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Beginner Guide to Saltwater Fly Fishing Gear
Fly fishing gear for saltwater fly fishing is normally heavier than fly fishing gear used for freshwater fly fishing – there are two reasons for this. Firstly, saltwater fish species are generally larger than freshwater fish species, and you will need stronger rods, reels and lines to catch these fish species. Secondly, saltwater fly fishing requires longer casting with larger flies, and normally there is some wind to deal with. You cannot cast very far in windy conditions with a light fly rod using a light fly line. This guide covers the essential saltwater fly fishing gear for saltwater fly fishing, which is the saltwater fly rod, fly reel and fly line.
Saltwater Fly Rod
Your most important item of saltwater fly fishing gear is the saltwater fly rod. Normally for freshwater fly fishing, a 3 weight to a 7 weight fly rod is used. A 7-weight fly rod is normally the lightest fly rod used for saltwater fly fishing, and the heaviest fly rod used for saltwater fly fishing is a 16-weight fly fishing rod. The saltwater fish species that you are trying to catch determine the weight of your saltwater fly rod. To catch sailfish such as Marlin you might use a 13-weight rod, but then use a 8-weight rod to catch Bonefish. For saltwater fly fishing, look to buy a specialized saltwater fly rod, specifically designed for saltwater fly fishing.
A fast action fly rod is normally used for saltwater fly fishing – this is a fly rod that is fairly stiff without much flexibility. A fast action rod allows you to cast further in windy conditions and makes it easier to land larger saltwater fish species. Fly rods for saltwater fly fishing should have guides that won’t rust – stainless steel guides are normally used. The guides should also be strong enough to handle the additional punishment of saltwater fly fishing. A good saltwater fly rod will have a padded fighting butt which will provide more comfort when fishing for extended periods of time. Currently, one of the top all-round saltwater fly rods currently available is the excellent Sage Xi2 saltwater fly rod.
Saltwater Fly Reel
A saltwater fly reel is an essential item of saltwater fly fishing gear, and is more important for saltwater fly fishing than for freshwater fly fishing. A saltwater fly reel needs to be better quality than a freshwater fly reel. In order to prevent your saltwater fly reel from rusting, use a fly reel containing components that are saltwater resistant. The saltwater fly reel that you use should include a good drag system and also have the capacity to hold your fly line along with all your backing line and your leader line. As saltwater fish species normally run further with your line once caught, 100 to 300 yards of backing is normal.
Saltwater Fly Line
The saltwater fly line most commonly used for saltwater fly fishing is a floating line, which is used to catch fish near the water’s surface. An intermediate fly line is sometimes used, and this is a fly line that sinks slowly. A sinking line or a sink-tip line can also be used to catch fish at deeper levels. In order to be able to cast further in windy conditions, a weight forward fly line is normally preferred for saltwater fly fishing. The fly line weight used normally matches the fly rod weight, but sometimes a slightly heavier line weight is used, especially in windy conditions.
For more information about saltwater fly fishing gear, take a look at the Fly Fishing Elite news feed at Feedage.com.
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