When you hear the word "fly fishing tackle" or fly fishing gear, the word is used to describe many of the parts of an angler's fly fishing equipment. Rod and reel are the basic parts of everyone's fly fishing gear. But there are other things you'll need to include.

For bait you'll need many types of flies. These flies are made to copy the way flies look and move as part of the fish's usual food supply. There are many different types of flies and you want to have the particular type of fly designed to attract a specific type of fish. In addition to flies you'll want different weights and types of lines. You want to stock the variety so if you happen to discover bigger fish you'll be able to quickly switch out your lines.

Now unless you're fly fishing on the shore or sitting in a boat, you'll need a set of waders. Waders keep you dry when you're casting and catching your fish. The choice of waders is dependent on where you choose to fish. Some people only use knee high waders but most people prefer chest high waders. Chest high waders let you go comfortably in many water depths without getting wet.

To top off your waders you're either going to have a fishing vest or a specialized backpack with pockets to hold the rest of your gear. I prefer the vest myself with many pockets for line, flies and other necessities. You want the pockets to close with either Velcro or a zipper. This prevents the stuff from falling out.

You also want to include fishing pliers in your fly fishing tackle. That's because many of the fly fishing locations are catch and release. Catch and release means once you catch the fish, you let it go. This way the fish population continues. Pliers can easily remove the hook from the fish's mouth without harming the fish.

As a follow-up you want a camera, waterproof, to actually show the fish you caught. This is very important in catch and release locations. That way you actually get to show what you say is really true.

Now as a fisherman I know there's lots of toys, gadgets and gizmos available to buy. And I can tell you I have quite a few and am always looking for new ones to help me fish better. So just remember the ones I wrote about are the minimum you need to go fly fishing. After that it's up to you.

PS If you have a something new you like, let me know. I'm always looking for a way to improve my fly fishing.

When you look at a photo of a fly fisherman, you may notice they are always wearing a vest. That’s because the vest with all its pockets is the holder of all the tools the angler needs for fly-fishing: weights, flies and the all important tippet.

When you buy your first vest you need to select the fabric the vest is made of. Fishing vests are made either of a tightly woven material or a mesh fabric. The advantage of the mesh is its ventilation in summer and its ability to stretch. Some people get used to a fabric vest and wouldn’t think of having one made of mesh.

You’ll need to try on the vest before you buy it. Remember the vest will be topping your usual clothes, so go for one size larger. This is really critical for cold weather fishing, as you’ll have multiple layers to wear under the vest.

Look for a shorter length of vest as you’ll be wading and you don’t want the hem of your vest to get wet. When the hem or base of your vest gets wet it will wick up and get items in your vest, including you wet.

The ideal vest has lots of pockets. Remember you want the vest to hold everything. Your hands are going to have to be free to handle the rod. For added security you’ll want zippers or Velcro on the pockets so items don’t pop out.

Fly-fishing is a great sport, one you can enjoy for many years. Having the proper equipment and accessories can make fly fishing even more enjoyable as your skills improve. So if you’re just getting started, go to The Daiwa Shop to learn more.