Basic Fly Fishing Gear
Basic Fly Fishing Gear
Let's get started right off the bat. Assuming you know little or nothing about fly fishing starting off, the basic set up follows. You will need a rod, reel, and line system that matches the flies you will be casting. Therefore, we must make some assumptions. I am going to assume you will be fishing for stream trout or pan fish and will discuss the gear you will need accordingly.
For this type of fishing, a beginner will likely start with a "5/6-wt" graphite rod and reel combo which can be had for somewhere in the $100-$200 range. A typical rod length will be 9 ft. The reel will be loaded first with backing, a type of line that is used mainly as an insurance policy if all of your fly line is stripped off by a big fish. I hope you will need it soon. After the backing comes your
fly line. I am going to suggest a 5 or 6 "weight forward floating line." This will serve many purposes and the only limitation will be when you are trying to target deeper fish. Tied to the fly line comes your tapered leader. This will be anywhere from probably 4X which will work for flies size #12-#16 and even a bit larger (for flies, the larger the number, the smaller the fly...go figure), to 7X which will work for flies in the #18-#28 size range. This is as small as you will likely ever use. The 4X line is pretty good for larger trout and even bass but will not cast small flies well and is more easily visible in clear water. Finally, you will want tippet that matches or is perhaps a size or two smaller than your leader. It is numbered with the same system as your tapered leader. Both tapered leader and tippet are available in various materials, the two most popular being mono filament and fluorocarbon. The fluorocarbon is more expensive but seems stronger for its size and also seems a bit less visible in clear water.
The "bobber" of fly fishing is called a strike indicator. You will likely want these when you are fishing nymphs (we'll explain that in a minute). They come in a number of varieties. One option is a foam or wooden float pegged to the line with a toothpick. These cannot be removed without unstringing your line. Another popular option is adhesive strike indicators, with the advantage that they can be put on or removed without unstringing your line. There are a number of less popular strike indicator options as well.
Flies come in several categories. They include dry flies, nymphs, and streamers. All of these flies have their special functions. Dry flies are most effective when fish are rising to the surface to eat aquatic insects. They are best fished up and across stream. Effective dry fly patterns include the Elk Hair Caddis, Adams, and Royal Wulff in sizes #12-#16. Foam poppers work well for bluegill in still waters as well.
Nymphs are also very effective for trout, as well as bass and bluegill in some cases. They imitate the larval stages of aquatic insects, and are the main food source for trout in most streams. Nymphs should be fished near the bottom of the stream under a strike indicator. Effective nymph patterns include the Hare's Ear, Prince, Copper John, and Soft hackle. All of these patterns are best fished in sizes #14-#18.
Streamers work very well for bass and trout, as well as bluegill in the smaller patterns. Streamers imitate bait fish, crayfish, or other underwater prey that is capable of swimming quickly. Some good patterns include Woolly Buggers, Clouser Minnows, Mohair Leeches, and marabou streamers.
This concludes the basic list of gear you need to become a successful fly fisherman. While there may be some other accessories that will be helpful in some situations, this article includes all the basics that are absolutely necessary. Get the necessary gear, and get on the stream to learn how to fly fish.
Let's get started right off the bat. Assuming you know little or nothing about fly fishing starting off, the basic set up follows. You will need a rod, reel, and line system that matches the flies you will be casting. Therefore, we must make some assumptions. I am going to assume you will be fishing for stream trout or pan fish and will discuss the gear you will need accordingly.
For this type of fishing, a beginner will likely start with a "5/6-wt" graphite rod and reel combo which can be had for somewhere in the $100-$200 range. A typical rod length will be 9 ft. The reel will be loaded first with backing, a type of line that is used mainly as an insurance policy if all of your fly line is stripped off by a big fish. I hope you will need it soon. After the backing comes your
fly line. I am going to suggest a 5 or 6 "weight forward floating line." This will serve many purposes and the only limitation will be when you are trying to target deeper fish. Tied to the fly line comes your tapered leader. This will be anywhere from probably 4X which will work for flies size #12-#16 and even a bit larger (for flies, the larger the number, the smaller the fly...go figure), to 7X which will work for flies in the #18-#28 size range. This is as small as you will likely ever use. The 4X line is pretty good for larger trout and even bass but will not cast small flies well and is more easily visible in clear water. Finally, you will want tippet that matches or is perhaps a size or two smaller than your leader. It is numbered with the same system as your tapered leader. Both tapered leader and tippet are available in various materials, the two most popular being mono filament and fluorocarbon. The fluorocarbon is more expensive but seems stronger for its size and also seems a bit less visible in clear water.The "bobber" of fly fishing is called a strike indicator. You will likely want these when you are fishing nymphs (we'll explain that in a minute). They come in a number of varieties. One option is a foam or wooden float pegged to the line with a toothpick. These cannot be removed without unstringing your line. Another popular option is adhesive strike indicators, with the advantage that they can be put on or removed without unstringing your line. There are a number of less popular strike indicator options as well.
Flies come in several categories. They include dry flies, nymphs, and streamers. All of these flies have their special functions. Dry flies are most effective when fish are rising to the surface to eat aquatic insects. They are best fished up and across stream. Effective dry fly patterns include the Elk Hair Caddis, Adams, and Royal Wulff in sizes #12-#16. Foam poppers work well for bluegill in still waters as well.
Nymphs are also very effective for trout, as well as bass and bluegill in some cases. They imitate the larval stages of aquatic insects, and are the main food source for trout in most streams. Nymphs should be fished near the bottom of the stream under a strike indicator. Effective nymph patterns include the Hare's Ear, Prince, Copper John, and Soft hackle. All of these patterns are best fished in sizes #14-#18.
Streamers work very well for bass and trout, as well as bluegill in the smaller patterns. Streamers imitate bait fish, crayfish, or other underwater prey that is capable of swimming quickly. Some good patterns include Woolly Buggers, Clouser Minnows, Mohair Leeches, and marabou streamers.
This concludes the basic list of gear you need to become a successful fly fisherman. While there may be some other accessories that will be helpful in some situations, this article includes all the basics that are absolutely necessary. Get the necessary gear, and get on the stream to learn how to fly fish.