Getting ready for a saltwater fly fishing trip? Will this be your first leap from trout to permit or tarpon? We asked our team for their recommendations for terminal tackle. When it comes to saltwater fly lines, leaders and tippet, here are some of our top suggestions…
Fly Lines
“When it comes to fly lines, it’s all about how those tapers are shaped,” Anglers All manager, Jimmy Juliana began. “For example, your bonefish fly lines tend to be a little bit longer in the head than a permit line or a tarpon line. They are designed for those smaller saltwater flies. Whereas fly lines for permit are going to be a little bit more stout and punchier for delivering larger crab and shrimp patterns. And a tarpon fly line is going to be a bit shorter and punchier still, for shooting into the wind but still being able to present that fly nicely.
“While floating fly lines are going to be the most common, do keep in mind that at some saltwater destinations bringing a full intermediate line is a must,” he continued. “Like in some places in Belize, you might find yourself fishing deep cuts for tarpon and you’ve got to get that line down and be able to sink that fly to where the fish are.”
Anglers All eCommerce Manager, Blake Katchur, offered some specific fly line recommendations in each Category:
Small Flies and Tactical Presentations
“Our top recommended fly lines for small flies and tactical presentations include the Airflo Ridge 2.0 Flats Tactical Taper, the Rio Elite Bonefish, and the Scientific Anglers Amplitude Bonefish Taper,” Blake said. “These lines are ideal for shrimp patterns and similar flies in the size 6 to 10 range. Use these lines for places with shallow water flats, and when making an accurate cast to spooky fish is the norm.”
All-Around Lines and Medium Sized Flies
For all-around saltwater presentations and those medium sized flies, Blake recommended that anglers consider the Scientific Anglers Amplitude Infinity Taper, the Rio Elite Flats Pro, and the Airflo Ridge 2.0 Flats Universal Taper. “These are the go-to fly lines for those shrimp & crab patterns and small baitfish flies from sizes 2 to 6,” Blake told us. “Pick up one of these lines for days or destinations with windy conditions and to deliver those slightly bigger flies. Blake also recommends this line taper type for beginner saltwater anglers, as it will cover the most casting situations and help load the most models of fast saltwater rods.
Big Flies and Long Casts
“When fishing big flies and when you need a punchy fly line to deliver long casts with less false casting, we recommend the Rio Elite Tarpon, the Scientific Anglers Amplitude Grand Slam and the Airflo Ridge 2.0 Flats Power Taper,” he added. “These lines are built to load the fastest action saltwater rods and to deliver heavy crab and baitfish patterns from sizes 2/0 to 2 on target.”
The Biggest Flies and Toughest Conditions
And finally, when you find yourself casting to the biggest fish in the ocean with very big saltwater flies, Blake said he would steer you toward fly lines like the Rio Elite Tropical Outbound Short, the Rio Elite GT, the Scientific Anglers Sonar Titan Big Water Intermediate, or the Scientific Anglers Sonar Titan Tropical Clear Tip. “These lines are very punchy, built to make quick long casts and for throwing big baitfish patterns into the surf or off a rocking boat,” he said.
Leaders and Tippet
Jimmy had some great advice when it comes to leaders and tippet for saltwater fly fishing. The first thing he noted, is the big advantage of fluorocarbon. Fluoro becomes nearly invisible underwater due to its light refraction index being closer to the refraction index of water than nylon. Our friends at Umpqua take it a step further, and have introduced a new fluoro tippet material that is pink, while being in the red color spectrum which becomes invisible under water before other colors do.
“Fluorocarbon is much more abrasion resistant than nylon,” Jimmy explained. “So when you’re fighting these bony-mouthed fish and their runs have your leader rubbing against pieces of coral, it’s less likely that you’re going to lose that fish.”
Bonefish Leaders
Jimmy said that when you’re fishing somewhere like Belize where you can expect average sized bonefish, a 10-12 pound leader is pretty standard. “If you go somewhere like Hawaii or the Bahamas where there are some very big bonefish, you might think about something more in the 12-16 pound range,” he added.
Additionally, Jimmy says that he will usually have some 8-10 pound fluorocarbon tippet on hand. “In case you get into some spookier fish, or if you want to throw smaller flies and you need to present that fly a little softer, you can add some tippet to the end of your leader,” he said.
