TRIP PLANNING
RECOMMENDED FISHING GEAR
It’s important to have the right gear when fly fishing especially when you’re far away from home.
The last thing you want to do is travel a great distance and find out you don’t have what it takes to fish.
Below you find our recommendations for rods, reels, line, leaders, flies and other items you’ll want to have with you.
If you have any questions about any of this don’t hesitate to write or call us, we’ll be happy to clear them up.
Important: Don’t count on buying fly fishing equipment and flies in Belize. There are no fly shops like you might find where you come from so you’ll need to come prepared.
FLY FISHING GEAR LIST
Snook
ROD:
7/8 wt
REEL:
Anodized, corrosion-resistant saltwater reel - capacity fly line plus 200 yards of 20 lb. backing with a high-quality smooth disk drag.
LINE:
Tropical WF Floating Line
LEADERS:
Pre-tied leaders with a 16-20 lb. class tippet and 40-60 lb. shock tippet
Bonefish
ROD:
7/8 wt
REEL:
Anodized, corrosion-resistant saltwater reel - capacity fly line plus 200 yards of 20 lb. backing with a high-quality smooth disk drag.
LINE:
Tropical WF Floating Line
LEADERS:
9'-12', 10 lb. tapered leaders and 10 & 15 Ib. fluorocarbon tippet
Tarpon
ROD:
11/12 wt
REEL:
Anodized, corrosion-resistant saltwater reel - capacity fly line plus 300 yards of 30 lb. or heavier backing with a high-quality smooth disk drag.
LINE:
Tropical WF Floating Line and Intermediate Sinking Line, 400 grain Sinking Line
LEADERS:
Pre-tied leaders with a 16-20 lb. class tippet and 40-80 lb. shock tippet
Permit
ROD:
8/9/10 wt
REEL:
Anodized, corrosion-resistant saltwater reel - capacity fly line plus 200 yards of 20 lb. backing with a high-quality smooth disk drag.
LINE:
Tropical WF Floating Line
LEADERS:
9'-12', 15-20 lb. tapered leaders and 15 & 20 lb. fluorocarbon tippet
Essential Fly Fishing Rod Setups for Belize: Simplify Your Gear for Every Catch
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As you can see above, the same eight weight rod, reel and line setup can be used for permit, bonefish and snook so don’t feel you need four different setups for the four species.
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Two setups one for tarpon and the other for permit, bonefish and snook and you’ll be set for anything you want to fish for.
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If you have several options in your arsenal, you’ll find that bonefish will be more fun on a seven-weight setup, and you’ll be able to fight the larger permit effectively with a nine-weight setup.
Note: All rods need to be stiff and fast enough to cast a line in windy conditions – there’s almost always a breeze on the water.