When you start to look at rods there are several factors to consider, weight, length, action and 4 piece vs 2 piece .

                 Weight is model size, a 3 weight is very light and a 9 weight is heavy and used or large fish like salmon. A 7 weight, 9 foot outfit is a good place to start out with. As you learn to fly fish you will see what suites your needs, and you will buy several outfits over the years. 

                         My favorite outfit is an outfit I bought over 40 years ago. I use an Orvis Green Mountain 5 weight rod 2 piece , 7 foot 9 inches with medium action, with a 5 weight Orvis Battenkill reel with an adjustable drag, and Orvis weight forward floating 5 wt line. I fish small streams and small rivers so the shorter rod works for me.  This is the reason I always say buy quality, I bought a quality Orvis outfit at the Clinton NJ Orvis shop over 40 years ago and still enjoy fishing with this rod today.

                  Rod length is based on where you fish most of the time, if you fish open large rivers a 9 foot is preferred. If you fish small streams the I would suggest an 8 to 8 1/2 foot rod.

                 Action is based on rod stiffness, it effects response, fast action is stiff and medium action is less stiff. For fishing dry flies a fast action rod is preferred 

to get longer cast. For fishing nymphs a medium action rod is preferred. I find a medium action works on every thing for me.

                               Buy a rod with a good warranty, buy from a reputable source that will stick by their products. My choice for trout 5wt 8'-9.', medium action.

                  A fly reel has a simple single, direct drive. One rotation of your hand creates one rotation of the arbor of the reel.    

 The drag on a fly reel is also fairly simple. Drag, as it pertains to reels, just refers to the amount pressure the reel puts on the spool as it rotates, this is with a disc drag .If you’re playing a fish and ,when he runs, the reel will apply a set amount of pressure but not enough pressure to break your     line. I like a quiet reel, I can't stand to hear a loud "EEEEEEEEEEE" to break the silence on a early morning. The click click reels are old technology, even the cheapest reels have a quality disc drag.   . 

  The arbor is the spool that holds the line. Large arbor reels are preferred  because large arbor reels are a little wider than traditional reels and have a much larger spindle. This allows you to retrieve more line in one turn of the reel. It also doesn’t require as much backing. Backing is used to add volume to the spindle so that the fly line does not tightly coil up when you strip out line. Backing also gives you extra play when you hook that monster fish.

Pick a reel that matches your rod, a 5wt rod needs a 5wt reel, 

                                         My top picks

                                     Orvis Battenkill Disc Fly Reel            

                                    Orvis Hydros II Euro Fly Fishing Reel 

                                    Redington Ace Fly Reel 

                                     Sage Spectrum C Fly Reel 

The fly line provides the weight necessary to enable your fly rod to propel your fly to its intended target. It also determines where in, or on, the water it will fish. It does this by being lighter or heavier than water. 

  The guideline weight of the fly line refers to the front thirty feet of the line, so any weight beyond the first thirty feet is not taken in to account by the line manufacturer  

 Traditionally, there are three different kinds of fly line profile: double taper, weight forward, and shooting head. 

Double Taper lines (DT) 

Are a long length of thicker level line with a finer taper at each end     

 Weight Forward lines (WF)

Comprise a long length of thin running line leading up to what is called the ‘head’ at the front end of the fly line.

 Shooting Head (SH) lines

Are a more ‘aggressive' version of a weight forward, with even thinner, longer running line and a shorter head.

 Weight forward      

 Weight forward line starting from the end that attaches to the backing the first 50′-60′ of line is  a consistent diameter with no taper at all and is called your running line.  In the last 30 feet is where the taper starts and contains the bulk of the weight of the fly line is called the belly of the line.  The last 5′-7′ feet it tapers back to the same diameter of the running line, this is  called the tip. 

  Weight forward floating line is ideal for fishing dry flies, the line is thicker and heavier on the forward end and makes it easier to cast distance and the floating line keeps the leader and dry fly on the surface. Weight forward floating line is an all around line for smaller stream and rivers. I use weight forward floating line all the time. It works in all my situations when I use dry flies and when I use wet flies and nymphs. I use a small weight when I use wet flies and nymphs and with a 8 foot leader the line does stop my nymphs from riding the bottom.

                       Double tapered line is for shorter casting , the weight of the line is toward the middle.

                        Sinking fly line is ideal for fishing deep slow water with wet flies and nymphs it really get your line down with out the addition of a split shot added to the line.

Backing is used to fill in the reel so that the line is not tightly coiled, and also give you a little room to run when you hook that monster.!

 Personally I like my fly line to be a darker green or olive drab color. Something that won’t be a contrast to the water. 

BACKING

Backing attaches the fly line to the arbor of the reel. Backing serves two purposes, to give extra volume to the arbor so that the line is not tightly coiled, and to give you extra line to play a large fish that strips out all your 100 feet of fly line. Normally a reel takes bout 100 yards of backing. Make sure your backing is at least 20lb, so you don't loose your fly line if you get spooled.

