Fly fishing tackle
Fly fishing tackle comprises the fishing tackle or equipment typically used by fly anglers. Fly fishing tackle includes:
- Artificial flies - ultralight fishing lure used to imitate flying insects and small crustaceans
- Fly rods - a specialized type of light fishing rod designed to cast fly line and artificial flies
- Fly reels - a specialized type of fishing reel designed to hold fly line and supply drag if required to land heavy or fast fish.
- Fly line - a specialized weighted fishing line that is designed to allow easy casting with a fly rod and interact with the water by either floating or sinking
- Terminal tackle used to connect the fly line to the artificial fly
- Accessories - tools, net, waders and apparel used by the fly angler for maintenance and preparation of tackle, dealing with the fish being caught, as well as personal comfort and safety while fly fishing. Includes fly boxes used to store and carry artificial flies.
Fly rods
Sizes and usage
Fly rods normally vary between 2 m and 4 m in length with the most common length sold being 2.74 m. Rod lengths are typically given in imperial measurements of feet and inches. Fly rods and lines are designated as to their "weight", typically written as Nwt where 'N' is the number.Rods are matched to the line according to weight. The rod's manufacturer will mark on the rod the fly line weights for which a rod has been designed. One-weight rods and lines are the lightest; the weight designations increase in whole number increments as the rod becomes heavier. The heaviest rods and lines readily available currently are 16-weight. In general, 1wt through 2wt rods would be used for the cast small flies for small trout and panfish; 3wt and 4wt rods are popular for small-stream fishing; 5wt is often considered the all-around rod for trout and general freshwater fishing; 6wt and 7wt rods are used on large rivers and for fishing with streamers, for larger warmwater species, and occasionally in calm inshore conditions for smaller saltwater species; 8wt to 9wt rods and lines might be used for steelhead or salmon in medium rivers, as well as for bass fishing with large flies, fishing for large carp, and general inshore saltwater use; and 10-11wt rods and lines would be used for pursuing large saltwater gamefish under conditions of high wind or surf. The heaviest rods are mostly used for bluewater species while fishing from a boat. The characteristics of these rods reflect the fact that only short casts are needed during this type of fly fishing, while lifting ability is at a premium.
The species pursued, under which conditions, will largely determine the weight of rod selected. Next, it is important to match the line to the weight of the rod. Using too heavy a line on too light on a rod, or vice versa, will dramatically affect casting performance. It may also permanently warp the rod blank. Generally speaking, you can safely go one line weight more or less. There are also rods stamped with a range of weights. For example, a rod may be rated 7-8wt. This indicates the rod is designed for either a 7 or 8 weight fly line. There are also some rods rated for wider ranges. The drawback to multi-rated rods is that compromises in flexibility or action are made in order to accommodate a wider range of line weights. For example, a rod rated for 8-9 weight line will be slightly stiffer than a straight 8wt but slightly softer than a straight 9wt rod. In general, the more expensive the rod, the more likely it'll be designated for a single line weight rather than a range.
Saltwater fly rods are built to handle powerful fish and to cast large, bulky flies over longer distances or into strong winds. Saltwater fly rods are normally fitted with heavier, corrosion-resistant fittings. The reel seat may also be equipped with a short extension often called a "fighting butt". Rods for saltwater fishing fall into the 8 to 15 weight class, with 12-weight being typical for most larger species like tuna, dorado and wahoo.
Note that the line weight generalities described above hold for both single-handed fly rods as well as double-handed fly rods used for Spey Casting, but the length and usage of double-handed rods often varies significantly.
Bamboo and split cane
The earliest fly rods were made from greenheart, a tropical wood, and later bamboo originating in the Tonkin area of Guangdong Province in China. The mystical appeal of handmade split-cane rods has endured despite the emergence over the last 50 years of cheaper rod-making materials that offer more durability and performance: fiberglass and carbon fiber.Split-cane bamboo fly rods combine sport, history and art. It may take well over 100 hours for an experienced rod builder to select and split the raw cane and then to cure, flame, plane, file, taper, glue, wrap and finish each rod. Quality rods made by famous rod makers may sell for prices well beyond US$2,000; a new rod from a competent, contemporary builder may sell for nearly as much. These rods offer grace, form, and, with their solid mass, surprising strength. Bamboo rods vary in action from slow to fast depending on the taper of the rod. In competent hands, they provide the pinnacle in performance.