Permit Leaders
When it comes to permit, Jimmy notes that a 16-20 pound leader is usually the standard and always in fluorocarbon. “When fishing for permit, I don’t like to add tippet to my permit leaders,” Jimmy explained. “And that’s because I don’t want any knots that increase the risk of a leader failing and losing the fish.”
Tarpon Leaders
For tarpon, we recommend a leader that has a heavy shock section at the tip with a lighter class section in the middle, which allows the angler to break off the fish if needed.
“In general, we recommend you go with a class-shock leader set up anytime you’re fishing for tarpon,” Jimmy said. “And what that means, is you start with a big heavy butt section on that leader. Then you go down to a class section, which is intentionally the weakest part of your leader. In the class section, we usually recommend something in the 20-30 pound class range. And the reason you have that lighter class section, is that so if that tarpon runs into the mangroves, or if it’s getting chased by a shark, you can point your rod at that fish and break it off. By doing so, you’re giving that fish a chance to live to see another day.
“Then finally, you have your shock section, which is at the tip of your leader where you tie your fly on. And the reason you want that heavier section at the tip, is because it takes that initial hit from the fish and it also stands up to the bony rought mouths that these fish have.”
Jimmy notes that tarpon leaders can vary greatly depending on where you’re fishing and what kind of tarpon you’re casting to.
“With juvenile tarpon, a 40-60 pound shock section is good,” Jimmy said. “If you’re getting into those bigger migratory tarpon, a 60-80 pound shock might be required.”
Saltwater Leader Length
“As far as the length of your leaders is concerned, there are a few factors to consider,” Jimmy told us. “When it comes to bonefish or even permit where you’re often fishing on the flats to fish that can be spooky, a 9 or 10-foot fluorocarbon leader is pretty standard. But if you get into some fish that are very spooky, you might want an even longer leader. If you find that your 10-foot leader is spooking the fish, then you might step up to a longer leader for additional stealth and presentation.
“That being said, you also need to consider your casting ability and the wind,” he added. “If there’s a lot of wind, it is going to be tough for many anglers to turn over a 12 or 15-foot leader. So you need to put your own abilities and the conditions into consideration as well.”
When it comes to tarpon, the standard leaders tend to be 12-foot leaders. But Jimmy explained that even with the extra length, these are bit easier to turn over because they’re so heavy. He also added that if you’re fishing a fly line with a clear tip, you can get away with casting a shorter leader to tarpon. For example, with a stealth tip tarpon fly line, it wouldn’t be uncommon to fish even a 6-foot leader.
Shop saltwater leaders & tippet HERE
New Day, New Leader
Whenever anglers are preparing for a saltwater trip, we recommend changing out leaders every day.
“Even if I didn’t hook and land a permit the day before, I’m still going to put a new leader on my permit setup every day,” Jimmy explained. “Because maybe as I was stripping in my fly the day before, I nicked a piece of coral. If I finally get that opportunity and hook a permit, I don’t want to risk losing that fish because of a $10 leader. Having a fresh leader each day is relatively inexpensive insurance to make sure I’m giving myself the best opportunity at those hard-earned fish.”
When it comes to these fish that give you very limited opportunities anyway, it’s worth giving yourself every advantage.
A Note on Backing
For most freshwater anglers backing is an afterthought or a way to personalize your reel set up with a splash of color. But for the saltwater angler, backing is very important. For many anglers, the first time you see your fly line, and then your backing start peeling off your reel is when the other end is hooked up to a bonefish or permit. These fish are fast and powerful, and this is why a heavier more abrasion resistant backing is a must.
Blake explains “We offer two saltwater backing options at the shop, a hybrid 68lbs backing from Hatch and a 65lbs gel spun backing from Rio. Taking the break strength aside, these backings are much more durable then the classic 20 or 30lbs dacron backing we use for trout”. Blake goes on with a grin on his face, “when your entire $100 fly line is out in the ocean ripping behind a hooked up permit and that fish is heading towards a coral head, you’ll want that extra protection to keep that fish and your entire fly line from swimming away”. The team also always recommends a bimini loop knot to connect your backing to your fly line. This knot inherently has some shock absorption built in, and provides a clean strong loop which aids in swapping lines on the boat, or lodge if it's needed. This rigging option is performed for no extra charge at the shop, or for online orders!
Contact Us With Questions
Have questions about saltwater tackle, flies or destinations? Feel free to stop by the fly shop in Littleton. Or give us a call at 303-794-1104. We’d love to help you get ready for that next saltwater fly fishing trip!
