Fly Fishing Equipment and Gear
There never seems to be enough...
I trust that I am not the only fly fisherman that has way more rods, reels and associated gear than any sane person could ever imagine...frankly, I find it a little embarrassing. It should also be said that I have a perfectly reasonable explanation for all of it..."I "need it" Seriously though, many advances in materials and technology as well as different fishing "situations" account for the bulk of it. Some of it I just like to look at...
image credit: gearpatrol.com
This section as the title might suggest is about fly fishing equipment and associated gear. So, I'm a gear junkie...no excuses. Over the 40+ years I have been seriously involved in fly fishing, I have been a "rep" for a number of fly fishing companies, a fly fishing "teacher" to many people and, most importantly, an avid fly fisherman. I love fly fishing like most people love their dogs...I love dogs too. I don't think I am any different from most fly fishermen. The proper equipment is an important aspect of all fly fishing pursuits. I guess the simple explanation is that you cannot fish for tarpon with a 5 weight trout rod...you get my "drift". Following you will find my best effort at covering this very broad topic. Wherever possible, I will include a brief discussion, reviews, links to the primary manufacturers and more...
A note to beginners: When you think about purchasing a fly rod, reel or fly line, there are several key things you need to keep in mind: (1) the size of the rod (both rod weight and rod length) will often dictate to a large degree what size and species of fish you can effectively fish for. (2) the "weight" of the fly rod will dictate the "weight" of the fly line. Every fly rod was designed to cast a fairly specific fly line weight and finally, (3) the rod weight and the fly line weight will help determine the size of the reel you need to bring it all together in a balanced package. So, a 5wt. fly rod needs a 5 wt. fly line and the reel needs to hold a 5 wt. line plus appropriate backing.
A fly rod is the most important piece of fly fishing equipment you will ever purchase. I say this because it is the fly rod that will dictate such as the species of fish you can effectively pursue, the size of fly you can properly cast and the right fly rod will greatly enhance your fishing experience. The fly rod will also determine what size and type of reel and fly line you will need to make the rod "work" as it was designed to . Here you will find information on fly rods, links to manufacturers, discussion of rod types, weights, what is best for your specific purpose and why. Without a fly rod you cannot fly fish...right? See more...
In the early days of fly fishing, it was said the reels were not important as they were just a thing to "store line on". Well, things have changed. With the development of modern drag systems, rods from 1 weight to 14 weight, new and better designs and materials,.fly reels have become much more important...Here you will find information on reel manufacturers, what reel is best for your specific need(s) and why. See more...
This is a topic that is often discussed in the online groups I follow. Fly rods and casting get way more attention but the fly line is way more important to a good fishing experience than many realize. We discuss fly lines in general, types of lines when to use them, manufacturers and more...Also, information about leaders, tippet and the knots to attach all of it together. See more...
If you can find one single topic that is of prime importance to every fly fisherman, it has to be flies. Without them, none of the other stuff matters. I will do my best to cover this topic with respect to types of flies, when to use them, how to tie them, fly tying materials and tools. See more....
There are few things worse than being wet, cold and miserable while fishing. A good pair of waders and comfortable boots are an important part of a fly fisherman's equipment...Here we will discuss waders, boots and other wading related topics such as safe wading pointers, wading accessories such as wading "staffs", types of boot soles and which might be best for you. We will also have links to most of the primary manufacturers and unbiased reviews where we can them. See more...
Accessories
​
"Accessories" are somewhat like "beauty"...all in the eyes of the beholder. Personally, I do not consider these things as being essential, I just cannot imagine fishing without them. Just imagine not having a fly box, a vest or a net...fly fishing would not be the same.
​
Nets - see more...
Vests & Gear Bags- see more...
Fly Boxes- see more...
Float Tubes, etc.- see more...
Sun Protection- see more...
Tools: the small stuff - See more...