Flyfishing: Basic kit

[TimO]

Flyfishing starter kits for Kayaking

I’ve been asked on many occasions by a number of members what is the ideal setup for flyfishing from our Kayaks and I’ve also promised to put a few words together to help. So here it is.
Firstly, flyfishing can be expensive with tackle costing an arm and a leg. This is ok if you are a regular river or lake fisher but for us on yaks all you will need is a cheap starter kit.
I personally us a 9ft rod which is marked to take a size 7 line ( lines vary in sizes from #2 - #12 with #2 being the lightest and #12 the heaviest)

Because we are fishing from our yaks we don’t have to cast far, a 20 yard cast will put you in touch with Bass, mackerel , Pollock etc with out any problem.

I always use a fast sinking line which allows you to sink your fly down below the surface.

So buying your kit. You can of course buy plenty on line but I prefer visiting my local tackle dealer mainly because you are only going to spend around £40 and if we don’t use our local he won’t be in business when we are looking for that last minute bit of tackle etc.

In summary you require

1 nr 9ft rod to take a #7 line
1 nr Fly reel (which will come with the kit)
1 nr Spool 100yds 40lb braided line for use as backing
1 nr #7 weight forward sinking line
1 nr Spool of 8 or 10lb leader material (Black amnesia is ideal)
And a selection of reservoir lures (flies) which look like sand eels or fish

So that’s the tackle basics, and now you will need to learn how to cast . It’s not as hard as you think.

Give it a try, a mackerel caught on a fly will give one hell of a scrap making you think “what if they grew to 10lb”

Cheers

Tim ;D ;D

[stargaizer]

I've flyfished since i was 8. Anybody going to take it up, take Tims advice about not spending a lot on a first fly rod. you could be wasting a lot of money on something that doesn't suit you. The best cheaper rod i've had a go of is a Lureflash Vipor. £50 last i heard which is probably right at the bottom end of the market but a fantastic rod and one which you will get the feel of very quickly. Deffinetly a 7 weight. Don't know how long the rod comes in but would get 10' if you can because of your casting position. Eye protection a MUST.

[dorado]

You don't need a 10 footer - it is too unwieldly in the kayak. Stood on the sand or a flat grass field I can cast 28 yards - absolute max if everything comes together right, s5 yards is a regular distance - that extra 3 yards is very hard!!
Sat in the kayak I can still get 22 yards happily - but as you can approach so close to your fish that is plenty.
9 foot #8 is better for bigger flies - especially if you are after bigger bass - use bigger flies. You hear that joey mackerel sort out the bigger fish - but still get 2.5lb - 3lbers, so use flies the size of a joey mackerel, not the size of a minnow. You'll get more - the fish can see them from further and it is more worth their while chasing.
I hardly ever yuse anythig smaller than a 2/0 now - and most of my flies are 7" or bigger - and I catch pollock 5" and 6" long on them!! YES, the fly is bigger than the fish that hits it.

Don't be afraid to use big flies - this autumn I going to be using 10" flies over my reefy marks in search of bigger bass - and I reckon i will still get 3lbers hitting them. Flies that I would usually use for pike, are the ones I am going to use, but tied on saltwater hooks instead of the Ad Swier pike hooks from partridge - brilliant hooks, but not salt proof. I have got osome 2/0 V-cuts to tie some big deceivers up on - using EP fibres so they shed water quickly and easily.

Some days the fly is more effective than lures. I had a day last year when I was fly fishing for the bass in a bit of tide run - half a dozen boats trolling and casting around for bass too. I anchored up in some clear water - just 20 yards outside the cloudy tide run in clearer water where less weed was being washed through - as soon as my rod arched over the boats descended on my position and 20g tobies and german sprats and other lures rained down all around me. I caught 7 bass to 4lbs on the fly without movng - the lure anglers fishing the same place, with similar sized lures to my flies - they didn't get a take between them!!

The fly is very muchmore subtle than a mechanical lure - there is micro movement WITHIN the fly - and it can be left to fish in the zone for longer. Lures rely only on movement through the water and they pass through the zone very quickly. With your fly in the fishing zone for longer you stand more chance of a fish taking.

I use a lure rod still - but only if it is too horrible to fish a fly. using a fly is a lovely way to blank!!

[Reeco]

Hi All, I am Reeco from Swansea, I recently bought a starter fly set up and this is what I was advised to buy

Rod, Delta XT 9ft 3 Pce, aftm 8 -9
www.tightlines.co.uk/ProductDetailInfoWithOptions.cfm?ID=ADXT&ShopRef=24&Prime=No&shopListRec=32190

Reel, Airflo C8, www.tightlines.co.uk/ProductDetailInfoWithOptions.cfm?ID=C8&ShopRef=24&Prime=No&shopListRec=32807

Line, Airflo Forty Plus XT Extreme Series, WF8 because it's a heavy line and it does cast a fair distance.
www.tightlines.co.uk/ProductDetailInfoWithOptions.cfm?ID=RXS-40PLUS-W&ShopRef=24&Prime=Yes&shopListRec=29982

Backing, Airflo Micro Poly Backing,
www.tightlines.co.uk/ProductDetailInfoWithOptions.cfm?ID=MICRO&ShopRef=24&Prime=No&shopListRec=24822&LinkFrom=Associate
I can't remember if I had 175 yards of 20 lb or 175 yards of 30 lb.

The saltwater range is exactly the same compound as the Forty plus range, how do I know because my Mate is a director of the company.

I have got a floater and an Intermediate but this season, I am going to buy a floating line with a sinking tip, the benefit of that is the sinking tip will take the fly down and the main line will float and this helps you to get the line off the water to cast again.

I put the links up because it's always nice to see the equipment and my advice to you is to go along to your local tackle shop and ask for their advice before you part with your cash.

If anyone would like to try my set up on a river near me, it's not a problem just PM me. ATB. Reeco

[ZEBRA]

great links and good advice too reeco .

[Reeco]

Hi Mate, TYVM, I am a keen sewin ( sea trout ) and salmon angler, now I am not a very good one lol, but I love the sport. Come April, I am looking to buy a P 13 or a drifter and use it around the cost of West Wales.

Regarding the above equipment I asked my Mate Rob what should I buy but I told him I didn't want to spend a lot, the above set up is what he recommended. I have only caught mackerel on it up to know but hopefuly I shall add Bass to that list come the summer.

If anyone would like to try this set up on a river near me, just PM me. ATB. Reeco

[steve07]

hi all im intending giving fly fishing a go from the yak this year got my rod and reel


any other advice on how and what would be great thanks.