Fly Tying Kits Boston MA

I’ll talk about fly line weight here because this is also a consideration when purchasing a rod. I’ll also outline the exact same paragraph in the “Lines and Leaders” section as well. Fly rod manufacturers make each fly rod to cast a particular size line, from 1-weight for ultra-delicate fishing to 13 or 14-weight for big-game fishing. Just above the rod's cork handle, or "grip," you should find the rod's recommended line weight, length, and actual weight in ounces.

While reading through the steps in selecting a fly rod you were asked to determine what type of fish you were going after. Well, now is the time you’ll need the answer to that question because it will help determine what type of fly line you’ll select.

Fly lines are measured in weight. The manufacturers have standardized on a numbering system that define fly line weight. The different weights of the fly line are all designed for specific types of fish and fly fishing conditions. The heavier the line weight is, the bigger the flies you can accurately cast and the lighter the line, the smaller the flies you can use. If you don’t accurately match the fly to the fly line and the fly line to the rod, you’ll get poor results and ultimately will become frustrated.

Ok, so which one do we want? Well, once again it all depends on what you'll be fishing for. A summary of recommended line weights for various fly fishing by species is listed below:

Fly Line Weight 1-3: Small trout and any other small fish. Small flies and short casts. Use for areas containing spooky trout and fly sizes generally #16 and smaller.

Fly Line Weight 4: Small to medium sized trout and other similarly sized fish. Small flies and medium sized flies. Short to medium-short casts of no more than 40’. Can be used with 2 – 6 lb tippets.

Fly Line Weight 5-6: The most versatile of the line weights. Fishes well for all but the smallest and all but the largest trout. Fishes well when using small, medium and larger sized flies (except the larger streamers). Allows for longer casts yet performs short casts well. Great for tippets of 3 – 10 lb. Can easily cast large, weighted nymphs to around 50 feet and smaller, unweighted flies to 70-80 feet.

Fly Line Weight 7-9: Designed for very large trout, Salmon and Steelhead and other similarly sized fish. Used for pitching large streamers and large flies. Longer casts are excellent. Not the best for short casts. Useful in windy conditions. Great for tippets of 6 to maybe 10 or 11 lb test.

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Fly Fishing Knots - The Nail Knot is the strongest connection for connecting the fly line to the backing. With this knot you'll need to find a small tube like an ink refill tube from a ball point pen to aid in tying this knot.

Steps to tie the Nail Knot:

1.Lay the nail or tube parallel with the end of the fly line. Place the leader next to the fly line and leave an extra 10 to 12 inches of leader beyond the tube.
2.Grasp all three materials with the left thumb and forefinger on the left edge of the nail or tube. With your right hand, grasp the end of the leader material and, working left to right around all three materials, make seven or eight close wraps.
3.After wraps are complete, grasp the remaining tag from your leader and pass it through the tube.
4.Carefully remove the tube and slightly snug the coils.
5.Grasp both ends of the leader and pull simultaneously until knot is tightly seated on the fly line. Trim tag end of leader close to the knot and you're ready to fish!

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