Belize 2.0 Gear Checklist: What to Pack for Fly Fishing Belize
- Michael Dooley
- Mar 5
- 9 min read
I am taking another trip to Belize this spring, from March 24th to April 1st, in search of bones, permits, and tarpon with a few good friends and my dad. On my first trip, I did a gear checklist blog highlighting the flies, tackle, and accessories I deemed important for the journey. This time around I'll compare what I brought then to how I pack for this trip.
Rods and Reels: Some New, Some Old
Rods and reels will remain relatively similar to the first trip. However, I will include a small review of each rod to give you an idea of what I liked about their performance. When it came to the sticks, the CTS X 8wt, Echo EPR 9wt, and Echo Boost Blue 11wt made up my quiver for the first trip, and I paired them with an Orvis Hydros IV, Orvis Mirage IV, and Orvis Hydros V.
These setups worked well and caught fish throughout the trip. Here, I'll give a quick summary of my experience casting and fishing them.
The Old: Review from Last Year
8wt CTS X with RIO Elite Bonefish and Orvis Hydros IV
The CTS X lineup of rods is the New Zealand fly rod blank builder's fastest and most powerful blanks. The rod casts well for distance and generates plenty of line speed, but they do not sacrifice the feel when creating a performance rod. The CTS X blank is a high-performance rod that allows the user to maximize power and efficiency while still being a fun rod to cast all day. I've used this 8wt in Alaska, Oregon, and Belize and it felt the best airing out long casts on the flats for bonefish. Compared to ultra-fast rods like the Sage Igniter, the CTS X does not have the same backbone, which is how I prefer a rod to feel.
I paired the rod with the Orvis Hydros IV and a Rio Elite Bonefish line. The line worked nicely with the rod, with a very slick coating and a low-stretch core, that made it easy to feel the fish grab the fly. This rod will remain in the lineup for the next trip with the same reel and line.
9wt Echo EPR with RIO Elite Permit and Orvis Mirage IV
The EPR is Echo's premium saltwater rod and casts on par with rods double the price. The rod is fast, with lots of power in the butt and midsection. The rod boasts a quick tip recovery and responsive blank with enough feel to enjoy the casting. The only gripe I have with the rod is the cork handle which has aggressive welling that does not work well with me ergonomically. Additionally, I did put a crack in the ferrule of the third section but that would be user error on my part.
I paired the rod with the Orvis Mirage IV. The reel is heavy but feels bulletproof. The USA-made reel has a smooth, powerful drag and a nice simple matte aesthetic. The RIO Elite Permit line is a nice -pairing with the rod that casts nicely from short distances and longer pokes. The line shoots well and is easy to pick up for quick casting situations. This rod will remain in the lineup for the 2025 trip.
The Echo Boost Blue is Echo's $300 option and performs well for its price point. The rod provides ample power and can handle hard-fighting tarpon, but it was not incredibly inspiring to cast. Granted, it is tough for a rod to feel amazing when fishing intermediate lines and a large clouser in the wind, but there was something to be desired compared to the other 11wts I've cast.
I paired the Boost Blue with a Hydros IV, which was possibly a little undergunned for the largest of tarpon but performed well on small- and medium-sized fish. The RIO Elite Tarpon line worked well with the rod. Still, I mistakenly forgot to bring an intermediate line along with me and used a salmon intermediate poly leader to fish deeper. This did not throw as well as a fully integrated intermediate line, but it did manage to catch fish and worked in a pinch.
The New: To Be Tested
I'm excited to test out this rod and reel combination. I've cast the Cobalt previously when I worked at a fly shop and appreciated its feel and power. The rod is fast but does not restrict the user from receiving feedback on the cast. The aesthetics are clean and from what I've read the rod outperforms rods in its price class.
After all, I only fish tropical saltwater 6 days out of the year if I'm lucky, so there is no need to break the bank on the latest and greatest because I'll blow shots at permit with an R8 too. The Lamson Centerfire is another new tool and after a quick inspection, it appears to be a fantastic, no-frills piece of equipment that will stop fish. Additionally, it is very light for a fully caged 12wt reel, coming in at 9.5 oz. The reel can function as a multipurpose piece of equipment. I may employ it as a reel for a spey rod after it fulfills its short duty as a tarpon hunter.
The drag is the Cobalt Waterproof Drag System that is completely sealed for saltwater purposes. Lamson utilizes a conical drag system that is extremely efficient and lightweight. Lamson reels are some of the lightest saltwater reels on the market and they pride themselves on creating products that match the strength of the fish while keeping you casting all day. The conical drag means they use two machined cones instead of two flat discs to create the drag. These cones have the same surface area but have a much smaller diameter, making them easy to seal. The reel requires zero start-up inertia with its proprietary friction materials.
Flies, Boxes, and Bags
After traveling to Belize with all my equipment, there are a few items that make the trip that much easier. For one, four-piece rods are a must. Due to their compact length, they can be carried on and kept close at all times. Three or two-piece rods can become a problem, and the last piece of equipment you want disappearing in the land of checked baggage is your rods. Invest in a travel case that can carry three to four rods.
