Basic flyfishing Essentials

This blog will be about the things that you should have in you tackle box/fly box or bag, whatever you use. There are many things that you will need and more that you will need over time. The basics that i recommend are as follows.

1-Rod and reel
The rod /reel combo that you purchase should be balanced, for example if you have a #5 rod you should have a #5 reel. I would suggest for the newer fly fisherman to pick up a #6 or #7 rod . This is a little stiffer and i have found that it is much easier for the beginner to cast with.

2-Main Fly Line
Your main fly line should also balance to your reel, so if again you have a #5 rod/reel combo you should use a #5 line. Now lines are a very indepth subject because there are so many different types. I will go thru a few for the beginner, but if you want to know more there are books on the market on this subject.
If you are new to this sport i would suggest going out and picking up 2 lines, 1 full floating and 1 medium sink. For the floating line i would make sure that you pick up one of good quality such as the Cortland 444 or the Cortland 555, these are not cheep they run around $60 for the 444 and $90 for the 555. For the sinking line for the beginner i would go and pick up a good intermediate sink like the Cortland 444 Intermediate or the Cortland 444 Full sink. They also run around the same price as the floating lines. If i were to go a little cheaper i would do that on the sinking line, make sure that you buy a good quality floating line. There are many other lines that you will buy once you are more familiar with the sport but for now i would stick with the 2 line i have explained.

3-Tapered leaders and Tippet
Tapered leaders are the lines that you attach to your fly line.They are called tapered leaders because they are Tapered. The fat end of the line attaches to the fly line Via a nail knot as shown below. These come in many different lenghts and sizes, the one i would recommend for the beginner would be a 4lb 9or 10 foot tapered leader. Tippet is another one that will become over time personal choice. I remember when i started i used Dragon Fly tippet but for the last few years i have found that this brand is OK but not as strong as i once thought. The newer technology in tippet has come around and it is far superior, this is called fluorocarbon and this has taken the place of the old style mono. for the last 3 years i have been using Frog’s Hair fluorocarbon and have found it to be far superior. The fluorocarbon cost much more than the old Mono, but when it comes to strength Mono can’t compete. In flyfishing you want to use the thinnest line that you can so to fool the fish, the fluorocarbon gives you that. A 6lb fluorocarbon line has the diameter of a 2-3lb Mono giving you the strength you need in a smaller dimension.

4-Other gear
There are many other things that you will need for starting out in this sport, i will try to list as many as i can, but there will be some that you will want that i do not list. you will need to get some dry fly floatant, pick up a good brand, i have found that the cheaper brands tend to sink the fly after a while. Next pick up a good hemostat (thin pliers) seen here on the right. you will find that they are an invaluable tool if you want to practice catch and release. The next thing would be strike indicators, this is only if you want to try Chroinimid fishing. For the the beginner i strongly recommend that you fish with a indicator until you have a few seasons behind you. You should also have some weights in your bag, the kind of weight that i use is called soft weight. This weight like the name is soft so you can form it on your line or the head of the fly. This will help if you are trying to fish deeper than you fly line will go. One more tool that you will need is a good quality clipper. This is so that you can cut off the excess line that you will have once you tie on your fly. Pick one up that also has a pin in the end of it, this is used to clean out the eye of the fly, the eye’s can get head cement in them and will not allow you to put your line thru. If you plan on doing any night time fishing i would also pick up a small flahlight that can hook onto a hat ar your jacket.

5-Fly Boxes
Fly boxes are again a personal choice. if you always fish from a boat i would suggest that you pick up one large fly box that can store all of your flies. If you are in a tube/pontoon or on land i recommend that you buy several different boxes. I have one for Chronimids, one for dry flies,m one for wet flies and on for river flies. On top of these boxes i still have a large double sided box that has the bulk of my flies, all i do is make sure that i keep all of my smaller boxes stocked with flies before every trip onto the water.

I hopr that this is enough info on this for all of you. As i have stated you will end up picking up more things as you get better and wish to explore this great sport further. If you have any questions on gear please leave a comment with your e-mail and i will try to answer all.

Wishing everyone tight lines and tons of fish.

NEXT: Fishing the Skagit River

If i fail to do another blog by Christmas. i would like to wish eberyone a happy and merry season and a great new year!!