Basic Fly Fishing Gear Needed by All Fishermen

You could buy out the store and still not catch fish.  On the other hand, you could fly fish with a cane pole and a section of clothesline if you present the fly correctly.

How much you buy or how much you pack on a trip depends on you, but unless you are going the cane-pole route, you absolutely need these items on your next fly fishing excursion:

a rod
a reel
line
a fly

Anyone who has that equipment can catch fish.

But anyone who has that equipment will probably also say that there are some more items that should be on a list of basic items.  Here are a few of them:

a good knife
a leader or a tippet
a multi-tool
a waterproof floating box for flies
split shot
line dressing
a hook remover
nippers
a creel

If you have the above items, you are now equipped to throw flies from dry land, but you will be a lot more comfortable if you are dressed properly.  Here are some clothing items to consider:

pants
shirt
vest
hat
footwear for water
sunglasses

Clothing should not fit tight.  The best will be light, strong material that lets you roll up and down the sleeves, legs, and a neck-protection panel on the hat.  Footwear should be for water.  Vests, shirts, and pants should have as many pockets as possible, and they may have zippered legs or panels to help you stay comfortable when it gets hot or cold.  Hats should have large brims.  Sunglasses that wrap around or that have side panels to reduce glare are wonderful

With all of the above items, you will have a pleasant experience the next time you go fishing from the bank.  To get into the water, a few more things are needed:

waders
wading shoes
floating equipment or floating cases, bags, or attachments so your equipment does float

Waders and wading shoes are made of tough material, but due to punctures and wear and tear, they will leak eventually; so a repair kit is nice.  Flotation issues may be minimal.  Manufacturers know that the ability to float is a great selling point, so they make items floatable when possible.  Anything that you carry in your hand must float because you will eventually have an accident and lose your grip. Phones, GPS receivers, and electronics have to be waterproofed.  That usually just means waterproof bags.  You will have lots of non-floating items in your pockets, such as nippers, tools, etc, but they are safe if your pockets have zips, Velcro or buttons or if you attach them to your vest with a cord.

With all of the equipment above, you can have a fine fishing experience.  The only things I would add would be food, water, a way to pack the gear in and out, and a way to keep your catch fresh.