Having all the right gear doesn’t necessarily guarantee success. However when I started blue line fly fishing, I soon realized that I needed a different set of gear than than was regularly discussed in fly fishing circles.
I found that the right fly rod helped me keep my flies from getting stuck in trees. I found that having lightweight gear helped make my hikes more enjoyable. And having some basic outdoor essentials helped me when I run into sticky situations.
Fly rod kit
Redington Classic Trout 376-4 Fly Rod Outfit (7'6", 3wt, 4pc)
This is my favorite fly rod for blue line streams. It is important that it is a 3 weight rod, which is light and small.
This small size makes it easy to maneuver. And it feels like you’re fighting massive fish, even when they’re just average for the small stream you’re fishing.
I’m going on two years with this rod. It has been my go to rod for most of that time. With Redingtons warranty, it makes for a solid choice in the fly rod market.
Best fly box
Tacky Fishing Tacky Day Pack
I’ve used a lot of fly boxes. Until I used a tacky fly box, I had problems with all of them. Either the box was too big, or the slots that hold the flies fell apart too easily, or the closure on the box was just an absolute pain.
I’ve never had those issues with a tacky fly box. The magnetic closures keep the lid closed tightly, but it is so easy to open when you need it. The slots that hold the flies are fantastic.
By far my favorite fly box, I recommend a couple of these!
Organizer your bag
Vanquest EDCM-HUGE 2.0 Maximizer (Every-Day-Carry-Maximizer)
We’ve all been there. You need something from your bag, so you open it up to see a mess.
You start rummaging around inside your bag, what feels like 20 minutes later you finally pull out what you’re looking for.
These little organizers help out with that problem so much. They come in different colors, so you can buy a couple of them, allowing you to color coordinate your items.
I keep a few of these in my backpack. I keep basic medical supplies, fire starting, rite in the rain notebooks and pens, and a collection of snacks.
Taking notes
Rite in the Rain All-Weather Hard Cover Notebook
You never know when you’ll need to take some notes. Maybe you’ll need to remember one of your favorite fishing holes. Perhaps your mind starts to wander and you need to write down the answer to the problem you’ve been dealing with (this happens to me all of the time, one of the reasons I love blue line fly fishing).
I keep one of these in my organizer and in my backpack. I always want to make sure that I can write down anything that comes up, even if it is in the rain.
Time flies
Seiko Prospex Men’s Solar Military Alarm Chronograph 100m Water Resistant
I used to go out fly fishing with no way to keep track of time. After a few discussions with my wife, I decided to find me a watch.
There were definitely a few considerations to this watch, being out fly fishing, it needed to handle a dunking. This watch is 100M water resistant, and has survived many dips in the drink for me.
I’ve had it for going on three years now, the solar power keeps the hands ticking. I’ve never worried about a dead battery just before my trip.
The crystal has been solid, I don’t think I’ve noticed a scratch on it yet.
If you’re worried about keeping track of time, while on the blue line streams, this is a fantastic choice.
Wrapping Up
Not all of these gifts are directly fly fishing related, which is nice because you get dual use out of them. In fact, I use nato bands on my watch and switch them out for a night out to dinner.
These gifts though, will serve any fly fisherman well.
