There should be more in your pile of fly fishing equipment than a rod, reel, line and a few flies. Consider everything that could go wrong while you are standing in a stream, and probably will, and try to think of all the fly fishing equipment you will need to overcome the challenges. Of course, if you are fishing close to shore and your camp, most of the equipment can be left there, except what will be needed to haul in that large fish you are going to catch.

Some of the more important pieces of fly fishing equipment that every angler will want to have with them include their box of flies, preferably in a waterproof box, a multi-tool with leader nippers, a nail knot tool, a knife blade and connected with a lanyard ring. The vest should have numerous pockets in which to carry several small items without being so big and bulky that interferes with your ability to cast efficiently.

While everyone plans on catching the biggest fish in the water, the net you carry should be of a size for realistic expectations. Remember, you are going to be carrying the fly fishing equipment with you as you walk through water over unseen obstacles. The more you carry to the more your chances of getting wet.

Think About Health While Fishing

There is an old saying about water, water everywhere and this is true while fishing. Make sure you have a water bottle with fresh water as drinking from the stream may be hazardous to your health. There are numerous types of bottles that will fit in with your other fly fishing equipment and can be refilled on every trip back to shore.

Standing in water on a sunny day, regardless of the outside temperature can result in sun burn as well as damage to your eyes from exposure to ultraviolet light. Make sure you pack sunglasses and skin protection to prevent burns. Several pieces of your fly fishing equipment can remain in your vehicle or camp if it is too heavy to attach to your vest or belt. There is no real reason to try to carry everything you own into the water, just what you will use while fishing.

There are floats available that you can sit in to help you remain upright, if you think the water become deeper in parts of the river or stream. These can be useful in new fishing spots to help keep you dry in the event of a sudden increase in the water’s depth.

Many stories about the one that got away would not be told if the angler had good knowledge of a few basic fly fishing knots. It is not always because they were in a hurry to get their line in the water that made the knot unable to withstand the pressure of a larger than expected fish. Sometimes it is a matter of simply not knowing any better. Whether the knots is for fixing the line to the rod, to a leader or attaching the fly, the strength of the fly fishing knots can make huge difference in the end of the story.

One of the most common fly fishing knots is the arbor knot used to secure the fly line to the arbor of the reel. Take the line around the spool and tie an overhand knot around the line. Then tie a second overhand knot a few inches past the first knot.

Lightly wet the line and pull the second know tight and then hold the spool in one hand, pull the line with tight with the other hand. The first knot will prevent the line from skipping through the second knot and the end can be trimmed and the reel loaded with line. The wet line will provide lubrication and help form tighter fly fishing knots.

Flies With Bent Eyes Require Different Knots

One of the other fly fishing knots used most often is the turle knot, used to attach flies to the line. Pass the lead end of the line through the eye of the fly and then make at least two wraps around the standing line, passing the leading end through the now formed loop, which forms an overhand knot. Once you pull this snug, you can pass the fly through the large remaining loop, tighten it down and trim the extra line. This type of fly fishing knots allows the fly to move more realistically on the water.

One of the keys to tying successful fly fishing knots is to wet the line with saliva or lake water before securing the knot. This helps lubricate the line making it easier to pull tight and once the line dries, will be stronger than a line tied when it is dry.

When using thinner line pulling the fly fishing knots too tight may result in a broken line. However, before casting the fly onto the water it is always better to check the strength of the fly fishing knots by pulling on the line to a pressure at least equal to the tested strength of the line.

When looking for new fly fishing rods, remember to match them to the type of fishing you will be doing as well as the size of the fish you are expecting to catch. The material of which the fly fishing rods are made will play a role in its performance as well its price with fiberglass being less expensive than graphite. Fiberglass rods are usually more durable than graphite rods, but the lighter graphite rods provide better accuracy for casting.

For fishing in waters where most of the casts will be short, a slow-action, flexible fly fishing rods have the most bend and should be used when angling for smaller fish. Medium action fly fishing rods, perhaps the best for beginners offer less flexibility and rod will bend in the middle and the tip when pulling in the fish. For larger fish or for casting lost range, a fast action rod is the better choice, although they lack the casting accuracy associated with lighter rods.

The length of the fly fishing rods also varies by the type of fishing you will be doing as well as the situations in which you will be casting. A medium length rod of between eight and 10 feet can provide better casting accuracy and strength and is often recommended for beginners.

Keeping Flies Out Of The Vegetation

If you are experienced enough to fish in tight quarters such as under trees or bushes or in small streams, short fly fishing rods of under eight feet will be better suited. Rods between eight and ten feet can handle bigger fish and will be needed for longer casts on wider streams or rivers. If you are fishing in larger bodies of water requiring longer casts or catching bigger fish, fly fishing rods longer than 10-feet is recommended. Graphite or fiberglass is an individual choice, as well as available budget.

It is recommended for beginners to start with medium length and medium flex fly fishing rods until they learn to control their casts and can do so accurately. Whenever you buy a new rod you should take it to a wide open area and use a dummy fly, that is one without a hook, and practice casting until you get a feel for the new rod.

Once you gain experience and can control the distance and accuracy of your casts, you can change to longer fly fishing rods with more flexibility to improve the length and overall efficiency of your casting.

