Thread: Matching Fly Size and Line Size

Fly lines are made in 1wt to 15wt. 1 weight did not do well as far as I know they only made it in a level line. 15 wt for tarpon and large fish. Now if you are throwing large flys like salt water 8 & 9 wt work well. a 9wt will throw a small popper as well as a 3 wt. Catching blue gills with a 9 wt would be like catching one with a broom stick. Fishing with a lighter rod is more fun.It is not so much the line weight as it is the leader the smaller the fly the smaller the leader. Smaller leaders should be longer than heaver ones. A 3X could be 7 ft and a 6X 9ft or 12 ft. I have rods from 3 wt to 10wt. for blue gills I have some old fiberglass rods 5 & 6 wt.that I really like. Most fly fishers use graphite. I have both graphite and fiberglass. I like the older rods.So try all the rods till you find one that works well for you.