The Roanoke looks like a trout stream, but the fly fishing methods couldn’t be more different. Like most Eastern coastal rivers, the Roanoke carries sediment and is rarely clear, so flies have to be bright, bordering on gaudy. Shad flies look like bonefish flies that got caught up in a Mardi Gras parade. Leaders consist of a three foot shot of 12 lb. RIO Fluroflex Plus. This combo reduces tangles with unseen river snags and effectively tosses chunky flies to shad that are not leader shy.
Roanoke fly casters typically use 2-5 wt. rods teamed with sinking lines, ranging from 125 to 200 grains. This is known as “lead slinging”. A rod and line combination used for slinging often reduces great casting, trout sized rods into dull mush. So, I was really pleased with the responsiveness of the 4 wt. Sage ONE and a RIO Striper 26ft, 200 grain line. The line was the perfect blend of weight and narrow diameter, getting down to fish without dogging the rod. It definitely allowed me to talk trash with confidence, because I was casting so well.