Putting Together a Balanced Fly Fishing System February 16, 2015 – Posted in: Basics, How-To

Balancing fly line, rod, and reel.

Assembling a balanced fly fishing rig is as easy as matching the numbers on the fly line to the numbers on the fly reel and fly rod.

For instance, you would match an Ultra 4 5-weight fly line with a 5-weight fly rod, and you’d spool it on a 4/5/6 fly reel.

Lower numbers – weights 2-6 – denote smaller gear best suited to trout and panfish. As the numbers rise, so does the gear’s ability to cast larger flies for bigger gamefish. Weights from 11-15, for instance, are built for big tarpon, billfish, and other large saltwater species.

Read the fly line label to determine which fly line best meets your needs.
Most fly lines have informational labels that give you the basic specifications for that line. And please remember – no matter which fly line you choose, it is essential to match the fly line weight with the rod weight to ensure balanced, reliable fly fishing performance.
Species Line Leader/Tippet Backing Reel Rod Top Flies
General Freshwater Weight: 4/5/6/7
Taper: WF or DT
7X-0X
(2 lb – 10 lb)
Strength: 20 lb
Amount: 50 yd
Size: 4/5/6/7
Drag: Disc or Click
Weight: 4/5/6/7
Length: 8′ – 9.5′
Dries, Wet Flies, Nymphs,
Terrestrials, Streamers
Trout Weight: 4/5/6
Taper: WF or DT
7X-0X
(2 lb – 10 lb)
Strength: 20 lb
Amount: 50 yd
Size: 4/5/6
Drag: Disc or Click
Weight: 4/5/6
Length: 8′ – 9′
Dries, Wet Flies,
Nymphs, Streamers
Panfish Weight: 4/5/6
Taper: WF or DT
7X-0X
(2 lb – 10 lb)
Strength: 20 lb
Amount: 50 yd
Size: 4/5/6
Drag: Disc or Click
Weight: 4/5/6
Length: 8′ – 9′
Small Poppers, Nymphs,
Terrestrials, Streamers
Bass Weight: 7/8/9
Taper: WF
8 lb – 12 lb Strength: 20 lb
Amount: 50 yd
Size: 7/8/9
Drag: Disc
Weight: 7/8/9
Length: 8.5′ – 9.5′
Large Poppers,
Deceivers
Pike Weight: 8/9/10
Taper: WF
8 lb – 20 lb
with wire bite guard
Strength: 20 lb
Amount: 100 yd
Size: 8/9/10
Drag: Disc
Weight: 8/9/10
Length: 8.5′ – 9.5′
Large Specialty Pike Flies,
Large Poppers, Divers
Salmon Weight: 8/9/10
Tapers: WF, DT, ST
8 lb – 16 lb Strength: 20 lb
Amount: 100 yd
Size: 7/8/9
Drag: Disc
Weight: 7/8/9
Length: 8.5′ – 9.5′
Streamers,
Nymphs, Eggs
Steelhead Weight: 7/8/9
Tapers: WF, DT, ST
8 lb – 16 lb Strength: 20 lb
Amount: 100 yd
Size: 8/9/10
Drag: Disc
Weight: 8/9/10
Length: 9′ – 10′
Streamers,
Nymphs, Eggs
General Saltwater Weight: 7/8/9/10
Tapers: WF, ST
8 lb – 20 lb Strength: 20 lb
Amount: 175 yd
Size: 7/8/9/10
Drag: Disc
Weight: 7/8/9/10
Length: 8.5′ – 9.5′
Crazy Charlies, Crabs,
Shrimp, Deceivers, Minnows
Striped Bass Weight: 8/9/10
Tapers: WF, ST
10 lb – 20 lb Strength: 20 lb
Amount: 175 yd
Size: 8/9/10
Drag: Disc
Weight: 8/9/10
Length: 8.5′ – 9.5′
Deceivers,
Deep Minnows
Bonefish Weight: 7/8/9
Taper: WF
8 lb – 20 lb Strength: 20 lb
Amount: 175 yd
Size: 8/9/10
Drag: Disc
Weight: 8/9/10
Length: 8.5′ – 9.5′
Crabs, Crazy Charlies,
Deceivers, Minnows
Tarpon Weight: 10/11/12
Taper: WF
10 lb – 20 lb
with shock tippet
Strength: 30 lb
Amount: 250 yd
Size: 9/10/11/12
Drag: Disc
Weight: 9/10/11/12
Length: 9′
Large Saltwater
Poppers, Minnows
Billfish Weight: 12/13/14/15
Tapers: WF, ST
20 lb
with wire bite guard
Strength: 30 lb
Amount: 250 yd
Size: 12/13/14/15
Drag: Disc
Weight: 12/13/14/15
Length: 9′
Large Specialty Billfish Flies,
Large Saltwater Poppers

 

Scientific Anglers™ outfits are completely assembled with backing, fly line, and tapered leader already rigged and ready to fish. You don’t even have to tie knots. We also offer other top-quality fly fishing outfits complete with reels, fly line, backing, and tapered leader, as well as a handy knot tying and tackle assembly booklet. It’s fly fishing madefun, fast, and trouble-free.