If you’re impressed by the stories of your friend about fly fishing and have developed a liking for this amazing activity, you might have become eager to head towards a serene lake, river or stream and fly fish. However, if you want to fully enjoy it with a great catch, it’s better to know the basics. Most important is to get all the essential fly fishing equipment. Here are a few tips.
Basic Gear
You’ll need:
- A fly reel
- A fly rod
- A fly fishing line which comprises of fly line, backing, a tippet and a leader
- Flies (it’s impossible to fly fish without flies)
So, that’s what you need the most in a fly fishing starter kit.
Fly Reel and Fly Rod
These are the most important components of your fly fishing gear.
Prices of fly reel vary a lot. Plastic reels are on the low end. However, it’s better to stay away from these. They don’t last long, break easily and don’t perform well. A metal fly reel is the best.
Fly rods are available in various lengths and weights. The prices of fly rods vary depending upon their material and quality of construction. It depends on the type of fishing you wish to do which rod you should choose. A graphite fly rod is recommendable; it’s in the medium price range.
An important thing to remember while buying a reel and rod is that they should match each other. The rod’s weight should match the reel so as to perform properly.
Several manufacturers sell these two in combination where they are already matched; plus you get a discount.
Fly Fishing Line
In other types of fishing, there is only one line. But fly fishing is a little different because:
- The end of the line doesn’t have a weight, but only a fly which is pretty lightweight and distant cast is impossible without weight. Therefore in fly fishing the line is much thicker so as to offer the weight.
- Fly fishing essentially consists of presenting a bait (fly) on the water, without making fish recognize that it’s attached to something. This is where the tippet and leader step in.
Fly backing is used to fill up the reel and to provide an extra length for a longer fish run.
Fly line provides the weight.
The leader is used to transit to the thin tippet from the thick fly line.
The tippet connects the fly to the leader.
Flies
There are three basic types of flies:
- Dry flies are the most common and meant to look like insects
- Nymphs look like aquatic creatures, like larvae
- Streamers too mimic aquatic creatures but are larger than nymphs
Talk to your local fishing shop or a fishing expert to choose the best fly.
So, when are you going to start fly fishing?
