Fly Fishing Combos

Fly fishing combos are a great choice not just for those starting out fly fishing, but also for the more experienced fly fisherman. As with all things, there is are fly fishing combos to suit every wallet

Fly fishing combos will usually include a rod, a reel and line. Some include monofilament line for the leader and a range of flies, often in a good wooden box.

Before buying any fly fishing combos however, it’s a good idea to do a little research, as fly fishing varies from course or sea fishing in some crucial departments.

Fly Fishing Combos - The Fly Fishing Rod.

This is the most important part of fly fishing combos. Fly fishing rods come in a variety of lengths, as other branches of fishing, but they are different in that they also come in different “ratings”, generally 3 to 9. This is important as the line used must match the rod for maximum smoothness and best casting.

It is sometimes thought that you need a rod with a higher rating to catch bigger fish. This is not necessarily the case. The rating system has much more to do with where you want to fish. For example, a five foot rod is better suited to small streams because it is easier to manage in more confined conditions. But you may want a higher rating if you are fishing a small stream that is exposed, as the higher rating means a heavier line – much easier to cast into wind.

Basically you want to match the length of your fly rod to where you will fish, and the rating not just to where you want to fish, but for the conditions too. For example, when fishing a big lake a 10ft rod of 9 rating will give you maximum casting into a headwind, but a 5 foot fly rod may be more pleasurable to use in the same place in calm conditions.

Another consideration is the number of sections the rod has. I like an 8ft 6/7 fly rod that has 6 sections if I’m travelling or wander fishing. It is easily stored and carried.

Fly Fishing Combos - The Fly Line.

Again, fly fishing lines are available in many weights, (which must match the rod) and types. The main categories are floating, intermediate and sinking. This simply means that when the fish are deep down in the water (often in winter when the water is cold) you can try a sinking line, as this will take the fly down, or intermediate, (when the fish are mid way up in the water), or floating for when the fish are near the surface.

Fly Fishing Combos - The Fly Fishing Reel.

Fly fishing reels are really just for storing the line. Some people wind the line in when catching a fish, but fly fishing involves casting and retrieving the line, so retrieving the line onto the reel is not necessary. To cast, the line is stripped off the reel first, unlike course fishing where the line simply flows from the reel when cast. This is because the only weight is the line itself, and it is the action of the rod that casts the line, not the pulling of any weights attached.

Cheap fly fishing combos such as the Crystal River series are good value at around $50, but if you are serious about taking up the sport you would be better off spending more on something like a Greys GRX-i combo which gives a genuine quality Greys rod, reel and line. Ok, you’re looking at $200 or more, but you are buying true quality fly fishing kit which has been properly manufactured to be in balance with itself.

Fly fishing combos are a great way to cut costs and get fly fishing, but remember, the better your kit, the easier you will find casting, in particular, to master!