The definitions used in Flyfishing equipment and the best combination for Patagonian waters.

Words and Photos:
Rodrigo Sandoval

When starting to fish, fly fishing can be a really wonderful experience. But it can also be accompanied by deep confusion when you go from the joy of having a good time to selecting the right equipment to do it, even when figuring out what could be the best combination to go flyfishing in the remote patagonian waters.

When we speak about fly fishing equipment, the directly involved elements are: rod, reel and line. But the reality goes far beyond that, when considering that different types and combinations exist from each one of these three elements, adapted to one or another situation.

The Balance in the Equipment

A suitable fly fishing equipment is the one that achieves a harmonic balance when casting with the rod, reel, and line combination. The myriad of options for each one of those three components respond to the wide variety of different conditions and situations of nowadays fishing. That is to say, it becomes necessary to define the weight of the line that I must use, and therefore the resistance and/or rigidity of the required rod, adding the capacity and operation of the propper spool.

In order to establish a reference scale, that shows a difference between one line from another, as well as a rod and spool of another one, AFTMA (American Fly Tackle Manufacturers Association) defined a nomenclature that identifies 15 categories (from the 1 to the 15) that are associated with the characteristics of the equipment. This graduation is based on the weight of the first 10 meters of the fly fishing line, considering those of small AFTMA number, like those lighter. Then, according to this weight, one of the 15 numbers is assigned to the line (taking like #1 the lightest and #15 the heaviest).Then a suitably rod, balanced for this line, uses the same number (for example, if a rod is adapted to cast a AFTMA # 5 line, then the rod is identified as # 5, and a harmonic spool surely will be identified in a rank of AFTMA number between which it is the 5).

To have a balanced equipment is based on establishing the harmony between the line, the rod, and the spool, starting by this graduated scale. That is to say, until certain point one knows that have a balanced equipment, when the line, the rod, and the spool is specified for same or almost identical AFTMA number.

Nevertheless, the selective process does not end there. It is left the decision of which AFTMA number I must choose in one or another fishing situation. Like a simple referential example, A # 3 equipment would not be adapted to try a swordfishes fishing, and also. although it would be feasible, a fishing day in a small stream would not be very comfortable with an equipment # 10.

The right combination according to the conditions

The fishing type that will be made, that finally establish the suitable equipment, is based on determining the type of fly to use, the casting length, and in some cases the size and species that will possibly be captured.

The possibilities are not little. Nowadays it is possible to fish in any aquatic atmosphere of the planet, persecuting almost any sport species. That includes seating in a comfortable wharf trying to capture some atherines just a few meters ahead feeding them self, or to face the hard wind in Tierra del Fuego, searching the legendary Sea Run Brown trouts who fully exceed the seven or eight kilos.

In other words, it must be know clearly if the fishing will include mainly some of the delicate trouts of the Chilean central zone (where the castings are not long, and the flies usually include small sizes nymphs), or some of the selective trouts of those beautiful rivers of Neuquén, in Argentina, where the possibility of imitating the appearance correctly is the key of the success (situation in which it is possibly necessary to try a delicate presentation of a dry fly, that is not bigger than a size 12). Perhaps the option is to persecute at dawn the aloof Tarpon in Florida, or the Caribbean (where a long casting places a big streamer at sight of one of these giants, and soon the fight can become really violent if the fish therefore wants it), or will be the enormous salmons that raise by the mouths of the rivers that hurl their waters in austral fiords of Chile (where its single size is sufficient to make an impression, thing that also is obtained with great and showy patterns whereupon looks for to deceive them).

Of all these parameters, the first to consider is the size of the patrons who will be used. This must to that it is the line the one that must send the fly, and not the other way around, reason why the size of the fly affects the weight that must have the line, to be able to dominate it and to send it to the required position. Simultaneously, the distance that looks for to obtain in the castings also affects the weight of this line.

Although a strict formula does not exist to refer patterns and its sizes with the different line weights, the following table could be reasonable starting point.

