Best Fishing Line For Tarpon

Best Fishing Line For Tarpon

Now that you have decided on a kayak for fly fishing, it's time to outfit it with some essentials. One of the most important components on any angler's gear list is his or her line. If your only fishing experience has been on the shore or in a canoe, you might never have given much thought to fly line weight and types. But if you're planning to kayak-fish, it's something you will need to give some serious consideration.

Tarpon Fly Line Tippet and Leaders

I enjoy fishing for tarpon in South Florida because they are a blast on light tackle: I use 11-foot, 5/16-inch G Loomis IMX tarpon rods and a Shimano Stradic 8000 reel spooled with 30-pound Spiderwire Stealth braid. I use a simple 10-foot leader made up of 20-pound monofilament to which is attached an unweighted, size 6/0 Owner Mutu Circle hook (this one item is indispensable; it makes the perfect loop every time). I also carry a few extra leaders of varying lengths.

What Fly Line Should You Choose?

Choosing the right fly line for your kayak fishing needs is critical to success on the water. The biggest factor in fly line choice is load strength, which refers to the maximum amount of weight you can cast with a line.

Remember that fly line weight is the actual weight of the first 30 feet, so a WF4F is actually 4-weight and will cast much easier than a 12-weight fly line . The lighter the line weight , the more rod flex you'll need in order to load your rod correctly. So if you're planning to cast big streamers in the wind, you'll need stouter rods than if you're only fishing for trout.

You can choose between floating and sinking fly lines . A sink-tip line is a popular choice because it allows you to add or remove water from your line. The line itself is usually WF5F or 6F, which means it floats at rest and sinks when it's weighted down with a fly.

I use sinking lines primarily for drift-fishing but they're also useful when fishing deep, stained water or dirty water that you don't want to get on your line.

However, if the fish are holding in the upper reaches of a pool and you need to get down low quickly, you might make a cast with a sinking line and shoot the rest of your fly line into the water (you'll need to take some extra steps when shooting , however).

I like floating lines because you can add weight yourself, which is critical when fishing off shore islands.

All it takes is a 1-pound sinker attached to your line via a length of surgical tubing. It's very important that the positioning of the weight is high on the leader, just behind where your fly lands so you can still mend your line without getting hung up on the weight.

I'll use intermediate-sinking lines in brackish water and for fishing skiffs because they cast well and can be used with lighter tippets for more fish-fighting fun.

While fly lines are the most important items on your kayak fishing gear list, I consider my shotgun (in case I see a tarpon) and cameras (to record trophy fish landed) as equally essential.

For beginners, a 9-foot, 5/6-weight fly rod with a fast tip is the perfect choice for traveling in a kayak. The fast action allows you to make good casts in windy conditions and provides enough backbone to net even big trout when necessary.

Using a drop shot rig filled with a weightless popping bug will give you hours of fun on the flats. I like the 6-weight rod because it's easier to load than a 7-weight, which increases your chances of landing larger fish.

If you're planning to do some overnight kayak fishing trips, look for a good quality drift boat/kayak angling combo . My favorite is the Hobie Baja but there are many other good brands available.

If you're looking for the least expensive kayak on the market, look for something that is lightweight and maneuverable. The Baja was one of the original compact folding models but there are also some great deals on used boats. I recently purchased a used Hobie Pro Angler kayak and rigged it with a customshaped rod pod, which is perfect for fishing both coasts.

See more: https://fishinghacking.com/top-5-best-fishing-line-for-tarpon-things-you-need-to-succeed/