Match Fly Fishing Lines to Fish Being Targeted

Heading onto the water with a box of flies and a good quality rod can be the start of a great day of fishing. However, you want to make sure the fly fishing lines on the reel are designed for the type of fishing you will be doing. Similar to fly fishing rod, fly fishing lines are rated by weight and the larger the fish you target, the larger the line you will need to withstand the challenge the larger species will present when hooked.

Most fly fishing lines are categorized by weight with one through five being exceptionally light for use with light rods for short, accurate casting. They are ideal for small rivers and streams where the accuracy of fly placement is more important than the distance of the cast. They can also be used for casting under obstacles such as tree limbs or shrubs. A short rod, about eight or nine feet can also provide excellent casting accuracy when used with light fly fishing lines.

For the beginning, fly fishing lines with a weight between six and nine are good for casting further, where obstacles are few and far between. Used with a medium strength fly rod, these fly fishing lines can be snet further, but will have less accuracy than the lighter lines have.

Heavier Lines Needed For Heavier Fish

While stories abound about huge fish being harvested on light tackle, to guard against telling stories about the one that got away, heavier lines will be needed for heavier fish. Fly fishing lines weighted between 10 and 15 are typically used for larger game fish between 40 and 150 pounds, but they also require larger reels on which the line can be stored.

Many of the original fly fishing lines were made of cotton, but it tends to rot quickly after becoming wet. Most of today's fly fishing lines are coated in plastic to protect it from the elements. The reels are also larger to accommodate not only the line but the leader and the backing and depending on where you are fishing, they can add upwards of 300-yards to the line on the reel.

Just as the rod and reel should be matched to the type of fishing, fly fishing lines must be matched to the rod as well. Lighter rods for accurate casting will require lighter lines and conversely, larger, heavier fly fishing rods will need heavier lines in order to be cast by the heaver rods.