FFIP Favorites is the Fly Fishing Insider Podcast's short list of fly fishing gear we actually trust on the water — Christian Bacasa's personal staff picks, the brands working anglers rely on, and the right rod for trout, euro nymphing, bass, carp, panfish and saltwater predators. Every pick links to a live, in-stock product.
Shop the full FFIP Favorites collectionThese are the six things I reach for trip after trip — in my own words, with no sponsor behind any of them.
“The Sex Dungeon is a go-to streamer and can often turn a bad day into a great day. It's the go-to streamer for many of the people I fish with.”— Christian BacasaView product
“If you camp to fly fish, this is the best evening and early-morning light source. Headlamps are great, but with this there's no battery rationing and no blinding your friends every time you want to talk about the day — or the days ahead.”— Christian BacasaView product
“You need good tools, and Loon makes it an easy choice.”— Christian BacasaView product
“I fish terrestrials all year. Even in winter I often use one as an indicator.”— Christian BacasaView product
“I love this for carrying large flies without taking up a ton of space. Because of its volume, I also use it for salt and carp.”— Christian BacasaView product
“You need a good net. The long handle doubles as a wading staff or a trekking pole on a steep climb. The deep bag lets you land big fish, keep them wet, take a quick pic and let them go healthy.”— Christian BacasaView product
Look — if you want to know what the industry really thinks about products, ignore the paid "Gear Awards" and the media hype. Instead, look at what real anglers in the industry use.
These five brands come up again and again among the guides, shop staff and podcast guests we fish with.
A gold standard for nets. Guides and everyday anglers alike appreciate these durable, well-sized nets.
Rising Lunker Net PackageFrom $264.00
Rising Boat NetFrom $259.00
Rising Boat Net PackageFrom $334.00
Rising Replacement Rubber Net BagsFrom $20.00
Lid Rig has brought numerous products to market that are well designed, thoughtful of the fly angler's needs, and work as a system or on their own. If you like innovative products, look no further.
Lid Rig 3.0From $59.95Lid Rig Gatling Fly BoxFrom $49.95
Lid Rig Flywheel + Mag Box Mini ComboFrom $49.99
Lid Rig The Seldom Black CapFrom $30.00
Loon is a staple for tools and fly-tying needs — extremely well thought out, durable products.
Loon Iconic Tool KitFrom $62.00
Loon Classic Nipper w/ Comfy GripFrom $8.50
Loon Up & Down KitFrom $12.00
Loon UV Knot SenseFrom $10.00
Glass rods, graphite rods and the tying items you need — this micro-brand has numerous solutions, including furled leaders that, once you start using them, you can't stop.
Moonlit Umbra V2 Fly RodFrom $199.99
Moonlit NIRVANA PhoenixGLASS RodFrom $299.99
Moonlit Big Hog Furled LeaderFrom $10.99
Moonlit Furled Leader ComboFrom $18.69
Expensive solutions have their place, but if you want solid, realistically priced, competent fly fishing gear — rods, reels and tying components — Risen is your solution.
Risen 23PS Fly RodFrom $329.99
Risen Genesis Rod & Reel ComboFrom $239.98
Risen Gideon Fly ReelFrom $219.99
Risen Armor II ReelFrom $129.99
Risen Tungsten BeadsFrom $5.99
One rod per job. Here's the weight and model I'd hand you for each species — and why.
Pick: 4wt 7'6" Umbra V2. This rod does it all — small creeks, bigger rivers, everything in between. At 7'6" it's a stretch to euro nymph, but everywhere else it's a legendary piece.
See rod optionsPick: 3wt 10' Umbra V2 Nymph. Want a killer nymphing rod? The sensitivity is beyond belief, and the length is overwhelming — but effective.
See rod optionsPick: 5–7wt Risen 23PS. A fast-action rod that can take a beating but won't beat up your wallet. Yank on it with confidence whether you're stuck in the lilies or on a hog.
See rod optionsPick: 6wt PhoenixGLASS. Many anglers reach for a 7 or 8 weight, but you often lose the sensitivity you really want. The tippet is your weak point, not the rod's fighting power — that's why I go 6.
See rod options
Pick: 3wt 7'6" Moksha. Panfish are a blast. I want a graphite rod that can fight the wind, toss small foam bugs and heavy nymphs — those strong little slabs put up a fight.
See rod options
Pick: 9wt Goliath (10wt in stock now). This rod is a beast. Bonefish, redfish, permit, snook and tarpon are all put in their place — and it chases musky, pike and salmon too. Lots of speed for turnover and a sturdy butt section for fighting strong fish.
See rod optionsFlies, leaders, fly boxes and camp coffee — the easy wins for a stocking stuffer or the next trip.
The shop exists for fly fishing — this gear earns its place because it gets you to the water, keeps you there longer, and lets you pack out clean.
No. Nothing on this page is a sponsored slot or a paid award. Staff and species picks are Christian Bacasa's own calls from his time on the water; industry picks reflect the brands working anglers keep choosing.
Stock moves. When a favorite weight sells out, we say so and link the closest weight that's available now — for example, the Goliath 9wt is the pick and the 10wt is in stock today.
The FFIP Favorites collection holds every product on this page in one place, sorted by best sellers.
Every product above lives in one collection. US orders ship for a flat $5.
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