There are really only a few things you need when starting out in the world of Fly Fishing. In my opinion, it is better to focus on getting a decent initial setup using a small budget. As you begin to learn more about the sport, you can upgrade the components and accessories to higher-end and more costly gear.
Quick Checklist
- Fly Rod Combo Kit – 5 Weight, Price $90
- Tapered Leader – 5x 7.5ft (3 pack), Price $10
- Tippet Spool 5x, Price $5
- Fly Fishing Lanyard, Price $40
- Fly Box, Price $10
- Hemostat – Dr. Slick Scissor Clamps, Price $20
- Floatant and Desicant – Loon Top Ride / Aquel combo, Price $25
- Stocking Foot Waders and Boots, Price $200
Total Starter Price: $400
*Prices as of March 2024.
1. Fly Rod
Once you start to go fly fishing more and more, you will begin to need specific fly rods for specific situations. For someone starting out, and doing generic fly fishing (especially in Michigan) I am going to recommend going with a starter combo kit from a place like Cabelas or Bass Pro Shop.
Some fisherman do not like recommending a combo because they would rather select the individual pieces which include five individual components: a rod, a reel, backing line, fly line, and a leader. You could spend time researching and looking for each component separately. My opinion is to first pick up the combo kit, and then use thse combo kit items as backups whenever you upgrade to better components.
The most difficult decision in buying a combo kit is to decide which “weight” to use . In Michigan, I am pretty confident that I can recommend a 5-weight rod combo which will work for basic pan fish, trout, and bass fishing.
Today, I would recommend buying the Reddington Crosswater combo kit, which is currently $90 at Cabelas:
https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/redington-crosswater-complete-fly-outfit
If you purchased a combo kit that comes with the fly line prespooled for you, then the only other purchase you need with regards to using the new rod is some leader and tippet.
2. Leader and Tippet
Leader line and tippet is the fishing line that goes at the very end of the fly line and where you will tie your fishing flies. Many times it is made of monofilament and similar to a regular spinning reel line. Leader line is tapered to aid in casting.
For a beginner I recommend picked up a few tapered leaders of 5x size at 7.5ft length. This is a good all around size and length that is pretty easy to cast. As the leader becomes shorter and shorter while you trim it to tie on new flies (or get it untangled from a tree), eventually can supplement the last one to two feet with new tippet. Tippet is a spool of monofilament line that is not tapered, and you can cut short lengths from. For a beginner, I recommend buying one 5x tippet spool.
Tapered Leader: https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/white-river-fly-shop-trout-tapered-leader
Tippet spool: https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/scientific-anglers-freshwater-nylon-tippet
At this point, you only need one more item to begin fishing: flies.
3. Flies
To determine what flies you need to buy, the first question you must ask yourself if what fish am I targeting. The type of flies you use will be dependent upon the type of fishing you are doing.
In Michigan, there is always pan fish near by. If you are fishing for pan fish like bluegill and bass, here is a good article:
https://www.flyfisherman.com/editorial/best-panfish-flies/152078
My favorite 3 flies for pan fish in Michgan are:
– Gray Adams dry fly (size 12 to 14)
– chartreuse (fluorescent yellow) popper
– black woolly bugger
If you are fishing for trout, things get more complicated. The concept of “match the hatch” becomes aparent as now you try to determine which flies are best for not only the type of fish (trout), but the location, water type, time of year, weather, water temperature and many other considerations. If I am going trout fishing in Michigan, I will always bring my favorite Gray Adams dry fly and a bead head pheasant tail nymph. Normally, I will stop at a fly shop and ask if they can help me pick out a handful of flies to fish that area.
There are many books and articles written about flies, and it is the heart of the sport. You can buy flies in bulk online, or even learn how to tie your own. For someone starting out, I would recommend getting some starter flies like a small assortment from a big box store.
https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/white-river-fly-shop-12-piece-classic-trout-fly-assortment
At this point… you will have everything you need for the basics to go fly fishing. But there are a few more things are worth picking up…
4. Storage
First, I recommend getting a basic fly box to hold flies – something cheaper like this will work just fine:
https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/white-river-fly-shop-riseform-double-sided-fly-box
Next, you usually want to store your flies and other accessories somewhere while you fish. Some people like a fly fishing vest, others a fly fishing pack, or even a lanyard.
In my experience, I have learned the less you have to carry around, the better. I now believe a fly fishing lanyard is the best way to hold the minimal amount of gear needed for normal fishing adventures.
I use this Dr. Slick lanyard: https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Slick-NECK-TIP-Lanyard/dp/B001V9ARN4/
5. Accessories
There are a ton of fly fishing accessories out there you can buy. However, there are several items I would recommend as a VERY good-to-have item for a beginner.
First, a pair of scissor hemostats. The scissors let you cut and trim line, while the hemostat portion will help remove stubborn hooks.
https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Slick-Scissor-Clamp-Straight/dp/B002WS1IWW/
For dry fly fishing, it is good to have floatant gel and drying agent (basically desicant). Loon Outdoors actually sells this as a combo kit:
https://www.amazon.com/Loon-Outdoors-Combo-Pack-Aquel/dp/B06Y5G1LF2/
While there are still some other accessories to look into, the above is usually good enough to get you fishing. However, if you are going to be spending a significant amount of time in a river, there is one more thing to consider…
6. Waders and Boots
During the heat of the summer, going fishing in a river in your swim trunks probably is a nice way of cooling off. However, doing some river fishing during the late fall requires that you stay warm, and waders become a necessity.
If you are going to be doing some serious fly fishing, you should invest in a serious pair of guide waders (my favorite being Simms brand). However, my opinion is to find the cheapest possible set of waders and boots when you are starting out. Once you decide to upgrade, you can keep the cheaper pair as a backup. I also like to buy stocking foot waders so that I can swap out the boots as they age instead of getting boot-foot waders where the boots are built-in.
Sierra Trading Post (sierra.com) has been my go-to place to find cheap waders. Currently there are a a pair of Frogg Togg waders on their web site for $120. Even Cabela’s usually has a discount version of breathable waders like these:
https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/cabelas-premium-breathable-stocking-foot-fishing-waders-for-men
A discount pair of wading boots off of Amazon will cost between $75 and $100. For boots, I usually will buy one size over my normal size shoes so that I can fit my socks and the waders. One tip is that if you are not committed to spend the money on boots yet, you can use swimming shoes in place of wading boots. I have done this for my kids, and have only spent $15 on a pair of swim shoes.
one simple angler 