A Buyers Guide to Used Fly Fishing Tackle

When beginning fly fishing or when watching your pennies, you might like to save money by buying used fly fishing tackle. In this article, we will attempt to review used fly fishing tackle outlets and guide you through some of the pitfalls of buying used fly fishing tackle.

Where to Buy Used Fly Fishing Tackle

Your local Yellow Pages should have a section entitled Fishermen's Supplies or something similar. Most of the shops in there should sell both new and used fly fishing tackle. Shakespeare Fishing Tackle, one of the largest manufacturers of fishing tackle in North America, has a network of authorized dealers. If you go to their website and click on "Where To Buy", then select your state, the website will bring up a list from which you should be able to find a dealer near you. The site also has a handy guide to dating their used reels, for collectors of classic fishing tackle.

There are also a number of online retailers selling used fly fishing tackle, from antique bamboo rods to more recent models. EBay usually has some good bargains, as do Google Shopping and Craigslist. Some of the largest specialist retailers with online stores are Wagner Rods of Parma Heights, Ohio; the Platte River Fly Shop of Casper, Wyoming (whose website also contains a forum where users can buy, sell and swap used fly fishing tackle); and Upcountry Sportfishing of New Hartford, Connecticut.

What to Look For When Buying Used Fly Fishing Tackle

One should always evaluate the condition of used fly fishing tackle before buying. Check that all the moving parts actually move, that nothing is rusted or rotten, and that there are no cracks or missing parts. Always remember the maxim that "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is". If you see used fly fishing tackle for an unbelievably low price, there is probably a catch, and not the kind you want as a fisher. The last thing you need is a reel that is going to stick when you are trying to reel in a big, delicious-looking trout.

Make sure when you buy a rod and reel separately that the rod and the reel are the same size and weight as the line you want to use. The standard weights are numbered from 1 to 9, with the type of fish that each is used for being as follows:

1-3: Small trout and similar small fish

4: Small to medium-size trout and similarly sized fish

5-6: Medium-sized trout, small bass, and similarly sized fish

7-8: Large trout and bass

9: Steelhead, salmon, and saltwater fish

In other words, you don't want to buy a 9 weight line for a 1 weight reel, and vice versa.