How heavy should a redfish line be?


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Generally, a 20-30 pound braid is just what you need for redfish. A 15-pound leader for small redfish and speckled trout and a 20-30 pound leader for big red bulls.

What weight fly rod is best for redfish?

Most guides say the best fly rod for redfish is a 9-foot, 8- or 9-weight rod paired to most any brand of saltwater reel and spooled with a warm-water, weight-forward floating line. Leaders can measure 9 to 12 feet, with a 40-pound butt section tapering to a 15- or 20-pound tippet.

What is the best line for redfish?

I highly recommend using a 100% Fluorocarbon Leader when fishing for redfish. 100% Fluorocarbon Leader has lower memory, more abrasion resistance, and is clearer than monofilament fishing line. I also want to add that you will want to use Fluorocarbon leader over using straight braided line.

What weight do you need for saltwater fly fishing?

If you’re fishing saltwater and say you want to fish for redfish, trout, or bone fish, a solid 8wt fly rod is going to be best. If you plan to target permit or striped bass you’re probably going to want a 10wt. Anything larger like tarpon or sharks I would suggest going with a 12wt.

Who is the pound leader for redfish?

If you are fishing for tarpon that are less than 5 feet long and/or fishing for big snook or redfish around docks, mangroves or other structure, then you can use a 4500 series reel filled with 20 or 30 pound braided line and a 40 or 50 pound leader.

What pound test line should I use for saltwater fishing?

For saltwater, 30 or 50 lb test is standard. With monofilament line, anglers use lighter lb tests because they need to maintain the ability to cast properly and keep a suitable amount of line on their spools. In freshwater, a 4-12 lb test is standard. For small trout and sunfish, a 4 lb test is okay.

What is a 7 wt fly rod good for?

If you’re looking for a rod that can handle a variety of fishing techniques, specifically for larger fish, then you’ll want to add 7 wt fly rod to your quiver. They excel at casting large flies, streamers with sink tips, handling wind, and casting long distances.

What is a 10 weight fly rod good for?

10wt fly rods are pretty good for casting heavier and larger dry flies. Plus, they’re great at for casting over longer distances against the wind. In addition, 10wts are a good choice when it comes to fishing from different positions such as standing on the boat or from the shoreline.

What is an 8 weight fly rod good for?

These rods can handle all kinds of lines, wind, and flies ranging up to larger patterns like bass bugs and saltwater streamers. The amount of power in an 8 weight also means it can take on some bigger, stronger species, yet more average-sized specimens remain enjoyable because it’s not too much rod.

What weight leader line should I use?

What Weight of Leader Line to use? First and foremost, the rule is to use a leader line weight less than (weaker) the mainline. For example, if your using a 15# monofilament mainline, you’ll likely need a <= 12# leaderline.

How do you set up a redfish fishing line?

YouTube video

What color braid is best for saltwater?

Traditionally, bronze and green are great line colors for inshore saltwater fishing, says Mark Schindel, director of sport-fishing and outdoor products at Cortland Line.

Do I need tippet for saltwater fly fishing?

Slicked-off conditions require a longer, softer-landing tippet than when fishing in choppy water. But when the wind picks up, try a shorter, heavier tippet to help turn over the fly. ON A WINDY MORNING a couple years ago, a friend and I were chasing reds when a spring squall hit.

Is an 8wt too big for trout?

The 8-Weight Rod This rod is ideal for stripers, redfish, black drum, sea trout, flounder, largemouth and smallmouth bass, carp, catfish, snakeheads, pickerel, bluefish, pike, bonefish, big trout, salmon, small tarpon and can be used for panfish.

What pound test is good for redfish?

Most of the time 15-pound leader will do the trick if you’re fishing for speckled trout and white trout. If you move up to redfish, you should move up to 20-pound or 30-pound, especially if you’re tackling bull reds.

How long should your leader be for redfish?

Your leader should be about 10 feet long, and all you need to do is tie a fly to the tippet.

Will a redfish bite a wire leader?

If sharks are your target, go heavier and use a solid wire leader with some mono or fluoro between the wire and the braid and maybe a swivel. You see, as your tackle gets heavier and heavier with more and more hardware, the redfish is less likely to bite.

Is 10lb braid too light?

Traditionally, 10lb braid has been the go-to choice for fishing bays and flats for slot-sized fish. Also when compared to lighter line, the 10lb line casts very far and can be put to the test. However, lately, redfish have become increasingly spooky and sensitive to the heavier line.

What is 6lb test line good for?

The 6 Lb test strength is great for targeting multiple species. It’s light enough to pull in a pile of Panfish, and heavy enough to get your Largemouth Bass dockside. However, when you get more specialized a lighter test (2-4 Lb.) for Panfish and a heavier test (8-12 Lb.)

What is 15lb braid good for?

Braid is incredibly sensitive and has virtually no stretch, which makes it ideal for fishing small lures in even windy conditions. 10lb to 15 lb braid has an incredibly thin diameter, which makes it perfect for finesse tactics.

How big of a fish can a 7 wt fly rod handle?

By adding a 7 weight to the quiver, you’ll be able to cover just about everything from large trout, to bass and carp. Don’t forget steelhead and a few inshore saltwater species. With most anglers already owning a 5 weight, the 7 weight is a perfect next rod to have.

Do heavier weight fly rods cast further?

You can go up or down a fly line weight from what the fly rods specify. Going up a weight in fly line will load the rod more to help you cast further and punch into the wind. Going down a fly line loads fly rods a bit less, giving you less energy to control for accuracy and delicate presentations of your flies.

What is the most versatile fly rod weight?

Virtually all fly fishing guides agree that a 9′ rod for 5-weight line is the most versatile trout rod in the world. If you’re likely to fish a mix of lakes, creeks and rivers, a 9′ 5-weight is a no brainer first rod. If you have no idea where you are going to fish, buy a 9′ 5-weight.

What is a 12 wt fly rod used for?

11- and 12-weight Fly Rods These are good choices when fishing heavy Saltwater applications and are specifically built for large saltwater species such as adult tarpon.

Should I get an 8 wt or 9wt fly rod?

With all of this said, if you can only get ONE rod for general heavy freshwater and saltwater fly fishing, an 8-weight should be a solid pick. However, if you fish with larger flies, often face windy conditions, have shots at big fish and/or fish around a lot of structure and cover, the 9 can give you an added edge.

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