Fly Fishing Basics - Equipment

With fly fishing basics, as with any sport, you need certain equipment which is very important for your overall enjoyment of fly fishing. Depending on what you are going after, there is various types of equipment one needs. How much you start off with will be determined mostly by your budget and commitment level.

When starting out with fly fishing basics simply put, you will start off needing a rod and reel. Your choices of rods will depend on the kind of fish you will be angling for. Fly rods have their own unique ranking according to the weight they can hold. This is called "net weight capabilities" or (nwt). This ranking system is based on how many pounds the fish weighs. So a fish that weigh in at 7 pounds will require a 7 nwt fly rod. Make sure you determine the over size of fish you are after before purchasing a fly rod and remember the larger the fish the larger the nwt needs to be.

Fly fishing rods come in a variety of materials to choose from. They range from fiberglass to bamboo and also graphite. Lets take a look at each one of these and see how they compare.

Fiberglass Fly Fishing Rods

For the beginning fly fisher fiberglass has the advantage of being less expensive and are quite durable. Add to this fiberglass rods can be used in a variety of situations with extreme easy. This adds up to a winning rod for fly fishing basics.

Graphite Fly Fishing Rods

These rods are enjoyed by thousands of people all over the world for various reasons. Some main reasons are the lighter weight and strength they supply when bringing in a fish. A bit more expensive than the fiberglass rods, but for many, well worth the cost.

Bamboo Fly Fishing Rods

Bamboo rods combine the beauty of art and craftsmanship which is one reason a great bamboo rod can be very expensive. Every super rod maker will tell you he leaves a piece of his heart in every rod he creates. Perfectly crafted bamboo rods are stronger than graphite or even fiberglass. In fact it is said bamboo is stronger than steel. Being strong is one thing but also being resilient at the same time is a miracle. If you love a challenge then bamboo is for you.

Now here is some advice concerning your fly line. For most fly fishers the fly line should match the nwt of your rod. An example would be if your rod nwt is 9 then you need 9 nwt line. But some error on the strong side and get 1 or 2 nwt lines above their rod, the choice is yours.

If you are specializing in a certain type of fishing look into lines designed with that in mind, freshwater,saltwater, etc.

One item that needs special attention would be a very well made net. My advice is not to be to concerned about cost on this one because it would be a shame to win the struggle against a beautiful fish only to lose it because of a poor quality net.

Starting off with the right equipment is very important, not only to beginners but seasoned anglers as well. As you gain confidence in this sport you will see how important having solid equipment is. And like many things in life great fly fishing equipment will make sure the "big one" doesn't get away from you.