Fly type	Short casting	Medium casting	Large casting
Dry flies and little nymphs	Classic situation in corlilleran rivers or mountain ones (that are not of great size, nor either the fish that inhabits them), where the wind not always annoying. The ideal equipment for many experienced fishermen is a floating line WF # 3, in a #3 rod of medium action (medium rapidity, "semi rigid"), although with an equipment between #2 and #4 the intention is obtained perfectly, as long as it counts on the combination between rigidity and smoothness that support a delicate presentation, situation that also can be sustained using Double Taper lines (symmetrical by each end), that are something heavier in their total than the Weight Forward of same # AFTMA	Typical situation in those wonderful rivers with healthful selective trouts, as they are it the Malleo in Argentina, and the arms and channels of Baker in Chile. These courses can be of wide means, or very great ones, but the portion near the border is only fished. Also beautiful spring creeks of the Chilean and Argentinean south can be the case. In these cases, the presentation requires gentleness, but simultaneously, some distance to position the fly suitably. Sometimes the fish can even arrive at 4kg or more. A reasonable election in these cases is a rod of medium or fast action # 5. One #4 of fast action or #6 fulfills the objective perfectly, if you handle them suitably, is worth to say, taking advantage of their own conditions to obtain efficient castings.	If it is about long castings or against the wind, the conditions are similar. In some very crystalline spring creeks, the presentation must take place from some distance (around 15 meters or more), which demands of the casting abilities of the angler and casting power in the equipment. By the distance exists the temptation of using a high number equipment, but the necessity to present the flies with certain gentleness forces to maintain a number rather smaller (it is to say a more delicate equipment). A common election is a #5 rod and line (or rod #5 with line # 6, which allows to load the rod a little more, increasing the casting power), with the possibility of using some rod #6 of slow action with a Weight Forward line of corresponding weight
Big nymphs	Oxygenated rivers, or of greater volume, as they are some of the small and medium rivers in austral fiords, as the once productive El Salto river in Quintupeu .It is also the case of some interesting lagoons worked from the versatility of float tube. All what is required is to obtain a precise casting of about 5 to 8 meters, and to put that nymph in the correct corner. A reasonable election without a doubt includes a rod #4 with medium to fast action, although in case of little experience anglers, a #6 equipment is the best option. Smaller equipment could not correctly handle the weight of the fly.	The legendary Deschutes river in Oregon is included in this situation, how presents similar conditions to the Petrohué river in Chile. Interesting bends with fast running, force the use of ballast nymphs, although is consider a more sectored presentation, trying to position the patterns some meters above of a promising running or well. An almost identical scene is seen in most of the lakes worked from the elevated surface of a boat, or even from some float tube, trying to stroll the imitation near the rushes. Hardly precise distances with smaller equipment to # 5 are obtained. Possibly when using heavy patterns like Kaufmann Stone, is required the use of a #6 to obtain casts over 10m, and in case of using more than one ballast nymph, the proper equipment would be a #7 one.	Here they wear those classically salmons rivers. Our experience includes to persecute some steelhead in the Sandy River, Oregon, or the impressive brown trouts residents of rivers like the Puelo in the south of Chile. Enormous wet flies are the tonic for the persuasion of the migratory fish, or succulent nymphs in the case of the residents, in hooks often ballast. The same magnitude of the bed of those rivers involves long castings with heavy lines of collapse end. In some of us, the election contemplates a GLX # 6 Loomis rod, that works fine with lines like the T200 or the ST250 and patterns until sizes 2/0. But the recommendable election possibly includes a rod #7 of medium action to fast, with the accurate shooting head (a Teeny T200 line, for example). Equipment #8 is even recommended if we add an important wind factor using lines like the ST250 or the T300.
Streamers	The conditions of using streamers in short casts are not common in small rivers, but so can be the case of fishing from float tube, strolling a muddler minnow ballast near the fallen trunks of the borders of a lagoon. The key is in choosing an equipment that can send the heavy fly without too much effort and with certain facility, since when casting from a boat, particularly from float tube, the exigency of controlled casting increases. An equipment balanced for line # 5, possibly of uniform collapse is more commonly used, as well as the alternative use of lines of collapse end. Perfectly it can be obtain with a #4 rod of fast action or a # 6.	It seems to us to be imagining the well of the Futaleufú River, where the rocks manage to transform briefly the running obtaining an good size eddy on the begging of the well. Similar situation could occur in certain lakes, where some distance is required to fish a mouth, for example. The necessity to obtain a pattern to sink forces the use of ballast patterns, of great weight if it is considered them when already wet, and possibly a line of collapse end is the election to hurry the submerged and eventually maintain the pattern down. A rod #6 works perfectly with these conditions, with lines so difficult handle as shooting heads. If there is a wind factor, possibly one #7 continues being an excellent election. In the case of counting on a rod and line # 5, the exigency to the cast ability will increase notoriously.	Hard Core flyfishing. We are talking about Grande River of Tierra del Fuego, where enormous migratory brown ones gropes for great streamers and salmon flies, cast with lines of fast collapse in wind conditions which would scare many more delicate fishermen. Or we could be speaking of facing the so sensible Permit of the tropical seas. We are speaking to find the pajarera from a boat, in the heat of the sea of the Chilean coast and to cast a sardine imitation to a hungry and aggressive sawfish. In order to increase the conditions, the race of the hooked fish can be long. Spools of great capacity, rather rigid canes and heavy lines are the tonic. It is not surprising to decide on a rod #8 with a T300 like line (shooting taper of very fast collapse), and even one # 9. Like additional recommendation, some good sessions of casting in winter, with that heavy equipment are decisive, since it will not be possible to maintain a stable rate in the day with similar casting charge.

The experience and capacity of each individual fisherman are evidently factors to consider, reason why this table does not constitute in any case the absolute formula. Nevertheless, like final conclusion, it is always useful to be able to make a mental map of the different fishing possibilities that exist and of the combinations of equipment that can be helpful in a better performance of the activity, and, to enjoy the fishing day, no mattering what happens.