three different types to choose from!

The Single Action

Most fly fishermen go for the single action fly reel because it is simple to use and there are few parts inside of it to break down. The single action means that you have a retrieve ratio of 1 to 1 which translates to one turn of the handle equals to one turn of the spool line. Of the other types of fly fishing reels, the single action is the easiest to replace spools and there is virtually no maintenance needed in its upkeep.

Resilience and reliability are two prominent characteristics of single action reels so they will serve you in good stead. Plus, these also have a greater fishing line capacity than other fly reel forms, making it quite a popular catch.

Multiplying Action

Multiplying fly fishing reels are quite different from the single action in that not only do they have several gears to worry about, their retrieval ratios is higher than 1 to 1. This means that you could turn the handle of the reel just once and the spool of line could turn several times for quicker line retrieval.

The multiple gears in these fly fishing reels can be troublesome and for many, not worth the bonus of the quick line retrieval. The reels could easily break down thanks to the intricate springs and gears housed within it. Fishermen who do get the multiple gear reel say they are great for quick reeling of large fish.

Automatic Action

The automatic fly fishing reels have an automatic line retrieval process where you do not even have to turn the handle of the reel. Instead, the automatic reel has a special trigger which releases a spring so as to “reel” in the fishing line. This type of reel is quite cumbersome due to its weight plus it cannot hold as much backing line nor does it have a good drag setting. However, some fishermen like the automatic reel because they don’t want to mess with manually reeling in the fishing line.

There are some pros and cons of each of the fly fishing reels so you should really evaluate the typical fishing scenario you will encounter to determine which reel to choose. Do consider this one piece of buying advice – try to purchase a reel where the weight matches the rod it will be attached to for a more balanced fishing experience.

When folks head for the water to drench some flies they want to make sure they have the right fly fishing rod combo for the type of fishing they will be doing. Unlike bait casting or spin casting, when fishing with flies you can’t use the same rod and reel no matter what type of lure you are using. Sure, you want line rated for heavier loads when angling for bigger fish, but the rod and reel can remain the same simply by changing bales of line.

It is a different game when fly fishing, as the flexibility of the rod and the weight of the line has everything to do with how well you can cast the fly in front of the fish. The right fly fishing rod combo can make it easier to cast from under trees and around bushes without leaving flies stuck in the branches. The reel used on your fly fishing rod combo will only come into play when you switch to heavier lines and a longer backing is required, typically for fishing for big game fish.

When first learning how to fish with flies, it is better to start with a medium fly fishing rod combo of average length. With a rod between eight and nine feet and medium flexibility, you can learn to cast the line quicker and with greater accuracy. However, as your expertise increase you can move to lighter or heavier fly fishing rod combos to match the fish you are after.

Rod Size Should Match Target Fish

When fishing in shallow lakes or steams and believing most of what you catch will be small, using a lightweight fly fishing rod combo allows for more accurate casting as well as offering a better feel for when the fly is bumped by the fish. A lightweight fishing rod will be fairly stiff except for the tip of the rod. To complete the fly fishing rod combo, a light line should also be used, making the casting more exact.

Longer casting will require a fly fishing rod combo that allows the rod to flex from the middle to the tip with a rated weight between six and nine. Matching line will easily whip out onto the water during the casting procedure, and while accuracy may be less than desired, it does off a better chance of getting the line further out onto a lake or a wide river.

When it comes to fly fishing rods, there are three primary characteristics to consider like the length and weight of the rod as well as the type of action you want to experience. If you are relatively new to the world of fly fishing, it is important to understand what these three characteristics mean so that you can choose amongst the different fly fishing rods available.

Weight of the Rod

When the weight of fly fishing rods are referred to, it is not necessarily an actual weight as in pounds or grams but a numbering system. This system ranges from 1 to 14 and choosing your rod is fairly easy as long as you keep in mind the type of fish you are angling for as well as the average size of the fish.

For instance, with fly fishing rods, the lower weight numbers are typically reserved for catching the smaller fish like brim, pan fish and other comparably small species. The larger the fish you want to catch, the larger the number weight of the fishing rods, like a 10 to 14 for tarpon, large salmon and other sport salt water fishing.

Length of the Rod

There are three basic lengths to choose from when you are researching fly fishing rods and they are 7, 8 or 9 foot. A short rod is best when you are in areas that only lend itself to short casts such as river or creek banks which are lined with trees or other obstacles. Long fly fishing rods are great for lakes or even the open ocean where you do not have to worry about the line tangling with obstacles.

Action Speed of the Rod

Fly fishing rods come in fast, medium and slow action speeds and these are embodied into the properties of the rods. For instance, slow action rods are very flexible which is great for tightly confined casting areas but not so great for windy conditions or catching large fish.

