Choosing Your Saltwater Fly Fishing Gear

Though often associated with shaded pools or clear, cold mountain lakes, fly fishing is for salt water, too. While saltwater fly fishing gear is somewhat heavier and the techniques are a bit different, many thrills await the saltwater fly fisherman. Getting started doesn't have to be terribly expensive, although there's a definite difference between "cheap saltwater fishing gear" and "inexpensive saltwater fishing gear." This article will help get you started by knowing what you need, some things to look for, and maybe of couple of situations you'll want to avoid when purchasing saltwater fly fishing gear.

Getting the Right Rod and Reel

If you are a beginning saltwater fly angler, some experts recommend starting out with a prepackaged rod and reel combination in a medium-weight range (6 to 8). This will minimize the number of decisions you'll have to make until you gain some experience and really find out, first-hand, what you like and what you need. Reels with larger spools that hold more line are referred to as "large arbor reels," and are usually associated with offshore fly fishing, where the equipment needs to be able to take the punishment dished out by larger fish. Generally, the longer the rod, the farther you can cast with it. Ceramic eyes are more expensive, but offer smoother action and are more corrosion-resistant than metal eyes. If you're lucky enough to have a friend who is an experienced saltwater fly angler, have a conversation about the best saltwater fly fishing gear to use when you're just starting out. But you probably won't want to plan anything for at least an hour following, since getting your friend to stop talking will be the hard part! If you don't have access to first-hand advice, there are lots of online forums and advice sites. Just do a quick Internet search for "saltwater fly fishing" and do a little research before logging in to an online store or heading to your local outdoor sporting retailer.

Don't Forget about Buying Used

Speaking of online forums, the current boom in saltwater fly fishing has also spawned a boom in gear forums and sales, including lots of used saltwater fly fishing gear. Often, you can find someone who wants to sell a new or practically new rod, reel, or complete setup. Once you know a few basics, buying slightly used or unused equipment from another angler can be a good way to save some money and still end up with some very useful, good-quality saltwater fly fishing gear.