How Does
Setting Up a Fly Fishing Rod
Choosing a Reel
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The first step when setting up your fly fishing rod is choosing a reel. There are reels made for saltwater and freshwater, for any kind of fishing you want to do. Select your fly fishing reel based on the size of your rod and the weight of line it will use. For a 8/9 weight rod typically used for salmon, or saltwater striped bass fishing, a reel of the same size that can handle 8 or 9 weight line is needed. Most rods are a 5 weight, and these will sometimes come with a reel. If not, any type of trout reel rated for 5 weight line will do.
Spooling the Reel
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Spool the reel with fly line backing which is typically braided line. You can buy special fly line backing at a sports store or use heavy duty mono filament, but the braided line, since it is stronger and thinner is a better option. Once spooled attach the backing to the fly line. If you have a 5 weight rod use 4 or 5 weight line. Use a nail knot to attach the line to the backing. Now reel up the fly line and prepare to install the tippet.
Attaching the Tippet
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The tippet is the part of the line that you attach the fly to. It is tapered, mono filament that is clear, just like regular fishing line. The thicker end of the leader is the end that is attached to the fly line. To attach it to the fly line you can use a nail knot or a braided loop. The braided loop is a section of line with a loop in the end. To use a braided loop, first slide a shrink gasket over the end of the fly line. Then slide the open end (not the loop end) of the braided loop over the end of the fly line, so the hollow braids go right over the end of the line.
Slide the shrink gasket up the line until half of it covers the braided line and half covers the fly line. Apply a heat source of about 300 degrees to the gasket until it shrinks and secures the loop to the end of the line. Now you can tie the tippet to the loop end with a surgeon's knot, or fisherman's knot.
eHow Article: Setting Up a Fly Fishing Rod
