At it's most basic level fly fishing can be incredibly simple. Kitted out with fly rod, reel, fly line and killer fly attached to the business end, we are well equipped to go fishing and catch fish . Attractive as this simple approach may seem, these days however there are 1001 gizmos, gadgets , lotions and potions designed to make our life easier, improve our effectiveness and ultimately help us to catch more fish.

Here we've listed a few of the most useful and popular accessory items for the fly angler.

Forceps/Pliers

This is one item no angler should ever be without. Vitally important for the safe removal of hooks from the fish we catch, some also double up as scissors and de-barbing pliers.

Look for a pair with locking jaws and large comfortable finger holes.

Nippers

If you're one of those anglers who habitually bites their line, your dentist will love you for getting a good set of nippers.

Available in many shapes and sizes but all doing the same job of cutting and trimming line. Many are designed with an inbuilt needle for cleaning hook eyes or unpicking knots, while some have added extras such as a hook sharpener or nail knot tying tool and perhaps replaceable or re-sharpenable blades.

Zingers/Retractors

These little gadgets are ideal for holding all your tools securely and are usually attached by pin or clip to your vest, jacket or luggage. Most are fitted with a retractable cord or wire, or alternatively a strong curled bungee cord. Usually produced in single or double zinger models which are useful for attaching several tools at once and heavy duty versions for landing net and wading staff attachment are also available.

Floatants

Essential for dry fly fishing, floatants come in several different formats, each type having pros and cons.

Liquids are good for large flies, generally requiring a few false casts to dry but do sometimes leave a slick on the surface.

Gels are one of the most widely used floatants, require little or no drying time and can be applied to a specific area of the fly such as a Klinkhammer post. They can be a little temperature unstable, solidifying in cold conditions and turning liquid when it's hot.

Sprays are also good for large flies and while convenient and fast drying do tend to be a little wasteful.

Powder type floatants are very good for CDC dressings and some even act as a desiccant, removing excess moisture and re-proofing the fly in one go.

Sinkants

There is little that will put off shy feeding fish in calm conditions more than a leader floating on the water surface like a tow rope, making some form of degreaser or sinkant essential.

Sinkants come in two main varieties, paste/putty types for use on leaders and tippets while liquid sinkants are best for sinking flies.

Floatant/Sinkant bottle holders

Essential little items that can save the frustration of hunting through vest pockets for your bottle of floatant just when the trout are rising. Available in two basic types, those with a suction cup and those made of webbing or leather. Both types hold the bottle firmly upside down for easy application and are attached securely to vest or jacket by a clip.