By Joe Solmo

If you are just starting out in Fly Fishing, the selection of different gadgets and accessories can seem overwhelming. You will undoubtedly have a lot of questions. Which of these things are essential to my trip? Which of these things can I do without? This article breaks down what you need to have, and somethings it would be nice to bring, but aren’t necessary.

First, you will need a flybox to keep all your flies in. When you start out, it can be something small you can fit about a dozen flies in and stick in your pocket. These boxes will keep your flies dry and organized in case you lose one, or want to try another.

Second, a retractor is an essential tool to have. Most clip or pin on to clothing. This item is important because you can keep the other essential tools at the ready. When I first started, I clipped my retractor to my belt loop in my jeans and fished from shore. Hanging from it was the next item on our list, the nipper.

Nippers are important for clipping the tag end of knots when you tie flies to your tippet. Also, you can use it to clip the fly off the tippet to tie another on. Most nippers have a needle like part that can be used to poke through the head of the hook in case it is covered in glue from the tying process, or to clear out the old tippet still tied to it. Having this item handy on the retractor makes the whole process easier.

Fourth on our list is the Forceps, or hemostat. There are many uses for this versatile surgeon’s tool. One, if the fish is hooked deep in, it gives you better leverage to remove the hook from the fish. The forceps can also be used to clamp down the barb on the hook, to make a less intrusive hole in the fish’s mouth, and to make it easier to remove when you accidentally hook yourself. Also, when tying your fly on the tippet you could use them to hold the tag end.

Tippet is fifth on our list. A spool of tippet is essential to have on you while fishing for a few reasons. If you get snagged and have to break off the line, for one, you will want extra on you so you don’t have to walk back to your vehicle. Another situation that having a spool on hand is useful, is when nothing is biting and you have to try different flies and eating up that tippet with each fly. Or if you are like me, you might assume you have a good section tied on and get to the river and realize you never replaced it from the last trip. It wouldn’t hurt to get a holder for your tippet, even though a spool will fit in your pocket. Something like a T ring holder can hold several spools, so that you can adjust to different situations and fly sizes. Choosing which size tippet will be another article found here.

There are other gadgets and accessories that would be nice to have, but are not as necessary as the ones mentioned above. For instance, a floatant if you are fishing dry flies. A floatant will keep your fly above the surface for a longer period of time. There are many manufactures and brands on the market for this. If you are nymph fishing, split-shot can help a lot to keep your fly down where it belongs. Also, to help keep it at just the right level, one could use a strike indicator. Its essentially a bobber for fly fisherman.

Keeping to the essentials, especially when first starting out, makes the initial investment less of a drain your bank account. Once you get hooked, pun intended, then you can look into packs, vest, waders, and all the other items you think you might need. Remember, it’s not the gear that is going to catch those fish, it’s you, so you already have the most important gear. Now get out there and fish!

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