Backing like...the braided looking stuff, dacron i think?

I bought an entire outfit and it came with some of that so I put it on just cause i had some. I don't think I'll ever get down to it but better safe then sorry eh? If ya come down to richmond one day during the run you might need it, these 2-3lb shad fight nicely =D I think they're also known as "baby tarpon"

As for tippet, from what I understand there's the main line, leader, then tippet. The leaders I have are 9ft tapered leaders (length of the leader is probably important for some applications but I dunno for what, lol) tapered means it goes from a really thick diameter and tapers down to a few feet of the test size that you bought. Eventually after changing out flies and snipping little bits off you'll get to the point where the line starts to get thicker again and thats when you tie on some tippet to extend the life of your tapered leader...

...

...

I think... ;D

Ohhhh. That makes sense then. I just bought a spool of leader material. It isn't tapered so I guess I don't need it. The leader I got looks like it is just mono line.

What SimonSays said.  You can just use 6 lb trilene for a tippet if you need to.  There's no point in repeatedly replacing your 3-4$ tapered leader when you can buy a $3 100yd spool and have tippets forever.  Use a surgeons knot or a nail not to attach it and you're good to go.   I like to buy short 1X or 2X tapered leaders and just change what you use for tippet.  It makes casting heavy flies way easier. I'd also e interested in flying the sahd run if anyone know some spots up near Reagan National.

SS and DD!

You guys are welcome to come over and practice with the fly rod on the pond....and maybe catch a few fish. Andrew knows where I live. But it's solid ice right now...won't be long.

Ernie

SS and DD!

You guys are welcome to come over and practice with the fly rod on the pond....and maybe catch a few fish. Andrew knows where I live. But it's solid ice right now...won't be long.

Ernie

I'll take ya  up on that offer when the cold blows over ernie!  Hard finding places to practice the fly rod in the city =/

i need to get into flyfishing..  I'm just scared at the initial cost of it all.. can you fly fish off a yak??

Yep Ernie from pacemaker forums does it, I've wanted to but fear of looking like an idiot has always kept me from trying....=D

Flyfishing IS addictive and expensive  

You can fly fish from a kayak and it will make you look like an idiot at times especially if the yak is moving.

But....it is a rush to catch a fish in a yak with a fly....it's all about the challenge anyway.

Before trying it with a kayak, you should try to master the basic cast from land.

There is a cool show coming up on Feb. 14 at Kent Narrows MD. Not too far and there will be free casting lessons from guys that are really GOOD! The show is called TieFest. No charge....seminars, fly tying, casting etc.

Ernie

There's a great shad run in Richmond in late March through April.  I always use a flyrod for them.  They're like mini tarpon.  Eddie, if you make it up, I'll let you try the flyrod out.  I just went catfishing today.  Check out the post in "other fish" section.

Last year I saw quite a few guys catching Shad on a fly rod up at fletchers and it looked like a blast. Do you know what kind of flies I need?

You could use small clousers.  They're my favorite to use.  But your local flyshop usually has some specially made shad flys.  I usually go to Orvis (it's the only fly shop I know of in Richmond).  You'll be better off with sinking line too.

Haven't been on the forums in years, its good to know its still up an running.  

I fly fish from my yak all the time.  In fact I caught a salmon on a yak in Canada last year.  That was something!