Thursday, May 5, 2011

Fly Fishing Equipment You'll Need On Your Next Trip

By Bruce Wiley


Just as with any other sport, the equipment you use when fly fishing can be very important. To set your expectations, some of the equipment needed may cost an arm and a leg, but it is all necessary to make your fly fishing experience worth it.

Quite obviously, a rod and a reel are necessary. But you may angle for a certain kind of fish, so the choice of rod isn't as simple as it sounds. Fly rods are ranked according to their net weight capabilities (nwt). The nwt rating determines the size of the fish you could catch with the rod. You will need an 8 nwt rod to catch 8-pound fish, 7 nwt for 7 pounds, and so on. The nwt number would be directly proportional with the weight fish you can catch.

However, there are rods that are multi-rated, i.e. 7-9 nwt. The positive side is that you can catch more kinds of fish with them, but on the other hand they tend to be less durable and flexible than single rated rods.

Fiberglass, graphite and bamboo are the three main types of fishing rods. The most affordable rods would be fiberglass rods, which also happen to be very sturdy. If you're new to fly fishing, fiberglass rods are a great choice as you can use them in more than one scenario. Graphite rods are lighter and will give you more fighting weight when it comes to landing a fish. Easy-going and experienced fly fishermen usually opt for bamboo rods, which are very costly but also very sturdy regardless of the situation.

Your fly line will need to match the nwt of your rod. If you have an 8 nwt rod, you'll need to use an 8 nwt line. But if you are not able to find the exact same net weight, going one or two sizes under or above is fine - say, 9 nwt or 7 nwt for the above example. Make quality a priority when choosing a fly line. Some lines are specially designed for freshwater, saltwater, etc.

The next piece of equipment you will need is a sturdy net to hold your catch. Once a fish raises the proverbial white flag, you'll have to use a net to remove them from the water. This can be a big part of your fly fishing equipment because without a good net, you won't be able to get your fish out of the water!

Whether you are new to the fishing game or a veteran angler, you need the right fly fishing equipment to succeed. The importance of good equipment will manifest itself once you become more adept at the sport. It is advisable to use affordable gear rather than expensive gear if you're starting out, and you would be able to upgrade your equipment anyway as you get better. Fly fishing equipment is often the big difference between catching a run-of-the-mill fish and catching a big one that could land you in the papers or on a major sporting network like ESPN2!




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