When it comes to gear reviews, we tend to focus on the big, new, shiny items. But sometimes, it’s the little things that count. With that in mind, we’d like to offer a roundup of some of our favorite fly fishing accessories.
We all know that fly fishing accessories can sometimes be gimmicky. But when looking at the accessory wall here in the fly shop, we began to discuss the accessories that have become difference makers, those items that have become essentials.
This certainly isn’t an exhaustive list of great accessories. But these are a few things that we wanted to highlight. Here are 7 of our favorite fly fishing accessories:
IMAGE: Larkin Wilson
Fishpond / Tacky Double Haul Fly Box
Fly boxes are like potato chips - you can never have just one. Midge boxes, streamer boxes, dry fly boxes; the list goes on and on. Having a full armada of fly boxes on hand is a great feeling, because it means you likely have every possible pattern you could need for the day. But sometimes, you don’t have room in your pack for all that plastic and silicone.
That’s where Fishpond / Tacky’s Double Haul Fly Box comes in. The box features 2 different silicone inserts: 1 with the Tacky’s classic teardrop-shaped slots (perfect for all your nymphs), and 1 with larger anchor slots (perfect for your dry flies and small streamers). If we could only carry one fly box on a day trip, it would be hard not to choose the Double Haul.
CLICK HERE for more info on the Fishpond / Tacky Double Haul Fly Box.
IMAGE: Larkin Wilson
Umpqua Stream Thermometer
The more you geek out on fly fishing, the more a thermometer is going to mean to you. We all know the most common usage for a fly fishing thermometer, like Umpqua’s Stream Thermometer: checking water temps during the dog days of summer to ensure the safety of the trout. But that’s not all these thermometers can be used for.
For example, fly fishing thermometers can help you time the beginning of a hatch. While you can’t time the emergence of every bug based on water temperature, there’s one species that pops up as soon as the water warms to 50 degrees Fahrenheit: Salmonflies.
Umpqua’s Stream Thermometer can also help you get a better read on what’s happening below the surface during shoulder seasons, like fall and spring. During a typical fall day on a freestone river, you might see water temperatures at 8 AM hovering around 37. But check the temps around 1 PM, and it may be closer to the mid-50’s. The trout and bugs will not behave the same during these two windows. Being able to identify that change can help you find more fish throughout the day and feel more confident in your fly selection and tactics.
CLICK HERE for more info on the Umpqua Stream Thermometer.
IMAGE: Larkin Wilson
Patagonia Stealth Work Station
Similar to the reasoning behind the Double Haul Fly Boxes, the Patagonia Stealth Work Station shines when you really don’t need to carry the kitchen sink down to the river with you. This accessory especially shines during the winter fly fishing season, when you typically don’t need to carry more than 1-2 fly boxes, at most.
For people fishing South Platte access points that require a little legwork, like Cheesman Canyon and the Dream Stream, the Patagonia Stealth Work Station is a godsend. Instead of lugging around a pack and a bunch of superfluous weight, the 5L Stealth Work Station can be attached to your wader suspenders. Then, you’ll have everything you right in front of you, at all times.
CLICK HERE for more info on the Patagonia Stealth Work Station.
IMAGE: Larkin Wilson
RIO Products Tippet Rings
If you’re an angler that is constantly in a “rig, re-rig, repeat” workflow out on the river, this accessory is for you. RIO’s Tippet Rings help you prolong the lives of your tapered leaders and allow you to switch between different rigs seamlessly. While they’re a favorite among the nymphing crowd, they’re also light enough to use when fishing dry flies. And though they might be small, they’re strong enough to hold fast during every fight.
To use RIO’s Tippet Rings, simply tie the ring onto the end of your tapered leader with a clinch knot. Then, tie your tippet (also with a basic clinch) to the opposite side of the tippet ring. And that’s it. Not exactly rocket science...
CLICK HERE for more info on RIO's Tippet Rings.
IMAGE: Larkin Wilson
Loon UV Wader Repair
If you’ve been fly fishing long enough, you know the feeling. You put on your waders for the first time at the end of a long summer, ready to dive headlong into the fall fishing season. But when you wade out into the river, you start to feel a little water starting to seep in. Before you know it, one of your feet is wet and cold. As we all know, this is one of the most disheartening experiences you can have out on the water. During the brutal winter months, a leak in your waders can even end your day early.
That’s where Loon’s UV Wader Repair comes in. This magical little gel can be applied to a variety of wader fabrics, including GORE-TEX and neoprene. While the UV Wader Repair will not fix massive gashes (it’s best to send the waders in to the manufacturer for repair on big issues anyways), it does an excellent job sealing up pinhole leaks that don’t warrant an in-depth repair assessment. If you’re continuing to pile up pinholes in your waders, don’t “tough it out” for another season - give the Loon UV Wader Repair a try.
CLICK HERE for more info on Loon's UV Wader Repair.
IMAGE: Loon Outdoors
Buffs + Neck Gaiters
No matter where your fly fishing adventures take you, Mother Nature will be a factor. Sometimes, overcoming the elements can be easier than outsmarting the fish. Now, let’s not get confused here. In the war of attrition between nature and humans, nature always wins. Always has, always will. But that’s the war. We can still win little battles over the elements here and there. When it comes to combating elements like the sun, wind, and insects, multifunctional headwear options like the BUFF Original, the Simms Sun Gaiter, the Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Sun Mask, or the Rep Your Water Fish Mask are worth their weight in gold.
“Buffs”, as they’re commonly known, have been popular in the fly fishing community for ages. Their greatest appeal: their ability to shield our ears, necks, and most of our faces protected from the sun. Buffs can also help keep bugs from trying to weasel their way into your ears and mouth; which doesn’t sound like a big deal… until you miss a hookset because you’re busy swatting at mosquitoes. Plus, you can also find buffs to help combat extreme weather conditions, like the windproof Simms GORE-TEX Infinium Neck Gaiter.
CLICK HERE for more info on buffs and sun gaiters.
IMAGE: Larkin Wilson
Simms Taco Bag
Want to know the best way to destroy your waders and boots? Leave the wet gear in your car for a few days following every fishing trip. Do this for a few months or so, and you’ll be sure to have a plethora of pinholes at every stress point the waders have. Plus, there’s even a chance the soles of your wading boots begin to deteriorate and separate from the boot.
Obviously, no one wants their waders and boots to start falling apart. But if you sling all your gear haphazardly into your vehicle at the end of a tough day on the water, it’ll be even more cumbersome to unload after the long drive home. The Simms Taco Bag is a large mesh bag with a circular design that solves this issue. Opened, the Taco Bag works as a changing mat. Then, just leave your boots and waders in the ventilated bag to air out on the drive back. You’ll still want to dry them out back at home, but the Taco Bag will help expedite the process.
CLICK HERE for more info on the Simms Taco Bag.
IMAGE: Simms Fishing
Again, none of the gear listed above is going to "make or break" your day out on the water. But what these 7 accessories will do is help you streamline your riverside operations and help you focus more on fooling the fish than wrangling your gear. Because, as we all know, when you start getting frustrated out on the water, it's hard to appreciate the experience to the same degree. Though the 7 accessories listed above may not be able to prevent every fly fishing-related headache you may get, they'll certainly help make your time at the river more enjoyable.
Not sure if one of the accessories listed above will work for you? Have a question about a different fly fishing accessory that has caught your attention? We're always happy to help. Give us a call here at the shop (303-794-1104) or send us a DM on Instagram or Facebook (@anglersall).