More Detailed Information about Fly Fishing Tackle
(See also our Beginner's Guide to selecting and matching trout flyfishing tackle...)
The fly reel acts as a reservoir for line which can be stripped
off in preparation for casting, paid out under tension when playing
fish and retrieved while fishing. They are available either with
the spool enclosed or with it's rim exposed. A checking mechanism
controls the passage of the line from the reel which gives some
control of the running fish and prevents the reels from offering
the line too fast. Most reels have an audible ratchet system but
more expensive reels may have a silent disc brake as well which
is adjustable to give greater control.
Weight
The lightest reels are made from magnesium, which is expensive,
or plastic, carbon fibre or metal which is cheaper. Reels should
be well engineered and robust and, when choosing a reel, it is important
to achieve balance with the other tackle being used.
Spools
The spool size of the reel should comfortably accommodate the chosen
fly line and 50 metres of backing. If you are going to be fishing
in a variety of places which require different types of fly line
- floating or sinking lines, for instance, it is sensible to buy
spare spools so that the lines can be changed with the minimum of
inconvenience.
In recent years 'large arbour' reels have been introduced to the
market and these have two benefits - they are quicker to wind in
and will also produce less 'memory' (coils) in the fly line if left
for a long time without being used.
Single Action
Most people choose a single action reel which for each turn of
the handle turns the spool once.
Multiplying Action
Multiplying reels are geared to retrieve line faster and work on
a two to one ratio but the internal mechanisms are more complicated
and require more maintenance.
The fly rod of today fulfils the same role as the cane and greenheart
rods of the past. Cane rods which are still produced today are,
length for length, the heaviest but can still deliver a fly accurately
and delicately in the right hands. Tubular fibre glass was the first
modern material to revolutionise fly rods with it's lightness. It
has now been superseded by carbon fibre. Rods made from carbon fibre
are lighter, thinner and stronger.
Weight
As an indication of the weight of fly line rods are capable of
casting, modern rods are marked with their AFTM (Association of
Fishing Tackle Manufacturers) rating. A rod marked AFTM5 is designed
to be fully loaded, and hence to cast best, with 10 yards of AFTM5
fly line extended beyond the rod tip. A shorter length of heavier
line would achieve the same loading and a longer length of lighter
line could achieve the same purpose. With a rod marked AFTM 4 -
6 would indicate that the rod would be fully loaded by 10 yards
of AFTM6 line extended beyond the rod tip. Beginners should choose
the heaviest rated line marked on the rod.
Length
As a general rule the shorter the distance to cast the shorter
the rod required. An ideal chalk stream rod would be 7 to 8 ft in
length and AFTM 4/5 rated. Longer and heavier rods would be used
for fishing on large stillwaters or reservoirs - 9 to 9 and a half
feet in length and AFTM rated 7/8. A good 'all-rounder' would be
a 9ft AFTM 6/7 with which a Double Tapered (DT) line could be used
on streams and a Weight Forward (WF) line could be used for larger
bodies of water or faster flowing rivers.
Action
1. Fast-action/Tip-action.
These rods are suited to shooting heads and weight forward lines
for distance fishing on reservoirs, heavy duty river nymphing and
steelhead fishing. It is also useful for long range dry fly and
nymph fishing on still waters and big rivers where both accuracy
and distance are important.
2. Middle to Tip Action.
A useful all round rod, especially for the newcomer to fly fishing.
Managed properly, it can cast up to 27 meters (90 ft) but the action
is both delicate and accurate. The soft tip section acts as a shock
absorber.
3. Middle to butt action.
This highly specialised action bends in the centre, giving a long
flexing area and creating wide loops. It is good for short line
or loch style tactics for the delicate presentation of dry fly or
nymph on streams. It has a slow, soft action reminiscent of cane.
Fly lines provide the weight that loads the rod when you are casting.
The taper or profile of the fly line ensures the fly is presented
accurately and delicately over a distance. Lines are available in
a range of profiles, weights, densities and colour..
Profile
The first letter or letters of the AFTM code classify the line
as level (L) double tapered (DT) weight forward (WF) or shooting
head (SH), also known as shooting taper. Level Lines, which have
the same diameter throughout their length, have fallen completely
out of use. The narrowing towards the tip of all other types provides
a good transmission of energy down the leader. A DT line offers
greater control as it turns over neatly and can be made to land
lightly. The WF line is easy to cast over a distance and the taper
allows delicate presentation both on rivers and still waters. ST
Lines are used for long distance fishing, especially on still water.
They are difficult for the beginner to master because of the double
haul style needed to cast them effectively.
Weight
Line weight is calculated in grains over the first 9.1 metres (30
ft.) of line excluding the first 60 cm ( 2 feet ) of level line.
Lines of #3,#4 and #5 are ideally suited to river fly fishers using
small flies and fine tippets. #6 is a good all round size, being
able to cope with the variety of styles and tactics. #7 and #8 are
more suitable for reservoir and steelhead fishing as well as large nymph
and dry fly tactics on fast rivers. The #9 and #10 shooting heads
are the preserve of specialist tactics on both river and reservoir.
