Roosterfish are very picky, so give yourself every advantage. A good 10 to 11 wt rod will tame even the craziest 40-pound rooster. Fast-action rods like Sage’s XI3, One and now the Method are perfect choices. Pair these up with Sage’s 6000 or 8000, proven rooster tamers. Reels need to be strong and stocked with 200+ yards of backing.
The biggest favor an angler can do for him- or herself is to choose the right flyline. RIO has several lines that will give anglers the advantage. The most popular rooster line is the Tropical OutBound Short, either floating or intermediate. These lines will allow an angler to make quick, long casts with a minimum of false casts. This is very important. Other options are RIO’s Tarpon Short with a 40-foot head or the Tarpon Technical with a 60-foot head. Whichever line you choose, make sure it will help you make those 60 to 90 quick casts. The casts need not be delicate — it’s more like slam it in the fray as long as your leader turns over.
Most panga anglers prefer long leaders from 10 to 12 feet with either 16 or 20 pound test. RIO’s General Saltwater 10-foot leaders work well. To get the additional length, add 2 feet of 25 to 30 pound fluorocarbon. If you are fishing for IGFA records or to their specifications, the length of 25 or 30 cannot be more than 12 inches.