Synthetic fly rods
Today, fly rods are mainly made from carbon fiber/graphite with cork or, less frequently, hypalon being favored for the grip. Such rods generally offer greater stiffness than bamboo, are much more consistent and less expensive to manufacture, and require less maintenance. Fiberglass was popular for rods constructed in the years following World War II and was the "material of choice" for many years. However, by the late 1980s, carbon/graphite composite rods had emerged as the materials used by most fly rod manufacturers. These premium rods offer a stiffness, sensitivity, and feel unmatched by any other synthetic material. Graphite composites are especially well-suited to the construction of multi-piece rods since the joints, known as ferrules, in better-quality graphite rods do not significantly affect overall flex or rod action. Today's modern carbon graphite composite fly rods are available in a wide range of sizes and types, from ultralight trout rods to bass fishing rods and two-handed "spey" rods.Fly lines
Fly line is a specialized fishing line that supplies the weight or mass necessary to cast an artificial fly with a fly rod. The first fly lines were constructed of woven horsehair that eventually evolved into woven silk fiber lines. As plastics technologies improved, synthetic materials gradually replaced natural materials in the construction of fly lines. Today's fly lines are generally constructed of an outside synthetic layer that determines the line's slickness, buoyancy, shape and weight over an inside core material which determines the line's strength and flexibility. The typical fly line is long although longer fly lines are manufactured. Fly lines have several characteristics which can be used to describe any given fly line. Some of these characteristics are based on industry standards and norms while others vary considerably between manufacturers.- Taper – Taper describes the change in cross-sectional diameter of a fly line from one end to another. Taper is a significant determinant in the casting performance of an individual fly line particularly the ability to present different types of artificial flies from the very delicate to the heavy and wind resistant in differing on-water conditions. Fly lines in general are said to be:
- *Weight forward taper – the cross-sectional diameter changes from smaller to larger to small within the front of the fly line. Weight forward taper lines have only one end to which the leader is attached.
- *Double taper – the cross-sectional diameter changes from smaller to larger to smaller symmetrically along the entire length of the fly line. Double taper fly lines may be reversed by the angler with the leader being attached to either end of the line.
- *Level – the cross-sectional diameter is identical along the entire length of the fly line.
- *Shooting heads –Shooting heads and tips are level or tapered sections of fly line designed for exceptionally long distance casting.
- Weight – Fly line weight is an industry standard measure of the actual weight in grains of the first or 9.1 meters of fly line. Fly rods are designed to cast fly lines of a specific weight. Fly line weights vary from 1 weight to 15 weight using standards originally established by the American Fishing Tackle Manufacturers Association and adopted by the American Fly Fishing Trade Association. A 5 weight fly line is designed to match up with a 5 weight fly rod. These relationships are not absolute and anglers may prefer to over-line or under-line any given rod depending on their casting style and rod action. Some sinking and sink-tip fly lines do not carry a numbered weight, but instead are identified by the actual weight in grains of the first of line, such as a sinking line.
- Buoyancy – Typical fly lines have a buoyancy characteristic that describes how the line behaves on the water after being cast.
- *Floating – Floating fly line is designed to float on the surface of the water along its entire length. Floating fly line is essential for presentation of artificial flies that must remain on the surface such as dry flies, poppers, bugs, etc. Floating fly line is also necessary to fish nymphs effectively with strike indicators.
- *Sink-Tip – Sink Tip fly line is designed so that some length of the tip section of the fly line sinks while the remainder of the fly line floats. Sink Tips are generally characterized by a sink rate in inches per seconds and are used when it is necessary to get artificial flies deeper in the water column.
- *Sinking – Sinking fly line is designed to sink along the entire length of fly line and is typically used in fly fishing deep waters or where the artificial fly must reach the bottom of the water column rapidly.