my son got me a starter kit fly fishing rod and reel from Cabelas 5-6 weight for Christmas. the reel has the backer, floating line and a tapered leader. do i tie my tippet to the tapered leader and then the flY???

YouTube my friend

Yes, float line to tapered leader and then fly. You will be hook for life once you start fly fishing. It is an experience of fishing in a whole another world of learning how.
I wish you luck go have fun!

fly to the tapered leader??

thanks for the help

Leader to weighted line, then leader to fly. And use your elbow, not your wrist or you'll get too much whip

Your tapered leader should tie directly to your fly. (Built in tippet).


If you make your own leaders, the last piece you tie in would be called the tippet.


Once your tapered leader takes some abuse from the learning curve of casting, and changing out flies, it will eventually get cut back to thicker line. Then just go ahead and tie in a new piece of 4, 6, 8lb test. What ever size your using. That would then be your new tippet.




It's a rabbit hole. Good luck. Bring us pics.



click here for some WY Fishing pics

will do, many thanks for the help. been raining like crazy down here every other day. close to 6" since Christmas Eve with another 2" plus rolling in tomorrow, hopefully that will change and be much less.

Remember, your casting the line....... not the fly.

Want to have fun with gills---use your set-up with a rubber spider in the summer when the lakes are flat as glass.

Check out Brian Flechsig Mad River Outfitters videos on you tube
Lots of good info and tips in his videos especially for beginners.

big blue gill and crappie are what I am wanting to fish for with this setup, 5/6 weight. some huge bass in this small private lake, they wear me out on my ultralight spinning reels and 4 pound line using fly fishing nymps.

big blue gill and crappie are what I am wanting to fish for with this setup, 5/6 weight. some huge bass in this small private lake, they wear me out on my ultralight spinning reels and 4 pound line using fly fishing nymps.

For you to get comfortable with casting a fly line , without a fly or streamer go to a city park or large lawn without a bunch of trees and start casting . Just remember that each time you hear a crack or loud pop it just cost you a $ 3.50 fly ha ha

Then when you really get addicted and start tying your own flies and streamers and catch your first fish you truly will be " Hooked " for life ha ha

A 3 weight rod and reel is a absolute kick in the pants to fish with when you get used to the 5 weight rod and reel , which is good for windy weather fishing when using a weight foreword fly line and you decide you want a bit more of a challenge.

Tapered leaders help to a degree but i was just get a spool of the mono of your choice. You can fish it flat and will be fine. When i fish leaders i just tie my choice together. Way cheaper than buying tapered leaders. I get maxima 100yd spools. Last forever. I like my leaders as long as the rod for the most part


Trout. 12/8/4
Bass. 15/8/6
Pike. Straight 25 to AWS 20#wire
Bones straight 20
Lakers straight 15 or 20
Etc

Yep do the same thing and great advice.

I used to fly fish back in the 80's, just got back in to it this past summer and tying my own flys too. Fly tying is almost as much fun as fishing and catching fish with the stuff you made is really a blast, can't wait for spring to come around. Your son should really enjoy it, sometimes casting can be a pain in the butt though for me but I think I may be getting it, at least I don't hook myself as often

I absolutely do not have the patience to tie my own flies. I have acquired several hundred of different types that I have been using on a 14 foot vertical jigging rod and a Shimano Stridic reel with 4-6 pound line, an absolute bluegill and crappie catching machine. then a 6-7 pound bass bites the fly and it takes 20 minutes to land it.