Flies are another important item that is paramount to a good trip. Variety is key and investing in different weighted, shaped, and colored flies will open up your options on the flat when picky permit or bones sniff at your offerings.
Saltwater is not good for gear, like cameras, phones, and flies, so protect your possessions with a waterproof bag on the water. A backpack, small duffel, sling, or chest pack can be a lifesaver when a rainstorm blows over or spray from the boat comes over the side. If a waterproof bag is not possible, make sure to use plastic bags.
The Orvis Carry-It-All is my bag of choice for fly fishing travel. The bag is similar to other offerings from Fishpond, Simms, and Patagonia, but one feature that stands out in the Orvis bag is the rod compartment is built into the top of the bag, which leaves plenty of room for other bits of gear in the compartments below.
Most bags in this style have a long cutout in the bag that leaves room for the rods and takes up a considerable amount of space. By adding a zippered compartment into the cover the rods can be safely stowed out of the way and there is more room for sunglasses, fly boxes, and reels.
Additionally, the bag feels sturdy and rigid enough to adequately protect your gear during rough travel conditions.
The fully submersible fishpond backpack is a great pack for adverse weather conditions. The bag is quality-made and keeps your stuff dry as long as you properly care for the zipper. The self-healing zipper is a convenient feature that allows you to quickly reseal your bag but it can become sticky as the bag collects dirt. Make sure to have a lubricating wipe to ensure the bag does its job. I neglected to lubricate the seal and it significantly depletes the usefulness of the bag when it doesn't close properly.
The one downside of any waterproof bag is the lack of organization within the bag. It can better resemble a black hole than a neatly organized travel bag if you neglect to buy the organizational insert. The insert gives structure to the bag and provides convenient slots for fly boxes, maps, books, laptops, and reels. There are plenty of attachment points for net holsters, quick shot rod holders, water bottle holders, and tippet. Customize your pack to fit your needs. In my case, I used it as a boat bag. I did very little wading and was never extremely far from the boat so I did not need to use it as a flats wading bag. Sunscreen, fly boxes, a rain jacket, leaders, and tippet made up the bulk of my contents. I did not have the insert the first time around and sorely missed its
Flies for Belize
Flies are always the big question when going to a new place or fishing for a new species. What color, what size, how heavy, and how many? These questions made me add enough flies to my cart that cost more than my plane ticket. The answer is still unclear, and there are very few "right" answers. The key is variety in your selection. When I went last year, I was buying flies for myself, and often, I purchased the flies by the dozen or half dozen. This filled up my box, but the fly selection lacked variety in some ways.
Buy a few of each fly, unless you know that particular patterns will be used heavily. Vary the weight to cover your bases for water depth and a variety of popular colors for your region. When fishing around Caye Caulker, Belize you need a bit of everything. The area is well known for permit, tarpon, and plentiful bonefish.
Olive Bonefish Bitters size 8 was the best fly for bonefish in shallow water, but any small offering would have worked. Tan, white, and olive crabs are a must for permit, as well as spawning shrimp patterns for skinnier water. Tarpon flies in red and black, purple and black, and orange and black are good places to start. A few heavier options for tarpon will be useful for getting down faster.
Fly Boxes
When it comes to fly boxes, I prefer something waterproof and spacious enough not to crush bushier tarpon and permit flies. The Fishpond Tacky Pescador is a great option for a do-it-all box that can be easily stored when wading the flats or jumping on a boat.
For more storage, I'll use a medium-sized waterproof Umpqua Bug Locker that utilizes a compartment system over silicone slits. The most important feature is keeping the flies dry and away from the saltwater. Remember to store your used flies separately from the fresh flies to keep them from rusting or corroding.
Right Gear for the Right Place
Finding the right gear for you and how you like to fish when visiting new places can take a lot of trial and error, so make sure to spend some time testing out your rods, reels, lines, and packs before you get to the destination can pay dividends in the future. Go cast in the cold on the lake or pond near your house, even if the line is stiff and coiled.
Practice is imperative, and you don't want to show up to your guided trip that turns into a casting lesson that could have been prevented with a little preemptive work on your part.
Additionally, rod and line pairings can take time to figure out if you want to be extremely in tune with your gear. Not all 8wt lines will cast the same depending on grain weight and head length, so choose a line that fits your style of casting as well as the casting scenarios that exist in your location. If you are fishing the mangroves with short casts then it might not be best to choose a fly line with a long head that needs 40+ feet of line out the tip to properly load the rod. You might want a quick shooter style that concentrates the majority of the weight in the front of the line for quick accurate shots at passing fish. Take the time to curate your gear and it will help you make the most of your time fishing your destination.
At the time of the posting, I have 19 days until we leave for Caye Caulker, and I am looking forward to spending some time on the boat with some good friends in tropical weather.
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