Before you start thinking this is a major undertaking, forget the fact that there is been a tremendous amount of information published about saltwater fly fishing. For those who have never picked up a fly rod, all of this information about fly fishing and accessories can be quite overwhelming. The good news is that like any type of fishing, fly fishing can be as complicated or is easy is you cannot make it. In addition to that, you do not need a tremendous amount of either knowledge or equipment to get started. Contrary to what you may think, you will not need to spend your life savings on equipment that will help you land fish. There are however, some basic equipment needs that are required, and this list should help you get started.

It should go without saying that the first thing you will need is a decent fly rod. Most saltwater anglers will tell you that anything lighter than the seven weight rod is not a good idea. In fact, typically an eight or nine weight is a great place to start. This is equally as true the average saltwater fish in the Northeast such as bluefish and striped bass. Rod lengths have become fairly standardized at about 9 feet. This length allows you to leverage you need to cast the line without a lot of effort and still remain easy to handle. A good quality rod should cost you somewhere around $100 and local tackle shop.

The next most important piece of equipment that you will need is a good reel to match your rod. The good news is the confusion is easy to wade through. Since reels and fishing rods are rated the same, and an eight weight reel will match up with an eight weight rod. If you plan on using your fishing rod primarily in salt water settings, a large, arbor reel is typically a best choice. The benefits of these include wider deepest pools that allow you the room that you need for a couple of hundred yards a fly line backing, as well as your fly line. This additional line is necessary in the event that you hook a large fish that make a long run. This type of fly reel system can be purchased for well under $100.

The next part of your tackle should be fly line and backing. There is no need to use expensive lines in the beginning. Your line weight should match your fishing rod and reel, and it is preferable that you go with a floating weight forward line. You will not need sinking lines until much later. The majority of your spool should be filled with the fly line backing before the fly line is attached. The best fishing line for this is Dacron, typically weighted for 20 to 30 pound test. It would be prudent to ask a tackle shop that has line winding equipment to put the appropriate amount of backing onto your reel and then attach the fly line to the backing.

The next piece of tackle that will be required is a leader. Made either from monofilament line or fluorocarbon line, leaders are typically the same length as your fishing rod, and are attached to your fly line before you tie the fly. Your local retailer should be able to recommend ideal leader sizes for the type of fish that you will be attempting to catch. It is important to remember that leaders are generally tapered, which allows them to unfurl at the end of the cast.

The final piece of tackle that you will need is a small selection of flies. The best place to get information on this is locally. Local anglers and staff members at your bait shop can help you make an accurate determination of which flies are best suited. A small selection of streamers and surface flies that offer a variety of sizes and patterns will typically work fine. Once you have been out a few times, you will soon be able to figure out which ones work best for you.

When you are out saltwater fishing it is important to make sure you have the right supplies. Some of the most popular brands include Shimano Saltwater Reels, Penn Reels, and Daiwa Saltwater Reels.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!