Sauk River Dolly Varden
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Sauk River Dolly Varden |
Over the years I have assembled quite a stash of flyfishing gear. I was lucky enough to have a friend point me in the right direction when I started out, so I got off on the right foot with some good stuff. Below is a list of gear that works well for me. I don't buy products because of their name, I buy them because they will work well for a long time. For example, if you've looked into breathable waders, you know that they can be very expensive. I bought Patagonia breathable waders, the second most expensive breathable waders on the market at the time. I didn't buy them because of the name, but because they come in hard to fit sizes. (Usually, the only size that fits me!) I spent a lot of time researching, trying on, and testing a lot of equipment. Below is a list of my favorite equipment based on the species I target.
The following equipment is intended for fly fishing for winter steelhead with a standard single hand fly rod and a sink tip fly line with an interchangeable tip. The fly is presented using the wet fly swing technique. I prefer tip flex or fast action single handed fly rods for sink tip presentations because they cast a sink tip fly line better (without overloading the rod) than a softer, medium action fly rod.
The following equipment is intended for fly fishing for winter steelhead with a two handed fly rod, often called a spey rod, and a sink tip fly line with an interchangeable tip. The fly is presented using the wet fly swing technique:
Rio Skagit Versitip 550 grain line plus 5 foot cheater (Includes 15 ft type 3, type 6, and type 8 stink tips.) An alternative line for fishing in heavy wind or when tight up against the river bank or when backed into brush.
An alternative rod and line set-up for beginning casters or for use in heavy wind, when backed up tight against the bank, or for fishing for large chinook try the Sage 9141-4, or Z-Axis 9143-4 European style two handed fly rods.
Sage Z-Axis 9143-4, 14 foot, 3 inch, four piece, 9 weight, European action spey rod (See Kaufmann's web site)
The following equipment is intended for fly fishing for summer steelhead with a standard single hand fly rod and a sink tip fly line with an interchangeable tip. The fly is presented using the wet fly swing technique. I prefer tip flex or fast action single handed fly rods for sink tip presentations because they cast a sink tip fly line better (without overloading the rod) than a softer, medium action fly rod.
The following equipment is intended for fly fishing for summer steelhead with a standard single hand fly rod and a sink tip fly line with an interchangeable tip. The fly is presented using the wet fly swing technique. I prefer tip flex or fast action single handed fly rods for sink tip presentations because they cast a sink tip fly line better (without overloading the rod) than a softer, medium action fly rod.
The following equipment is intended for fly fishing for summer steelhead with a two handed fly rod, often called a spey rod, and a floating line. The fly is presented across the current and skated in the surface or just under the surface:
The following equipment is intended for fly fishing for salmon with a standard single hand fly rod, a floating fly line, and a long, light leader. The fly is presented across the current with a very specific strip technique. I use tip flex or fast action single handed fly rods because this is the rod I use for most of my fly fishing, but a softer, medium action fly rod will work just as well.
The following equipment is intended for fly fishing for trout with a single hand fly rod, a full sinking fly line, and a long leader. The fly is presented. I use a medium action fly rod.
| Gear | Brand or Description (Retailer) | Avg. Price |
| Neoprene Waders | Cabela's 5 mil Neoprene | $60 |
| Breathable Waders | Patagonia (Great for hard to fit sizes) | $375 |
| Waterproof Wading Jacket | Fraser River by Columbia (Cabela's) | $30 |
| Breathable Wading Jacket | Tailwaters "No Sweat" Jacket (Orvis) | $198 |
| Felt Soled Boots | Hodgman (Cabela's) | $60 |
| Felt Soled Boots | Ultra-Light Wading Shoes (Orvis) | $89 |
| Studded Felt Soled Boots | Battenkill Brogues with Ceramic Tip Studs (Orvis) | $129 |
| Polartec Fingerless Gloves | Rei, Kaufmanns | $30 |
| Rods | Loomis, Orvis, Sage | $75-$400 |
| Steelhead Reels | Redington, Tioga, J. Ryall (Cabela's) | $150-$250 |
| Floating Line | AirFlo 7000Ts River & Stream (Cabela's) | $45 |
| Sinking Line | Cortland 444SL Steady Sink Type II (Cabela's) | $50 |
| Sink Tip Lines | Scientific Angler Ultra III Type IV (Cabela's) | $50 |
| Sink Tip Lines | Scientific Angler Ultra III Type V (Cabela's) | $50 |
| Trout Leader for Rivers | Cabela's Tapered 9ft, 6X | $7.75 (4 pack) |
| Trout Leader for Lakes | Cabela's Tapered 12ft, 4X, Tapered 16ft, 4X | $7.75 (4 pack) |
| Steelhead Leaders | Scientific Anglers 9ft, 10 lb Bonefish (For Dry Fly Fishing for Steelhead & SRC) Cabela's | $3.75 |
| Steelhead Leaders | Maxima UltraGreen: 10lb, 15lb, 20lb, 30lb (For Sink Tip Fishing for Steelhead w/built-up leader) Cabela's | $3.50 ea. |
| Tippet | Cabela's by Climax 0X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, 6X | $2.95 ea. |
| Strike Indicators | Tipper Indicators, Small & Medium (Cabela's, Kaufmanns) | $4.00/6 pack |
| Hook File | 3" Thumb Hand File, Extra Fine Tooth, Luhr Jensen (A must for Steelhead Fishing) | $5 |
| Float Tubes | (Cabela's, GI Joe's) | $60-$125 |
| U-Tubes | (Cabela's, GI Joe's, Wal Mart) | $90-$200 |
| Boats, Steel Frame Pontoon | Outcast Fish Cat 9ft Pontoon (GI Joe's, Outcast) | $400-$500 |
| Boats, Aluminum Frame Pontoon | Outcast 9ft Pontoon ( Cabela's, Outcast) | $550-$1000 |
