Fly rods are designated by length and weight, but the weight does not refer to the rod’s weight, but the weight of the line. As fly-casting uses the weight of the line to make the cast, not the lure, the weight of the line in grains is used to designate the rods. The higher the weight of the rod, the heavier the line and the larger the fly that can be cast and the larger the fish that can be handled.
Fly lines, in addition to weight, come in floating, intermediate and sinking. Floating lines float for their entire length and are best used for shallow fishing and floating flies — like poppers — or flies that sink but are best used in shallow water. Intermediate lines have tips that sink slowly. These lines help sink flies several feet. Sinking lines sink for the entire length of the line and get flies deeper and more quickly than intermediate lines. Sinking lines are harder for beginners to cast. Usually, fly lines are thin closest to the leader, then thicker a few feet from the leader, then thin again; this design — called weight forward — helps put the weight needed to make the cast closest to the fly.
Clouser-style flies are tied with a dumbbell sinker tied above the hook, near the eye. Because of the arrangement of the sinker, the hook rides up, not down, thus allowing them to ride over rocks, weeds or oysters without hanging up.
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