Back Country Fly Fishing

[BKhunter]

Hey All,

How do you all pack in you back country fly fishing gear, and what do you consider must haves to bring. Planning a camping trip and bringing my fly rod, but don't want to bring in overkill. What case do you use to bring in your gear? Thanks in advance.

BK

 

[Huntindog45]

a four piece fly rod with a simple pvc tube works great. I like a 9 foot 4 or 5 wt, a light, inexpensive real like an okuma sierra or something similar, an extra leader, plenty of 4x tippet and an assortment of caddis and mayfly imitations. As well as some big flashy flies like stimulators, royal wulff's, royal trudes etc. Nice thing about back country fish is they are not usually very picky so one small box of flies will usually be plenty. Also like to have a pair of neoprene bootys with soles on them, divers type booties. they are light, good for wading in and still protect your feet a little. I know some use a TEVA type sandal also. Either one has its merits.

 

[afdiamond1]

I bring a 4 piece 5 wt rod, a small fly box with dries, nymphs and woolie boogers. Tiippet material, forceps and most importantly, reading glasses.

 

[SMOKYMTN]

Hey All,

How do you all pack in you back country fly fishing gear, and what do you consider must haves to bring. Planning a camping trip and bringing my fly rod, but don't want to bring in overkill. What case do you use to bring in your gear? Thanks in advance.

BK

A four piece rod of any length breaks down to roughly a 2-2.5ft tube. I typically bring 2 of the same weight OR make sure I have an extra tip section as nothing would ruin a trip faster than a broken rod and trust me, I learned that the hard way. I choose the same weight that way I only have to pack 1 reel in the event I break one. I typically condense my fly box down to 1 box, with a good balance of streamers, searching patterns, beadheads, dries. After that, I ensure I have a 3pk of leader of material, couple spools of tippet, forceps and nippers as the basics.

 

[rob86jeep]

Look into a Tenkara setup. It's pretty much a fly rod without a reel. The whole setup with flies will probably weight less than 1lb.

 

[SMOKYMTN]

A four piece rod of any length breaks down to roughly a 2-2.5ft tube. I typically bring 2 of the same weight OR make sure I have an extra tip section as nothing would ruin a trip faster than a broken rod and trust me, I learned that the hard way. I choose the same weight that way I only have to pack 1 reel in the event I break one. I typically condense my fly box down to 1 box, with a good balance of streamers, searching patterns, beadheads, dries. After that, I ensure I have a 3pk of leader of material, couple spools of tippet, forceps and nippers as the basics.

I'll add onto this to say that I do not fish out west, I fish the Smoky Mountain region of NC when I go back country, so an extra rod/tip might not be a big deal in the open waters of the west. We fish rhododendron jungles here and you can find yourself with a broken rod in a heartbeat, so you'll have to decide if the extra weight is worth it for you.

 

[BKhunter]

@SMOKYMTN, this is helpful as I will be in the catksills in NY which I think while not as thick as where you are still not as open as out west.

 

[jmh00043]

I'll add onto this to say that I do not fish out west, I fish the Smoky Mountain region of NC when I go back country, so an extra rod/tip might not be a big deal in the open waters of the west. We fish rhododendron jungles here and you can find yourself with a broken rod in a heartbeat, so you'll have to decide if the extra weight is worth it for you.

I understand that. Done a lot of fishing in Cherokee. Couple of times near Cades Cove, TN as well.

 

[SMOKYMTN]

@SMOKYMTN, this is helpful as I will be in the catksills in NY which I think while not as thick as where you are still not as open as out west.

I'd say anywhere in the Appalachians you'd want an extra rod then

 

[11boo]

I often take my two piece for convenience, but not if I’m humping it far. 4 pc goes then.

 

[NMframed]

Two piece 7’ rod and an assortment of dry and wet flies. Here’s a few pictures of my son with his fly rod in case and an assortment of flies. We really did good this past weekend on some size 14 nymphs in the creeks and olive wooly buggers in the lake.

 

[jeff68]

I bought a clear polycarbonate tube x 4 ft long off ebay. Also bought soft rubber chainlink fence post caps. Perfect tight fit. Caps grip about 1 1/2 inches of tube. Fits my 4 pc 2 weight and another one will fit my 4 pc 8 wt. I'm building.

 

[bbell]

My wife got me a tenkara set up. I enjoy it. A little box for flys and a small zipper bag for tippet, pliers, etc. different but is fun in its own way.

 

[87TT]

I've done a butt load of backpack fishing (only reason to backpack usually). I never used a case or tube, only the bag the rod came in that goes in the tube. Only slight care needed as rods are pretty tough. You would really have to work to break one with all four sections together. Four piece 8 1/2 to 9 foot 5 weight is the best all around rod. As said, forceps, nippers, tippet, floatant, glasses (reading and polarized)and a selection of flies. I have broken a few rods in my time as I am a clod sometimes. The tips usually have broken trying to retrieve a fly caught in a bush or tree. Better to sacrifice a fly. I even fell once and put a knee through the butt section. All these breaks were field repaired and fished afterwards. They weren't perfect but the trip was saved and they were sent in for repair or replaced later. I have never broken a rod tied to the side of my pack.

 

[BKhunter]

I often take my two piece for convenience, but not if I’m humping it far. 4 pc goes then.

View attachment 198896

What tube are you using here?

 

[Salmonchaser]

Articulated leaches

 

[BKhunter]

Articulated leaches

Man that looks awesome!!!!

 

[Salmonchaser]

It was, 20 years guiding in Bristol bay, never had a day like Sunday. These fish were all caught on black streamers and black or Olive boogers. I always have those in my kit.

 

[BKhunter]

It was, 20 years guiding in Bristol bay, never had a day like Sunday. These fish were all caught on black streamers and black or Olive boogers. I always have those in my kit.

That's awesome. I'm just starting to get into from seeing pictures like that.

 

[11boo]

What tube are you using here?

That is a 5’ tube for a 2 pc 8 1/2’ rod+reel.