A   leader connects the fly line to the fly, while tippet is the thin, final section of the leader that directly attaches to the fly. The leader has a thicker butt section that attaches to the fly line, tapering down to a thinner section called the tippet. Tippet is essentially a spare piece of the leader that can be added to extend the leader's length or when the leader's tippet section becomes too short.            Tippet material is measured in Xs, as in 3X, 4X, 5X, etc, or in pounds breaking strength. Most store-bought leaders also come with X designations. For tapered leaders, the X tells you the diameter of the narrowest part of the leader.             

          Leaders are known as tippet material    

                         Leaders can be divided into 2 groups, tapered leaders and leader tippet material in spools.

Tapered leaders are 9 feet long and are classified just like tippet with a X value

size                          pound test

4X                              6.6lb.

5X                              4.4lb

6X                              3.3lb

7X                              2.3lb

   7X Tapered leaders have about 8lb line that tapers down to 2.3lb line. This is ideal for small dry flies size 20 which need a fine leader just to tie them on. 

TIPPET

Leader tippet material 30m spools are my choice. I tie my 5X that is 4.4lb leader direct to my fly line, about 8 feet. This is perfect for fishing nymphs and wet flies. When the water is clear and low I use 4 feet of 6X 3.3lb leader , I trim my 5X leader to 4 feet and tie on 4 feet of 6x. This works great for my 18 scuds.

FLY LINE CONNECTORS

Fly line connectors connect the fly line to the backing and connect the leader to the fly line.

These are nylon sleeves that slide over the fly line and are held in place with heat shrink tubing.

This allows for the backing to move smoothly through the eyes of the rod if you ever get spooled by a large fish. The connector for the fly line to the leader gives a loop that you can easily attach the leader or tippet .

Buy your outfit from a name brand store or a good local fly shop. Buy a rod with a warranty.

The best way to start off is to buy a quality complete outfit combo, I say the way to go is with an Orvis Fly rod and reel combo, there are a few other of my top picks. A 5 weight outfit with a 8 1/2 or 9 foot rod. Weight forward floating line and a reel with an adjustable drag and a protective rod case. Try and find an outfit that is ready to go, with the line already loaded up in the reel. You can always ask the shop to load up the reel for you with backing and line.

                          TOP PICKS

•   Orvis Encounter Fly Fishing Rod and Reel Combo
•   Orvis Clearwater Fly Fishing Rod and Reel Combo
•   Echo Traverse Fly Rod Kit 
•  Sage Foundation Fly Rod Outfit 
•  Redington Wrangler Fly Rod Kit 

When choosing a fly fishing vest, prioritize durability, sufficient storage, and a comfortable fit. Look for abrasion-resistant materials like polyester or ripstop nylon. Consider a vest with 10-12 pockets for essentials and secure pockets for valuables. Choose a vest that distributes the load evenly and allows easy access to frequently used items like tippet and tools.         

I always get a vest that is a size larger so I could put it over a flannel shirt or light jacket.

When choosing fly fishing waders, prioritize breathability, comfort, and durability. Consider your fishing style, location, and budget to determine the best type and material for your needs. 

                    Stocking foot waders offer more versatility and are are more comfortable over boot foot waders. This tends to be pricey way to go because now you need to get a pair of 200 dollar boots. 

                Boot foot waders include the boot directly, making this much easier to put on and off, quick changes 

                       I use hip boots, this works for me. Lightweight and great for warmer weather or short trips The rivers and streams I fish are mostly small. My style of fishing is to fish the water in front of you, there is no need for me to be up to my waist. I can get them on and off quickly and I have used them for years.

                              My choice is a good pair of hip boots.

 When choosing a trout net, consider the size of the fish you're targeting, the fishing environment, and the type of net mesh. For smaller to medium trout, a smaller net with a hoop size of 8-15 inches might suffice. For larger fish, a larger hoop size, potentially over 20 inches, is recommended. 

A couple of things to think about are fish friendly mesh Rubber or soft nylon meshes are generally preferred for catch and release fishing because the soft material does not damage the fish scales and protective slime coating .Not having a strongly-tapered bag that a fish will get all wrapped up in . Big enough for your target fish.

  The best fly fishing nets are also good looking with natural wood handles ,well finished.  

Rubber or soft nylon meshes are generally preferred for catch and release fishing because the soft material does not damage the fish scales and protective slime coating.

MY CHOICE

I use a natural wood net with rubber netting and a shallow depth that lest me release the fish quickly every time. They have a traditional look that appeals to me.

A good pair of hemostats are important to remove the small fly quickly and helps with not handling the fish too much.  

           Sunglasses protect your eyes by shielding them from harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. UV rays can damage the eyes, causing cataracts and macular degeneration.  Sunglasses that block 100% of both UVA and UVB rays are needed for protecting your eyes. 

 Sunglasses can also protect your eyes from  dust, bugs and other airborne debris, including fish hooks.  

Photokeratitis is sun burned eyes also known as snow blindness that can occur while fishing from the sun reflecting off the water.

 Children and young adults need to wear sunglasses more than older adults because their eyes are still developing. Eye damage adds up over your life time, but 80% of the damage occurs before you are 18.

             Polarized sunglasses are an important tool for the Fly fisherman. Seeing the trout swimming around is a great advantage.

When choosing sunglasses look for 100% UV protection, 100% polarization and impact resistant , resistant to fish hooks.