Fly fishing has become quite popular over the last couple years and while there are different variations of fly fishing, the gear and techniques generally stayed the same. If you are someone with some experience then you probably already know everything we’re about to go over, but if you are someone who is new to the world of fly fishing, then you’re probably wondering what you might need. Below is a basic guide that will go over what gear you may need to make your start in fly fishing as easy and as enjoyable as it possibly can be.

The first thing you will need for fly fishing just like any other type of fishing, is a rod or a fly rod as many call them. Fly rods must be lightweight but sturdy so you can cast the line and aim easily at your selected area. That’s why most fly rods are made from either graphite or boron. Most fly rods are designed to handle any kind of fish you’re after and are manufactured and sold by different lengths, use and line weight. They come anywhere from 2.1 metres in length to 3 metres; there are also specialty ones available that can be as long as 4.5 meters. The general rule of thumb is that you choose a rod depending on your location. If you’re in a smaller space, you want to use a smaller rod so that it doesn’t get tangled or hooked on anything accidentally. If you are a beginner, you want to generally choose the general 2.7 meter rod.

Fly reels are the next important part to your rod as we both know one is no good without the other. These were originally designed to store your fly line and to provide resistance against a pulling fish. If you are a beginner, you should choose a reel with a cork disc drag and aluminium body. If you, however want to go fishing in salt water, you should choose a model that has some resistance to corrosion. Another general rule of thumb for choosing the right reel is that shorter rods balance better with light reels and longer rods with heavier reels.

So now it’s time for the interesting stuff – the flies. You should always know what kind of flies to buy according to the kind of fish you want to catch, or you should just stock up on a variety of different flies so you are always well prepared for any kind of fishing you may be doing. A few different types of flies include nymph flies and wet flies which are great for trout fish as they consume nymph fish most of the time. Streamer flies are similar to an injured fish or crustacean; steelhead or salmon flies are also great for catching fish; salt water flies are great when you want to catch larger fish and dry flies imitate insects that have landed on the water which many fish can’t help but go for.

Some other pieces of equipment you should know about is the fly line, leaders, and tippets. The idea of the fly line is essentially to put some weight behind your flies. You should decide what weight you like depending on what rod and how far you wish to cast your line. A leader is a smart piece of invisible line that goes between your fly line and fly making it invisible for fish to see. A tippet is what connect attaches the leader to the fly they come in all different sizes so you may want to research which ones are best for your flies.

Fly fishing may not be easy but learning what equipment you need sure is. You can find a selection of great rods and flies locally or you can always look online for great deals and have them delivered straight to your door.