Fishing:
Getting Started in BTB Fly Fishing - Part I: Gearing Up
Guide for Gear Guys...
For you cross-over people, here are some answers to FAQs, along with a few other thoughts
Why are fly rods and reels so expensive compared to conventional fishing gear?
Volume.
The number of fly fishermen is miniscule compared to the number of conventional
tackle fishermen.
Why do many fly reels use cork drags versus some of the more advanced materials
used in conventional tackle?
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it".
Fly reels do not require a lot of drag compared to heavier conventional gear.
Cork has worked dependably in fly reels for decades, so why change? There are
some newer reels that use more advanced drag systems (such as Nautilus and
Charlton reels) - but if you think fly reels in general are over-priced, hold on to your hat when you look at the Charltons!
Can I build a custom fly rod on a conventional rod
blank?
Yes, it just may be harder to cast. Hal Chittum used a custom fly rod built on a
Calstar blank last year to capture a couple of dogtooth tuna records in Vanuatu
Some of the IGFA rules for equipment setup (like the 12 inch limit on shock leaders)
seem to be a severe handicap for fish like sharks and billfish. Do I have to
follow IGFA rules?
No, of course not. Many people fish with 30" wire shock leaders for sharks, and
30lb class tippet material. Just don't try to submit a big fish for a record.
Some other notes:
- Don't expect to be able to get to the same depths you fish with conventional gear. 15 or 20 feet is about the maximum you can do without having to wait a long time.
- Don't expect to be able to retrieve a fly as fast as you reel in a jig or plug. Think about it - if you turn the reel handles 4 times per second on a Shimano Trinidad, you will be cranking in close to 16 feet of line per second. You might be able to strip 3 - 4 feet of fly line in the same time window.
- Don't expect to be able to reel in line as fast while fighting a fish. Same problem - a single-action fly reel picks up 15 - 18 inches of line per handle turn. How does that compare to the Shimano Trinidad mentioned in the last paragraph?
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