When planning for a saltwater fly fishing trip, many anglers here in the Mountain West are surprised to learn that there are big differences between freshwater and saltwater fly lines, leaders and tippet. Do you really need a saltwater-specific fly line? What leaders and tippet should you bring on a saltwater trip? And why are these things important? In this article, we’ll outline our recommendations for your terminal saltwater tackle.
Trout Bums in Paradise
For those of us who live here in trout country, getting away for a saltwater fly fishing adventure is a special experience. Whether it’s sight-fishing to tailing bonefish on the flats, casting to snook the size of logs laying in ambush under the mangroves, or the sight of a tarpon’s massive mouth opening to devour a fly, these are moments that make us weak in the knees. Plus, the tropical weather and stunning locations complete the whole vacation experience.
Part of the allure of this type of fishing, is that it’s so different from what we are used to. The fish, their habitat, the approach, the casting, the hook set– and yes, even the tackle. It’s a different ballgame. And just like anything, having the right tools for the job will make the experience so much more enjoyable.
Saltwater-specific line and leader materials have a different makeup that allows them to perform in warm, tropical environments. Here’s what we’d recommend and why…
Backing
We always recommend that anglers headed for a saltwater destination spool up their reel with a heavier gel spun or hybrid backing. Hatch backing in our favorite. With a 68-pound break strength, Hatch backing is much stronger and more abrasion resistant than the average 20 or 30-pound Dacron backing we use for trout and other freshwater species. When you have a new saltwater fly line attached to the other end, and you are deep into your backing on a running fish, this is good insurance that everything will hold tight and you will land your dream species.
Additionally, Hatch backing has a smaller diameter than regular Dacron backing. This means you can fit more of it on the reel. When a fish starts peeling backing out of your reel at an alarming rate, this will suddenly seem like a big bonus.
Fly Lines
Is it worth it to put a saltwater-specific specific fly line on your reel? Yes, without a doubt. Saltwater fly lines are designed with a mono core in order to hold their shape in warm water and warm climates. A traditional cold-water fly line will become far too soft and flimsy. This would make them very hard to cast, and darn near impossible to turn over in windy conditions.
As a part of our Anglers All Linebrary, we stock saltwater fly lines from Airflo, Rio and Scientific Anglers, a selection for any destination and any fish species. Two great workhorse fly lines for all-around saltwater fishing include the Amplitude Grand Slam from Scientific Anglers and the Elite Flats Pro from Rio. You can browse our entire lineup of saltwater fly lines here.
Stop by the fly shop in Littleton or give us a call at 303-794-1104 and we’d be happy to help you with more specific recommendations for your next trip.
Leaders
Just like fly lines, saltwater fly fishing leaders are built differently to stand up to the warm conditions. A typical cold water fly fishing leader would become too supple in that environment, and very difficult to cast. Saltwater leader materials are much more stiff, allowing you to turn flies over more easily, even when punching into the wind.
When packing for a saltwater trip, we’d recommend fishing a new fluorocarbon leader each day. Especially for Bonefish and Permit. Fluorocarbon leaders as opposed to nylon are more abrasion resistant and a touch stiffer. The way we look at it, this is a very special experience for trout anglers like us. Even if it’s not quite a once-in-a-lifetime experience, it’s certainly not something we get to do very often. Every cast counts and for that reason, it’s worth starting with a fresh leader each day of the trip.
For Bonefish, we recommend leaders in the 8-12 pound range. For species like Permit, consider leaders in the 12-20 pound range. And Tarpon require a leader in the 20-40 pound class with a 60-pound shock tippet. Why not use straight 60-pound mono or heavier for tarpon? You could. But for ethical angling practices, many guides recommend a heavy shock tippet with a lighter breaking point in the leader in case you need to break off a fish. It’s not uncommon for sharks to move in on fighting fish. Tarpon can also get tangled in the mangroves. In either case, this allows you to break of the rig and let the fish swim away.
Tippet
Along with your saltwater leaders, we recommend bringing spools of fluorocarbon tippet so that you have options amid changing conditions. For example, you might want a longer leader when casting to spooky bonefish in shallow water, or a shorter leader when fighting through the wind.
It’s also worth noting that saltwater fluorocarbon is different than freshwater fluorocarbon. Just like fly lines and leaders, it is built with different stiffness for the warmer water temperatures. Fluoro that’s built for cold-water conditions will become too soft in the saltwater, making it difficult to turn over a fly when casting.
Check out our selection of saltwater leaders and tippet here. And again, please feel free to visit us at the fly shop or call us at 303-794-1104 with questions or for specific recommendations.
Destinations
Have questions about saltwater fly fishing destinations? We’re here to help. When you book through Anglers All, you won’t pay any additional costs, but what you gain is first-class service. We provide information on flies, gear, rigging, luggage, casting and pre-trip preparation.
To top it off, when you book a trip through us you will receive a 15% VIP discount on all purchases from the day of deposit until your day of departure. Stop by the shop or give us a call at 303-794-1104 to start planning your next saltwater adventure.
Whether you have questions about gear, rigging, or just where to grab a beer on a layover in Belize City, we’d love to help. If you’ve never experienced a saltwater fly fishing destination, maybe it’s your turn!