Intro to Fly Fishing 101

On September 6, 2025, we held a women's 101 workshop in NE Ohio. Grace put together some great information to help those getting started in fly fishing. For this month's Tackle Box, Grace is sharing this information so that it can help you too!

Fly Rods

Material: Carbon, Graphite, Fiberglass, Bamboo

Length: 

-Rod acts as a lever

-Longer Rod = distance with casting

-Shorter Rod = small streams, good for lots of overhang and tight spaces

Action: Means how much the rod bends

- 3 kinds of actions: Slow, medium, and fast

-slow = more flimsy, usually fiberglass or bamboo, harder to get distance -medium= most versatile 

-fast = stiffest rod, powerful in cast, easy to cast in wind, hard for beginners to “feel” during casting

Weight: 

• Ranges from 1-14wt. 

• Lighter weight=smaller fish

• Heavier weight= larger fish

General Weight Recommendations:

1-4 wt.= sunfish, small trout

4-6 wt.= Trout 

6-8wt.= bass, carp, some salt water

8-10wt.= steelhead, salmon, salt water 

10-14 wt. = big game, salt water, musky

Reels

When purchasing fly fishing gear if you are going to cut costs on one thing I would recommend going with a less expensive or middle of the road cost for reels. Spend your money on your fly line!!*

Simply put, your reel is a holder for your fly line and the drag system within the reel is your “brakes” when you are fighting a fish. The more you tighten your drag the “harder you are pushing on the brakes”. Light drag or no drag= no brakes.

Cast reels or machined reels are the most popular. Cast reels are less expensive and machined are more expensive. If you are planning on fishing salt water make sure you get a sealed drag system so that your reel doesn't rust in the salt water. 

Lines

Lines are weighted and you match up your weighted line number to your fly rod weight number. Example: 9ft. 5 weight fly rod with a 5 weight reel and 5 weight fly line. Sometimes you can size up a line but it can affect your casting with not having proper weight for your rod. 

3 types of Lines 

1. Floating

2. Intermediate

3. Sinking 

4. 
   

Lines are tapered

Basic parts of Fly Line setup on your reel:

Backing- This is the thinner braid looking line that is wrapped up closest to the center of the reel. Standard is 20-30 pound. You rarely will use this part of the line. This is for when fish go on big runs. 

Running Line- Thinner long part of the line that follows the taper. This helps you get longer casts. 

Taper- front part of the line that carries most of the weight. Helps cast your fly out on the water. This section gradually becomes thinner. Helps transfer energy smoothly from rod to line during casting. 

Tapered Leader- end of the fly line is connected to the tapered leader. Longer leader for dry flies or spooky fish. Shorter leader for streamers.

Tippet- Final part that is connected to your fly. Thinnest part. Measured by “x” which is the diameter or the thickness of the line. 0x-7x tippet is the range of sizes.0x being the thickest and 7x being the thinnest. To figure out what size tippet to use, a general rule of thumb is to take your hook size divided by 2 or 3 to get your tippet size. Example: size 16 hook /3= 5.3 so you would use a 5x tippet. 

General Uses for tippet size

0x-2x=streamers

3x-5x= terresterials, nymphs, small streamers 

5x-7x= small dry flies, spooky fish

Good article to help explain this can be found here.

Equipment 

My favorite thing for equipment is to buy from a store if possible rather than online. I like to see it, touch it, put it on before buying. Your local fly shops are a great start and if they don't have it they can guide you in the right direction on products. 

Waders +Boots 

In my opinion COMFORT IS KEY! Nothing sucks more than when a day of fishing is ruined because of discomfort from your gear.  Buy your waders first and if possible go to a store to try them on!! Companies have gotten better with women’s fits but try them on! When trying them on, think of what time of the year you will be fishing. If you plan on fishing when it is cold take into consideration all of the layers you will be wearing under your waders. Make sure you can bend your knees comfortably. 

Boots should be rubber soles only. You can purchase studs to put in them for extra stability on rocks. 

Base layers under waders remember your “A,B,C’s” Anything But Cotton! Wool socks and base layers are great! In the cold month fleece buffs are great for your neck too!

I also love to use a wool pair of fingerless gloves while on the water. It is easier to tie on flies with your fingers exposed! 

Packs

Picking out packs is hard and you have to find what works for you. You have to try them out. Borrow from a friend, or buy a cheaper version from Amazon before investing in expensive bags that you might not like. 

Vests, Hip packs, sling packs, lanyards are the most popular things people like to use to store their gear while on the water. 

Usually I keep a box of flies, tippet, hemostats, nippers, water, small first aid kit, and a snack in my pack! 

Sun Gear

Polarized sunglasses help you see in the water without a glare and are a gamechanger when fishing.

Hats, sunblock, SPF chapstick, Buff are also great! A lot of people don’t take into consideration that when you are out on the water you can get burnt from the reflection of the sun on the water! 

Check out this article for more information that is helpful for beginners.

-Written by Grace Norden, NW Ohio Coordinator