Fly fishing math and gear takes. For trout anglers, smallmouth specialists, and the occasional steelhead pilgrim — the people who fish more than they post.
Fly fishing content online is mostly two extremes. Beginner posts about which fly to tie at home (you've tied 200, you're past that). Or YouTube influencers in skinny Patagonia jackets fishing Montana from a sponsor's drift boat (irrelevant to your home water).
Middle ground is the math. Leader and tippet sizing for the water type and fly. Rod weight selection. Drag-pressure recommendations by tippet pound-test. Fly box composition by season and home river.
Tools
Leader and Tippet Calculator
Recommended leader length, taper, and tippet diameter by fly size, target species, and water conditions. Includes the X-to-pound-test conversion you keep forgetting.
Rod Weight Selector soon
By target species, average fish size, water type, and wind conditions. With honest take on whether you actually need that 8-weight you've been eyeing.
Hatch-to-Fly Selector soon
By month, water temperature, and Mid-Atlantic stream type. Tells you what to tie on first when you don't know what's hatching.
Plain note about money: Some product links are affiliate (eBay Partner Network). Small commission on purchases. Doesn't change your price. Reviews come from actual river days. The $800 graphite rod isn't better than the $300 for most fishing; I'll say that here knowing some brands won't love it.