From the rod to the fly and everything in between, there are several components to a fly fishing rig, and the weight of your fly line is one of them.
The weight of the fly line is important because it determines what you catch and the success of your casts. However, fly lines come in various weights and beginners do not always understand the nuances of choosing the appropriate weight.
You cannot cast correctly with the wrong weight fly line. Wild Water Fly Fishing is here to break down everything you need to know about fly line weight. Let us begin!
FLY LINE AND ROD WEIGHT
Each fly rod is designed to work best with a specific weight fly line. Each rod target will specify the weight line with which the rod performs best. Our most popular rod, the AX56-090-4, specifies a 5/6 line thickness on the blank. Since the line weight needs to match the rod specs, you’ll want to use a 5 or 6 weight line on the AX56-090-4 rod.
WHY DOES THE WEIGHT OF THE FLY LINE DETERMINE THE FISH YOU CATCH?
Your fly line weight should also align with the size and type of fly you use, because ultimately your fly determines the fish you catch and the rod you use. In other words, the weight of your fly line and the type and size of your fly should work in harmony to optimize your cast and help you catch the fish you’re after.
Let’s say you’re targeting big trout, which will require a big streamer. With the large streamer, a heavier fly line will give you more control of your cast. On the other hand, a lighter fly line would make it difficult to cast large, heavy flies. The weight of a fly line carries the fly. The bigger the fly, the more weight you will need to cast at the fish.
On the other hand, if you’re targeting smaller fish with a small, delicate fly, a lighter fly line will improve casting and presentation and land smoothly on the water (unlike a heavier fly line, which would crash against the water and potentially scare off fish). If you are fishing clear, shallow water, smaller line weights are better for less disturbance to the water surface.
WHAT IS THE BEST LINE WEIGHT FOR BEGINNERS?
At Wild Water Fly Fishing, we introduce new anglers to a 5/6 Fly Fishing Starter Pack that features a reel with WF-5 fly line. This outfit is perfect for fishing for small trout, bass, or panfish.
If you only fish small streams, we recommend a 7′ rod with a 3/4 weight. This package features one reel with one WF-3 line.
FLY LINE WEIGHT: THE BASICS
The lines range from 00 to 12 in weight. The higher the number, the heavier the line. Lines between 3 and 10 weight are the most common.
A general rule: Use a clear line when you want a delicate presentation. Light lines avoid disturbing the surface of the water and have a better chance of not spooking the fish.
Heavier fly lines have larger numbers, which are necessary to catch bigger, more powerful fish in larger bodies of water, including saltwater, with heavy or bulky streamers and flies. Heavy fly lines are best for longer casts and larger flies.
Below we’ll break down fly line weights and describe the type of fish you can target with each one.
FLY LINE WEIGHT 00-4: PAFISH AND SMALL TROUT
Panfish and small trout are the main fish you can target with fly line weights between 3 and 5. Generally, fishing with fly line weights of 3 to 5 is best in small, gentle streams. As you progress up to 5/6 fly line weights, you can start targeting medium sized trout in small to medium range streams.
FLY LINE WEIGHT 5 AND 6: MEDIUM TROUT AND SMALL BASS
If you are a beginner, it is recommended to start with a system of 5 or 6 weights. Casting short casts with light equipment can be challenging for beginners, so the 5 weight is the sweet spot for catching small fish as you get used to casting.
As you gain more experience, you can graduate to a 5 or 6 fly line weight. These are considered everyone’s fly line weights and are ideal for casting in faster moving bodies of water.
You can fish for virtually any size trout with a 5 or 6 weight fly line. If you are looking for large trout, it is recommended to choose a heavier 6 weight line. You can also target small and medium basses.
FLY LINE WEIGHT 7 AND 8: FISHING FOR BIG BASS, SALMON AND SALTWATER
Once you start moving into more powerful bodies of water, like the ocean, you’ll need a heavier fly line. A 7 or 8 fly line weight will help you target large bass and large trout. Fly line weights of 8 or higher will help you target large salmon, large rainbow trout, and saltwater power fish.
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT FLY FISHING?
Getting familiar with fly line weight is a process and does not happen overnight. But don’t worry, as you practice more and gain confidence in your throwing skills, it will all start to make sense to you!
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About Wild Water Fly Fishing
Wild Water Fly Fishing represents a dedication to bringing friends and family together by providing them with everything they will need to prepare for a trip to the lake. Whether you are a parent or grandparent wanting to nurture a child’s interest in fly fishing, Wild Water offers the best tools to make your fly fishing trip an unforgettable experience. Wild Water Fly Fishing is the only company that focuses exclusively on affordable and easy to use fly fishing starter packs for all species of fish.