THE BAG
The first stop on any kit bag tour is the kit bag itself. A suitable kit bag must be portable and compact with enough compartments, pockets and sections to house a wide array of gear. Compartmentalized bags allow fly fishers to sort and store equipment in a logical, easy-to-find fashion. It is not always easy to keep your bag organized and Angler discipline is required to make sure items are put back in their place.
Look for a bag with good strong zipper systems. A reliable set of zippers ensures items stay put from the car or boat or through the woods to the shoreline. Be wary of bags that have pockets that zip around 90-degree corners. These can be challenging to close once loaded and in some instances they can cause the zippers to split. A shoulder strap is another handy feature as it allows rods, landing nets, coolers and the kit bag to be carried in a single trip.
Water resistance is paramount, especially if the kit bag is also home to camera equipment. Most quality gear bags are waterproof or at the very least come with waterproof covers in the event of a damp day. If fly-fishing during torrential rain is your thing, make sure you choose a fully waterproof bag.  
At first glance there appears to be a lot of room in an empty kit bag and you might wonder how you are going to fill it up, but don’t worry, it won’t take long. There are six main categories to consider when outfitting a gear bag: reels, spools and lines; leaders and tippet; accessories; fly boxes; safety and comfort; and miscellaneous items.  

REELS,SPOOLS & LINES
The number of extra spools and lines fly fishers stash in their bag depends upon the time of year, physical makeup of the lake, number of fly rods and a dash of personal preference. I prefer two rods strung and ready, typically a floating line, with or without indicator, and a clear intermediate. Experience has taught me two rods are best, especially when fishing with more than one person.
As well as the rigged rods, include an additional floating line. A second floating line can be particularly handy during a chironomid emergence. Alone on the boat, anglers can work two floating lines: one with an indicator and one without. Working down the depth chart, a traditional intermediate would be next. Depending upon the manufacturer these sink slower than most clear intermediates, which tend to sink at a Type 2 rate. Intermediates are the perfect choice for creeping scuds, leeches or damsel nymphs over shoals or along shorelines. A clear tip line is an excellent addition. This line is ideal for deep long leader nymphing as well as working flies through the shallows. Clear tip lines offer a different retrieve angle that can make all the difference. A selection of full sinking lines, typically Type 3 and 6, rounds out line selection. The Type 6 line is ideal for working deep reaches, stripping leeches and dragon patterns over the shoals, or crawling buoyant flies over sunken weeds and debris.  

LEADERS & TIPPET
Leaders and tippet—the critical connection between fly and angler—are sometimes overlooked. Depending upon your leader setup preference, carry butt material for long leader setups or braided loops. I use both types of leader connection depending on the line and presentation. For example, for a floating line long leader system I always begin with two to three feet of .025” to .030” butt section and add a tapered leader and tippet for length. Carry a good selection of tapered leaders from nine to 15 feet. Breaking strains should vary from 3x down through 5x depending upon conditions. As a general rule, the clearer the water the finer the leader and tippet. Tippet spools should match leader strength in both fluorocarbon and copolymer. Fluorocarbon is the preferred choice for clear conditions and sunk flies. Copolymer tippet is fine for stained waters and dry fly presentations, as it does not drag flies beneath the surface. This is often the case with fluorocarbon.

ACCESSORIES
Accessories are the catch basin for many items in a well-stocked kit bag. Thermometers are critical tools as water temperature dictates fish activity and feeding, as well as insect emergences. Knowing the preferred temperature range of rainbow trout (55F to 65F) allows fly fishers to eliminate non-productive water. By using a traditional thermometer on a string, anglers can vertically probe the water and locate fish. >>