There are quite a few interesting elements to the sport of fly fishing. Fly fishing terminal tackle is another tangible piece to the puzzle. Whether you’re passionately addicted or an avid hobbyist, you’d like to have the right equipment… inside your tackle box. Here are a few tips to push you in the right direction.
What is fly fishing terminal tackle?
If you’ve never been fly fishing before, you might be surprised to find that the fly fishing terminal tackle list is short. Terminal tackle refers to the fishing tackle that is clipped, slid, or tied to the end of your fishing line. For fly fishing, it includes;
· hooks
· tapered leaders – with a tippet section
· level leaders
· tippets and strike indicators
· and all the tools you’ll need to tie all those knots.
And that’s… pretty much it. Leave your vast inventory of spoons, spinners, and clevises at home. Don’t be deceived; you’ll still need to choose your tools wisely.
Selecting the correct fly fishing terminal tackle
Hooks… keep the bait attached to the line, and if you’re lucky – the fish to the end of the hook. A perfectly sharpened hook can make the difference between snagging a fish or watching it slip off the line. There are custom hooks for tying flies, and each size hook is designed to catch a specific-sized fish.
Tapered leaders… come in various shapes. They’re what join the tip of the fly line and the eye of a fly hook. They’re usually 7 to 10 feet in length and provide an invisible lead from the fly line to the fly.
Level leaders… are tapered pieces of monofilament or fluorocarbon. They provide a separation from the fly line to the fly and also help cast the fly. They’re usually used with sinking lines to get the fly deeper and quicker.
Tippets… are practically invisible to the fish. They’re the smallest gauge line you’ll have, and they’re attached to the end of the leader – to which you tie the fly. A tippetis also very flexible and allows your fly to float or swim almost… as if they were alive.
Strike indicators… are floats attached to a fly line. They suspend a sinking fly – called a nymph or a pupa – below the water’s surface. Without the strike indicator, a fisherman would have a hard time seeing if his sunken fly is struck by a fish.
What type of fish will you be fishing for?
That is the most critical question to ask yourself before filling your tackle box with the right – fly fishing terminal tackle. It does you little good to have the wrong-sized hooks or floats with you. Will you be fly fishing for salmon and grayling or bass? Are you angling for marine species, like snook or striped bass? Each species of fish prefers a different size and variety of hook, floater, or fly. Choosing the right ones for your trip will make you smile when you feel that strike.
*… my friends at the fishing supply magazine liked my prose… *