A fast rod is typically rigid and unyielding, except at the tip which allows for a longer cast, fishing in windy conditions and catching large fish. You can also cast larger flies to attract the larger fish but it is not a good option when you are a beginner or fishing a small stream.

Medium action fly fishing rods are a safe bet because they have some flexibility and are versatile in various fishing conditions as well as for catching a variety of fish species. If you are a beginner and unsure where you plan to fly fish, a medium action rod is your best bet, unless you have specific conditions near your fishing area that would be best for slow or fast action fly fishing rods.

When it comes to fly fishing tackle, quite a few items fall within this category, each performing a different task in fly fishing. The word “tackle” refers to all of the paraphernalia necessary to fish such as the rod, reel, hooks, flies, fishing line, waders and more. The list is actually quite extensive when it comes to fly fishing tackle because they differ depending on the type of water and fish you are angling for.

Two Basic Types that Influence Choice

When it comes to choosing your fly fishing tackle, first you have to decide what type of fly fishing to do – saltwater or freshwater. While some equipment is the same, a few pieces of fly fishing tackle will be quite different like the flies as well as the rod itself.

With the flies, most are created by hand using materials that resemble the favorite food of the fish whether it is insects, larvae or even worms. Obviously, the saltwater fish eat slightly different things from the freshwater variety so the flies or lures would be one part of the fly fishing tackle that is different.

The rods tend to be a bit different as well when it comes to shopping for fly fishing tackle for saltwater or freshwater components. With saltwater, you would want to choose a short rod made from strong metal alloys as the shorter length provides better leverage for snagging the larger fish and the alloy is not corrosive from repeated exposure to saltwater.

Choosing your Gear

Fly fishing tackle is best bought in person, at least when you are new to the sport, so that you can physically test the products and learn more about what to look for in terms of your fishing needs. The fishing rod, reel and line are three definite “in person” purchases as these are the most crucial to your fishing success.

These particular fly fishing tackle items can greatly differ obviously between the different types of fishing but also when considering the type of fish you wish to catch as well. You can catch salmon, trout and bass in streams as well oceans and not only are the conditions different, but their size and weight as well from location to location. Therefore, you have to keep the size of the fish in mind when selecting your fly fishing tackle.

All in all fly fishing tackle can be quite complicated to the newbie fly fisherman so it is important to purchase your supplies in person at a store that sells outdoor and sporting equipment. That way, a knowledgeable salesman can guide you through the essentials of fly fishing tackle – what is needed now to get started and what can wait until you have more experience.

Fly fishing waders can be a very important piece of fishing gear if you plan to spend quite a bit of time fly fishing in cold temperatures – both climate-wise and water-wise. Waders perform two basic but very important functions for you – they keep you dry and warm whether you are wading in a deep pond with cold water in its depths or a shallow stream in freezing cold weather.

Thanks to technology, these days you have an abundant supply of fly fishing waders to choose from in a variety of materials from reliable nylon to neoprene to specially created compounds that allow your body to wick away sweat and excessive body heat while still keeping you dry and protected. Of course, choosing from the different fly fishing waders will largely depending on your needs and budget.

Evaluating your Needs

First of all, do you actually need fly fishing waders for your fishing excursions, especially if you are in a warm area which also has warm waters? The job of waders is to keep you both dry and warm so unless you have an aversion to being wet for any length of time, you may not need any fly fishing waders for the warmer climate and waters.

However, cooler climates and those bodies of water which have cold depths require fly fishing waders to protect you by retaining your body heat and repelling for a warm, dry, comfortable experience. Extreme fly fishing temperatures like fishing for trout in the midst of a Vermont winter or salmon in the icy streams of Alaska call for the best waders that you can afford.

Types to Choose from

There are three basic types of fly fishing waders to choose from and they often incorporate different materials in their core design. You can choose from stocking foot waders, boot foot waders or even hip waders for your fly fishing experience and each have their own quirks.

Boot foot waders expand out from your foot all the way up to your chest and the boot portion that covers the foot is permanently adhered to the wader. The best reason to choose the boot foot fly fishing waders is that you wouldn’t have to purchase wading boots separately. The stocking foot waders do not have the boot but are instead neoprene socks which must then be covered by wading boots that you purchase separately.

Hip waders are exactly as they sound – they extend up to the hips and are perfect for traversing in shallow waters with a slow current. Some types of these fly fishing waders have boots attached to them and some do not so it is all a matter of your comfort and needs as to which hip wader version to choose.

As you can see, there are a few variables to consider when shopping around for fly fishing waders so be sure you know exactly what you want. Try on different types of waders and examine the different materials before settling on one particular pair.