Abel Quick Change reel
This is the 3rd chapter of our “Getting Started – Gearing Up” post. If you can buy two outfits, you can tailor them to better meet your fishing conditions. We would recommend a lighter outfit for smaller stuff, and a heavier outfit for bigger fish. But be aware: fly tackle in general is going to be “light tackle” for salt water, so as a beginner, you may be completely unprepared for that first really big fish that comes along and wipes you out. That’s what outfit #3 is for.
Previous related posts include: “Gearing Up – One Outfit…”, and Gearing Up – FAQs. You might also be interested in “Gearing Up – Three Outfits…”
Two Outfits:
Outfit #1
Rod: 9′, 7, 8 or 9wt, graphite
Reel: Single action, direct drive or anti-reverse; roughly 3.5 inch diameter spool, large arbor; cork or synthetic disk drag
Fly Line: Integrated shooting head, Type 6 sinking
Backing: As much braided Dacron or Spectra backing as will fit (minimum 150 yards)
Outfit #2
Rod: 9′, 10 or 11wt, graphite
Reel: Single action, direct drive or anti-reverse; roughly 4 inch diameter spool, large arbor; cork or synthetic disk drag
Fly Line: Integrated shooting head, Type 6 sinking
Backing: As much braided Dacron or Spectra backing as will fit (minimum 250 yards)
Comments:
A lighter outfit for inshore species like calico bass, bonito and barracuda, and a heavier outfit to match small-medium yellowtail, tuna and sharks. You’ll still be under-gunned for the bigger stuff, or medium-sized fish near cover.
Prices for each outfit will be roughly the same as the prices mentioned in our “One Outfit” post.