One of the main parts of a fly angler’s equipment is their fly fishing waders and depending on the destination, the style and comfort can be chosen. Waders come in three basic styles, such as hip boots, overall and chest waders, depending on the depth of water expected to be encountered. Some anglers not anticipating water more than a foot or two deep, may opt for short rubber boots that reach only to their knees.

When looking for fly fishing waders the sole of the boot should be made to provide support and comfort to the bottom of the foot. Chances are you will be standing on the rocky bottom and boots with thin soles will become uncomfortable after a short time. Additionally, they should be designed to prevent slipping while walking over wet rocks and stones on the bottom. They are available to wear with or without shoes and many opt for the ones that do not require inner shoes to prevent your shoes from getting wet if water gets into the fly fishing waders.

Many fly fishing waders are also insulated to help keep your feet warm when walking through cold mountain streams. You will need to be careful not to allow this insulated interior to get wet as it can take several days to completely dry out and be ready to use again. Additionally, the material of which the insulation is made may deteriorate quickly if it becomes wet.

Material Improvements Keep Feet Dry And Warm

The environment in which you will be fishing will determine the type of fly fishing waders you buy. If there is a chance of the water rising above your waist, hip waders will not do the trick. While overalls may restrict your movements slightly, keeping dry should be the most important part of the decision. Chest waders will reach at least to your arm pits, and will offer less restriction, but a slight slip could allow water in over the top.

Many newer styles of fly fishing waders also include pockets for small tools or fly boxes and have the exterior pouches positioned out of the way of your arms when casting a fly. They may also be tear resistant, but absolutely be waterproof. Even if your have the best fly fishing waders that money can buy, you will want to carry a repair kit made specifically for the wader material in event of a rip.

Tying a Duncan’s loop knot in fly fishing. Learn about fly fishing knots, equipment, and techniques in this free video.

Expert: Alvin Dedeaux
Contact: www.alvindedEaux.com
Bio: Alvin has been a fly fishing guide and casting instructor for 12 years, and has been fly fishing for 32 years. He is a graduate of the Joan Wulff fly casting instructor’s school.
Filmmaker: MAKE | MEDIA

Looking For Fly Fishing Tackle

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Choosing Fly Fishing Tackle To Match Fishing Trip

For most anglers, fly fishing tackle includes everything they will need while fishing their favorite body of water. The body of water as well as the size and species of fish being caught will help decide the type and size of the fly fishing tackle that will be needed. For most fly fishing, medium rods and reels will suffice in many conditions and except for the most seasoned anglers, will perform under a variety of conditions. Those new to fly fishing should stay away from some of the more challenging environments, such as fishing from trees or in a range of bushes or shrubs.

Choosing the right flies for the trip will depend on several factors. In addition to the time of year and the water temperature, the geographic location will have a lot to do with the choice of flies. While fish may not often be classified as genius, they will be able ro recognize a bug that is not consistent with the area in which they leave. The fly fishing tackle used should be seen as part of the natural habitat to be successful.

Surface, or dry flies should resemble insects native to the area to attract the most attention and can be the type used to imitate the real thing or be made as such to invite a strike by a hungry fish. While you may own several pieces of fly fishing tackle, you will only have to carry what is appropriate for the season and the water being fished.

Matching The Line With The Rod

When packing your fly fishing tackle for an upcoming trip, you will want to make sure you have line that is consistent with the performance of your rod. Short, flexible rods are great for fishing in smaller streams where you anticipate most of the fish to be small and light line can help get the line further into the water. Although short rods are best for short casts and when fishing from under trees.

If the water is larger and you expect bigger fish to be biting, a medium length rod is recommended along with a line designed for larger fish, which will also require a larger reel to handle the larger line. When putting together your fly fishing tackle try to match the length and stiffness of the rod, the size of the line and the size of reel to achieve consistent results.

Fly Fishing Offers Exceptional Challenges

Possibly one of the oldest techniques of catching fish, fly fishing is sport in which many people relish the thought of spending uninterrupted time in the water of a lake, river, stream and even the ocean angling for fish. With first reports of fly fishing dating back to the early 1700’s, it is considered by many to be an art involving the ability to cast a fly line as well as to make artificial flies that either mimic natural food or attract the fish, creating an instinctive strike at the artificial lure.

With traditional fishing techniques, casting is done with the weight of the lure or bait leading the line into the water. With fly fishing, the fly is too light to pull the line and the casting technique involves throwing the line onto the water, which in turn sends the fly to the desired spot. Trout and salmon are the traditional targets for fly fishing, but many other species such as bass and panfish are also popular among fly fishermen.

The sport continues to attract anglers with many of them challenging themselves to catch as many different species of fish as they can by fly fishing. It is also growing in popularity to send a fly into the ocean for tarpon and other game fish, although the equipment used will much more durable than that used on lakes and in streams.

Casting Techniques Vary By Location

The method used to cast a fly line can be compared to whipping a rope on the ground to remove a kink in the rope. The line attached to the rod is lifted over the head and sent behind the angler and then rolled forward towards the target. This process is repeated several times when fly fishing until the line is out far enough to reach the desired position on the water.

There are two basic types of flies used in fly fishing, the dry fly, which is designed to stay on top of the water and the wet fly, which has a tendency to submerge, mimicking the actions of a natural prey for the fish. The flies used in fly fishing are usually tied by hand and designed to replicate the various stages of growth of a specific insect. Depending on the time of year, the fly can resemble an insect in its earliest stage and progress through adulthood, attracting the fish expecting the delicacy during that time of year