fly fishing line materials?

Question
Yes, Dan I recently started fishing for salmon in alaska Rivers and creeks only and i have a couple fly fishing poles that are 9' footers what kind of lines do i use in each section of the line and how long and what pound test should i have please help i've been trying to find an answer for this q's because i don't know if it helps i have a sinking line on one pole and a floating line on the other thank you i really appreciate you taking the time to address my situation  

Answer
Hi Justin --

Sorry, I'll only answer your question if you buy me a trip to Alaska to fish for Salmon, then I can help in person...I've never been there and would love to go, and am quite envious......

Seriously, though --

Starting from the core of the empty reel, you have backing that's tied on there. It's simply a filler, and it takes some trial and error to know how much is needed; enough so that after the fly line is wound on there, the reel is filled to about 1/4" below the rim of the reel. Backing is either 20 or 30 lb test (I'd use 30# for salmon) and is quite cheap.

Next is your fly line, tied onto the backing. It's always good to carry a few types -- I keep 3 rods strung up with floating, slow sinking (intermediate) and fast sinking (type 3 or higher). The fly line should be matched to your fly rod. If you have a 7 weight rod (fairly heavy duty, for larger fish), you MUST use a 7 weight fly line or it will be extremely difficult to cast. A 5-weight rod needs 5-weight fly line, and so on. The size of line needed should be marked right on the fly rod, and there should be a sticker on the inside of your reel cassette showing what weight the line is. (you or the fly shop should include this sticker when you load the reel). There are no choices on fly line length -- it's always about 90 feet.

Fly line comes in many different tapers. The easiest to cast is weight forward, marked WF on the sticker. Double taper (DT) is also common -- harder to cast long distances, but gives a more delicate presentation and easier roll casting. Those are the two most common, though there are others specially designed for casting heavy flies for saltwater fishing, bass plugs, etc.

Next is the monofilament leader, tied to the end of the fly line. Most people buy tapered leaders instead of tying up their own. It tapers from fairly thick on the butt section where it attaches to the fly line, down to very thin at the tip where you tie on the fly.

Last is (possibly) tippet -- it lets you lengthen your leader, and lets you continue to use a leader that is getting shorter as you change flies. (instead of buying a new leader because yours has shortened from 9 feet to 6 feet). I don't use tippet on a new leader, but add it after I've changed a few flies and thus shortened the leader.

Leader and tippet are rated in "X" sizes, which are 11 thousands of an inch minus the X number. So a 3x leader is 8/1000ths of an inch thick.

As for the test of the leader -- that depends. Generally you would size it a big bigger than the fish you were targeting. So if you are expecting 6 lb salmon, use an 8 lb test leader and tippet (which would be about 3x; the lbs test varies by leader manufacturer).

Another issue is the size of fly you are using -- you won't even be able to thread a 3x leader thru the hook eye of a #24 fly. So you'd use a finer leader, or a finer tippet.

HOWEVER, selective fish in pressured waters know all about leader and tippet, and can spot it from a long distance. So in many places (especially here in Colorado) we also select leader and tippet by how smart the fish are. You'll often see people here catching 6 lb trout on 2 lb test (7x) leader and tippet. As you can imagine, it takes great skill and delicacy to land a fish that outweighs the test of your line!

I don't know how big the salmon get where you will be fishing in Alaska, but you should be able to ask at a local fly shop to help your selection of leader and tippet test.

I hope that helped -- have fun.
DAN