Fly Fishing Gear

By: Marilyn Roberts

Fly fishing is different from other types of fishing. It takes true skill as the bait is not heavier so it does not automatically go to the spot where it is cast. It also requires the angler to move the bait either just above or below the water level. Because it is a different type of fishing it requires it's own special gear. The gear that is needed includes: a rod, an artificial fly, a line, and a reel.

There is a special rod that is needed for this type of fishing. The rod always needs to be matched with a line that is the right size. If either one of them are too heavy or too light for each other, then the entire process of casting will be affected dramatically.

The rods generally run somewhere between 6 feet and 14 feet in length. They are usually made of bamboo and split cane or some type of synthetic material. There are some enthusiasts who make their own rods.

The next part of the gear that is needed is an artificial fly. This is the bait. It is much lighter than traditional bait. It was once simply used to mimic flies on and around the surface of the water. However, over the years the it has come to mimic many other types of baits so that more types of fish can be caught. Different ones should be used depending on what type of fish one is trying to catch.

Because the artificial fly is so light, the line has to provide the weight to make the cast work properly. Some lines sink in the water, some float on the water, and others mostly float but have a tip that sinks in the water. As was mentioned before, the line must always be matched with the rod; otherwise the entire process will be thrown off.

Traditionally the gear that is least important is the reel. This is because the fisherman simply pulls the line away from the reel himself. All the reel has to do is store the line until the fisherman needs it.

In recent years, as this sport has turned into fishing for bigger fish, the reel has become more important. New reels are designed to handle the larger fish and to stand-up well under a variety of conditions.

This is a great way to fish and in fact, it can be quite a spiritual experience. It is something that has to be worked at in order to produce consistent results. It has also evolved a lot over the past several years. Though the role and the technology of the gear have changed, the actual gear that is needed has remained the same.

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