Density
Lines can be floating, sinking, sink tip, intermediate or neutral.
Floating line (F) is probably the most versatile, suitable for dry
flies, nymphs and streamers on still or running water. It can be
lifted from the water and aerialised easily. Deep water may require
the use of sinking lines (S). A range of densities, giving different
sink rates, allows various tactics and presentation on still water
and rivers. When recasting using a sinking line, it is advisable
to roll cast on to the surface to avoid stressing the rod tip. Sink
tip line (ST) is made up from a floating and short sinking section.
It is more commonly used on rivers and more difficult to cast because
of the opposing densities.
A neutral density line (N) allows the fly to be fished just subsurface
on either river or still water.
Colour
Line colour affects how we fish and also the fish's reaction. Floating
lines tend to come in light hues, such as pale blue, ivory, peach
and even florescent tones of yellow, orange or green. In many instances
they enable easier tracking of a fly especially in low light. Yet
they can spook trout when fished in clear water against a dark background
so dark coloured floating lines also have a role to play. Sinking
lines should always be in dark colours in order to blend with underwater
weeds and objects.
The best types of leader taper to a fine point, helping to cast
the fly better. Whether you make you own leader or buy knotless
tapered leaders from a tackle shop, the strength of the point is
important. Nylon is rated by its breaking strain (b.s.) in kilograms
(pounds) and diameter in millimetres (inches). For river flyfishing
you often use a lighter point strength than for still water fishing.
The length of the leader is vital as it is this that distances the
fly from the thick fly line. An advisable length of leader for rivers
in 2.7 - 3.3 m (9 - 12ft). Stillwater often requires longer leaders
of 3.3 - 6.5 m (12 - 24 ft).
Braided butts
A 1 - 1.5M (3-5FT.) length of tapered, braided nylon can be used
between the leader and fly-line to improve the transfer of the line's
power to the leader and therefore fly presentation.
Droppers
You can tie on your own leader to incorporate droppers. The droppers
should be 10 - 15 cm (4 - 6 ins) long as longer droppers will tend
to tangle./ Space the droppers along the leader and tie in using
the Eugene Bend (same knot as for fly) ensuring that the dropper
stands proud of the leader.
The dry fly is dressed to float on the surface. The hackles help
achieve this, as does the tail. Dry flies represent adult flies
such as mayflies, caddis, stoneflies and midges as well as spiders,
grasshoppers and other terrestrials. Modern styles imitate an insect
set in the surface film as well as on it. Light dressings are appropriate
for calm water in which flies are just hatching; well-hackled flies,
often incorporating hair, for high floating in rough, fast water
in which insects are hatching or about to fly off.
Wet Fly
Also as a 'soft hackle' or, in some areas a 'flymph' the wet fly
in its simplest form comprises a slim body and a few turns of soft
hackle. It is designed not only to sink just below the surface,
but also to represent the hatching fly. Some wet flies are designed
for sea trout; some are small scale versions of salmon flies; other
parody aquatic life forms. Either hackles (palmered) or winged,
the wet fly is ideal for lock style fishing or in a team of three
flies on freestone streams. The nymph is an articifical recreation
of a specific natural aquatic insect form. The term nymph is a generic
description covering larvae, pupae, mayfly nymphs, crustaceans such
as fresh water shrimp and hoglouse, and even elaborate impressionistic
forms such as girdlebugs. Nymphs can be weighted or unweighted so
that various fishing depths can be reached, ranging from the lake
or river bed (weighted) to just below the surface (unweighted; even
buoyant).
Streamer/Lure
The streamer or lure is basically an elongated wet fly which can
be divided into two distinct categories. The first is the attractor
which, while not imitating any particular food form, appeals to
the trout through it's colour, movement, flash or combination of
these. The second is the imitator of either bait fish or crayfish,
or even mice or frogs. Streamers are often weighted and fished on
sinking, sink tip or floating lines, depending on the conditions
and preferred style of fishing.
Matching the Tackle
(from Tactical Fly Fishing for Trout and Sea Trout - Pat O'Reilly)
Small Stream Outfit
Rod: 7 ft long, mid to tip action, AFTM4-5 carbon or cane.
Line: DT AFTM5F.
Reel: Simple and lightweight reel for AFTM5 line plus 50 yards of
backing.
Leader: 9 ft tapered to 2lb point - latter dependent on size of
trout anticipated.
Spate River Outfit
Rod: 9.5 ft to 10.5 ft long, middle and top action, AFTM6-7 carbon.
Reel: single or multiplying action trout reel for AFTM7 line plus
100 yards backing.
Line: AFTM7 WF. Optional AFTM7 sink tip or medium sinker on spare
spool.
Leader: 10 ft or 6 ft tippet for sea trout or high water fishing.
For trout tapered/stepped leader
To 5, 3 or 2lb point depending on size of trout anticipated (and
size of flies - you can't tie a size 22 fly onto a 5 lb tippet, for
example).
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