Saltwater Fly Fishing Rod - Orvis Helios Fly Rod

Although saltwater fly fishing is a fairly modern sport, having only been introduced in the 1950s, it has become an exceedingly popular method to catch saltwater fish. Nowadays saltwater fly anglers can catch many species of saltwater fish, from deep water fish such as marlin or tuna, to shallow water fish such as bonefish or tarpon. Saltwater fly fishing is now the fastest growing segment of the fly fishing industry, and this guide to saltwater fly fishing will give you a brief introduction to the sport.

For the angler starting out with saltwater fly fishing, the ideal locations to fish are bodies of water that are calmer, and in which one cane wade. Examples would be salt ponds, inshore beaches, or rivers flowing into the ocean. Rather start fishing from a jetty or from flats close to shore than from a boat out at sea.

Saltwater Rods, Reels and Lines

Saltwater fly fishing requires specialized equipment, but fortunately due to the increased popularity of the sport, equipment for any budget is now available. The conditions that you intend fishing in, from rough to sheltered water, and the type of fish that you are trying to catch, determine the type of fly fishing equipment you should buy. The size of your fly, and conversely the size of your rod will be determined by these factors.

Saltwater fly rods range between 7-weight to 12-weight, and are normally between 8 to 10 feet in length. When buying a saltwater rod, remember to get one with stainless steel guides, so they don’t rust, and its advisable to get a rod with a padded fighting butt which can be fixed or removable.

Saltwater fly reels are normally better quality than freshwater fly reels. Your saltwater reel should only contain components that are saltwater resistant to prevent rust to your reel. It is recommended that your saltwater fly reel have an excellent drag system, and provide enough line capacity for your saltwater fly line, 100-300 yards of leader, and 15 feet of backing line.

The saltwater fly line most commonly used is a floating line, which is used to catch fish near the water’s surface and for shallow water fishing. To catch fish at a deeper level, some saltwater fly fishermen use an intermediate slow sinking line, whilst others use a sinking or sink-tip line. With the stronger winds and rougher seas encountered with saltwater fly fishing, weight forward lines are normally used to allow the angler to cast a longer distance. The line weight normally matches the rod weight, but sometimes a slightly heavier line is used, especially in windy conditions. When buying saltwater flies for saltwater fly fishing, consult local experienced anglers or local tackle shops for advice on what flies work best.

Leaders and Tippets

With saltwater fly fishing, your leader is generally heavier and shorter than a leader used in freshwater fly fishing, as saltwater fish don’t spook as easily as freshwater fish. Using 25-30 pound strength leader, you can use 6-10 feet of leader, which you will then tie to 2-3 feet of 15 pound tippet line. Use bite tippets or shock tippets when you are going after fish species with strong teeth. The same knots used for freshwater fly fishing can be used for saltwater fly fishing – the Arbor Knot, Albright Knot, Nail Knot, Double Surgeons Knot, and the Improved Clinch Knot.

Shooting Basket

It’s recommended that you get a shooting basket for saltwater fly fishing, which is used to keep the fly line from becoming tangled up around your feet, boat cleats and other objects on a boat. Whilst wading It also allows you to keep the line out of the water so you can make longer casts with less drag resistance.

Caring for Your Equipment

Saltwater fly fishing equipment requires more care than freshwater equipment to ensure that the equipment does not corrode and rust. After using your equipment, wash and rinse all equipment with a soapy cloth, then dry with a clean cloth and allow to air dry.

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Filed under: Fishing on the fly • fly fishing • fly fishing reels • fly fishing rods • flyfishing

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