Going saltwater fly fishing for the first time... What is needed?
Dec 6, 2019 10:06:39 #
Headed to Belize to go fly fishing this Xmas. I fly fish for trout in NC. Is it possible for me to just take my fly rod down to Belize and catch a few offshore? It's a 5/6 weight aluminium fly rod.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!
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by Erock11b
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!
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by Erock11b
Dec 6, 2019 10:06:45 #
It's possible that your trout fly line will become borderline unusable down there, depending on the temperature. Most trout lines are made for cold to temperate waters, not the tropics. They'll go limp and be very hard to cast.
A 5/6 weight is going to be pretty light. A 6 weight is a solid rod for things like bonefish, especially the smaller Belize bonefish, but the wind will probably make things difficult. The wind is the main reason people use larger rods in a lot of salt water applications. If you have any way to access a heavier rod, I would recommend you do so.
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by DGFlyGuy
A 5/6 weight is going to be pretty light. A 6 weight is a solid rod for things like bonefish, especially the smaller Belize bonefish, but the wind will probably make things difficult. The wind is the main reason people use larger rods in a lot of salt water applications. If you have any way to access a heavier rod, I would recommend you do so.
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by DGFlyGuy
Dec 6, 2019 10:06:51 #
Dec 6, 2019 10:06:55 #
Dec 6, 2019 10:06:59 #
Dec 6, 2019 10:07:02 #
Dec 6, 2019 10:07:05 #
Don’t ruin your 5wt trout rod and reel in the salt....find someone with an 8wt and salt compatible reel. You can definitely catch fish just wading around the flats. Have fun. Wear sunscreen.
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by DSess31
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by DSess31
Dec 6, 2019 10:07:09 #
No, that's not possible or advisable. You're going to need an anodized 8wt rod/reel and something that floats in order to catch fish in most of Belize.
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by FLORI_DUH
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by FLORI_DUH
Dec 6, 2019 10:07:14 #
As others said, get a light and fast 8wt. Orvis Hydros SL is pretty good budget salt reel.
Even more important is fly line for hot weather. Your normal trout line will soften to the point where line guides will peel the plastic off the core.
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by dodgydodgerson
Even more important is fly line for hot weather. Your normal trout line will soften to the point where line guides will peel the plastic off the core.
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by dodgydodgerson
Dec 6, 2019 10:07:18 #
Dec 6, 2019 10:07:23 #
Dec 6, 2019 10:07:26 #
Yes. At least that's what it said in the Amazon description. Is that uncommon?
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by Erock11b
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by Erock11b
Dec 6, 2019 10:07:30 #
The reel is probably machined aluminum but the rod is probably graphite, fiberglass or some composite.
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by UrsinusGrad
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by UrsinusGrad
Dec 6, 2019 10:07:35 #
Ahhhh now I see. Its Carbon fiber. I had to read a bit more into it. Thanks for the info!
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by Erock11b
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by Erock11b
Dec 6, 2019 17:55:02 #
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