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When most people think of fly fishing, they think of trout and the mountains. They are missing a great opportunity that could be in their own backyard. Fly fishing is an excellent way to learn how to fly fish.
Rod: Fly rods are made of either fiberglass or graphite. The graphite rod will weigh less but it will cost more. Fly rods are sized according to the size of fly line that they use. A #5 or a #6 fly rod that is 7-8 ft long is a good choice for panfish.
Reels: Fly fishing reels are not used the same way that standard reels are used. Fly fishing reels are used to store the fly line. They are not used to retrieve the fly or land the fish. There are 3 basic types of reels: single action, multiplier, and automatic. The single action reel turns the spool of the reel 1 time for each turn of the handle. The multiplier reel turns the spool of the reel more than 1 time for each turn of the handle. The automatic reel turns the spool automatically. The automatic reel is spring loaded. The single action reel is the cheapest reel, but any of the three would make a good choice.
Fly line: There are several different types of fly lines: level (L), weight forward (WF), Double taper (DT), and sinking tip. Level fly line is the same diameter for the length of the fly line. It is the cheapest of the different types but is the hardest to cast. Level line is not a good choice. Weight forward line is a smaller diameter at the back end of the line. The bigger diameter at the fly end of the line makes it easier to cast. Weight forward line is a good choice for beginners. Double taper line has a smaller diameter at each end. The smaller diameter allows the fly to be cast without making as big of a splash that might spook the fish. Sinking tip line lets the last 10 or 15 feet of the line sink. The rest of the line floats. This lets the fly get deeper in the water than is possible with regular floating line.
Backing: Backing is put on the reel before the fly line is put on. 20-lb test braided dacron line is a good choice for backing. You will need approximately 50 yd.
Leaders: The leader is a tapered piece of monofilament line that is tied to the end of the fly line. It is tapered so that it will âroll overâ and lay straight on the water. The leaders have an âxâ size. The larger the x-number the smaller the diameter of the leader. A 4x-6x leader is a good choice for panfish.
Flies: There are hundreds of different flies that you can use. They fall into 2 basic categories: dry flies, and wet flies. The dry fly is meant to float on top of the water. The wet fly is fished under the surface. On of the most popular dry flies used for panfish is the popper. The popper has a large head that makes a âpoppingâ noise when it is retrieved. The streamer is a popular wet fly used for panfish. It has a body made of hair or feather that simulates a baitfish. Panfish arenât as finicky as trout so you can get by with a small assortment of flies.
These are the basic items needed to enjoy fly fishing for panfish. However, like many hobbies, once you get âhookedâ (sorry for the pun) on fly fishing you will find many other accessories that you will find useful.
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