FLY LINES
The day had been the worst kind of horrible; one that could have been prevented.
Cast
after cast had piled up the line. You tried everything; slowing your
casting stroke, adding hauls, delaying your back cast - but you just
couldn't seem to win. The line was simply not matched properly with your
rod. You shudder as you imagine how many strikes had gone by, how many
fish you might have missed. And now you're sitting on the bank, picking
through a snarled crow's nest of line, leader, and tippet. As if to
taunt you, a large fish moves in and starts feeding, unconcerned by your
presence.
A rod and reel is only half the story when optimizing your gear. The correct fly line is essential for fulfilling the performance of
your fly rod, and should be particularly suited to the type of fishing
you're doing. Here are a few guidelines in how to choose a fly line.
FLY LINE ANATOMY: LINE WEIGHT
Fly lines range from the very thinnest and lightest for making
short casts with tiny flies with tiny rods on small water, up to the
heaviest, thickest fly lines designed to cast over-foot-long, massive
flies with powerful big-game fly rods to catch giant fish in the
ocean. All fly lines are numbered, on a universally accepted scale, by
the physical weight of the first 30 feet of the forward, delivery end of
the fly line; the bigger the number, the heavier the fly line. Fly rods
are numbered in the same way, to balance the proper line weight with
the rod's relative flex or stiffness. The heavier the fly line, and the
respective fly rod, the greater the capability of casting larger flies,
combatting the effects of wind, and, up to a point, casting greater
distances. So, in a sense, the fishes that we pursue actually determine
what line weights we anglers use to catch them. The fish prefers natural
foods of a certain size range, and we try to select the line weight
that is best able to a cast our hand-tied imitations of that food in a
manner that, hopefully, won't scare the fish.
The heaviest fly lines will
cast ALL sizes of flies, both big and little. But when a heavy fly line
falls on clear shallow water, all subtlety is lost. Also, heavier fly
lines, and the rods that cast them, require more effort, physically, to
fish, and are often too stiff to protect lighter leaders that may
be necessary for successfully fooling, hooking, fighting, and landing
fish. Most experienced anglers prefer using the lightest fly line, and
rod, possible that effectively balances these two opposing elements,
power versus subtlety, for the fly fishing situation at hand.
Therefore, fly fishers who like to fish on a variety of water types, or
for different species, will, perhaps, own several different line and rod
outfits for matching the specific conditions of each situation. Most
fly anglers learn to cast and fish with floating fly lines, as they are
generally easier to cast and are required for fishing with dry flies.
Floating fly lines can also fish weighted, subsurface flies in many
shallow water situations as well. Some situations call for fly lines
that sink, as you'll read later.
The smallest fly lines are the ultra-light lines, all
floating, a category created in recent years for those that enjoy
fishing with the lightest tackle conceivable. Ultra-light fly lines
range from the tiniest, 3/0, or '000', to '0' or zero. From there, fly
lines are numbered by weight from '1' to '15'. Line weights 1 to 3 are
still pretty "light" and are generally used by anglers that fish primarily on sheltered, small water with small flies.
Most trout fly anglers prefer to use either a 4, 5, or 6 weight
fly line, and the correctly matched fly rod, for most of
their all-around trout fishing. The 4 weight would be for an angler that fishes small to medium water with smaller flies. The 5 weight line and rod combination is the most popular, by far, and should be considered the all-around choice for fishing most sizes of trout flies on most trout water. The 6 weight line and rod may benefit trout anglers fishing larger rivers, in wind, or casting larger weighted nymphs and bigger dry flies.
Although these categories are somewhat arbitrary, as all anglers
have their individual sense of technique and style, some other general
recommendations would be 6 or 7 weight for smallmouth bass, 7 to 9 weight for largemouth, 7 to 10 weight for steelhead and salmon, and 8 to 10 weight for striped bass. Although some saltwater light tackle enthusiasts are now picking up the 6 weight, most saltwater
flats folks use 7 to 10 weights for speckled trout, redfish, bonefish,
permit, and many other small to medium salt water species. The 11 to 15
line weight category is in the realm of giant ocean critters, from fifty
to several hundred pounds. The bigger line weights, once again, are for casting progressively larger flies.
FLY LINE ANATOMY: TAPER
Understanding how taper affects casting is important when considering what fly line to choose. The changing diameter of the fly line, called "taper," determines how the energy of your cast is transmitted from the rod to the leader and the fly. In general, the longer the front taper, belly (the thickest part of the line), and rear taper of the fly line (collectively called the head),
the more slowly the line dissipates the energy of the cast, allowing
greater control and accuracy. Conversely, if the fly line head is
shorter and thicker overall, energy is transmitted more directly to the
fly, promoting greater shooting distance and a quicker turnover. Tapers
are generally classified into weight-forward, double taper, shooting
head, and spey.
WEIGHT FORWARD LINES (MATCHING A LINE TO YOUR ROD)
Most trout fishing and other typical fly fishing situations require a floating, weight forward fly line.
These tapers are constructed with the greatest mass located at the
front of the line, carrying casts outward and loading rods quickly and
easily. Weight forward tapers are the most versatile, covering fishing
situations ranging from delicate dries to monstrous barracuda flies.
Depending on application, the length of the head on weight forward
tapers varies widely, from massive, thick bass tapers under 28' in head
length that turn over huge, wind resistant flies, to long belly
steelhead lines with heads over 65' in length to allow line control at
greater distances. However, most freshwater and saltwater anglers use
weight forward fly lines with head lengths from 30' to 45'.
Slow and Medium Action Fly Rods
If you fish a slow to moderate action rod, a weight-forward
line with a gentle, more gradual front taper allows the most control
over how the casting loop straightens out. This precise control over the
turnover is crucial when making delicate presentations where accuracy
is essential. Consider lines like Scientific Angler's Trout or RIO's Selective Trout II, to realize the potential of your slower to moderate action rod. The Wulff Triangle Taper is regarded by many as a great line for delicate precision.
Medium and Medium-Fast Action Fly Rods
Lines with a moderate front taper can be used either for distance or delicate presentations, depending on casting ability and application. Lines such as Scientific Angler's Trout have a general taper that promotes varied usage and compliments the action of medium action fly rods. RIO's Gold taper
is also a great all-around choice: the longer compound head allows for
delicate turnover at any distance, and the gentle rear taper easily
manages roll casting and mending. Also consider the incredible new
Scientific Angler's Sharkskin Ultimate Trout Taper for a line that outperforms all others in floatation and shootability.
Fast and Ultra-Fast Action Fly Rods
The high line speeds created by fast and ultra-fast action
rods is ideal for turning over big flies in the wind, precision casting
or distance casting. For this reason, faster action rods best handle the
majority of salt water lines. Look for a line designed for the type of
fish you're going after, and see *Construction* below.
For freshwater fishing, lines such as Scientific Angler's Expert Distance and the Sharkskin Ultimate Trout taper
have increased mass towards the front of the head which conserves
inertia when shooting line long distances. Faster rods are generally
capable of holding more line in the air, so weight forward lines used on
these rods often have longer head lengths with a "steeper", or
shorter, front taper. Sage's Performance Taper II, Scientific Angler's GPX, and RIO's Rio Grande
are especially designed for faster action fly rods, loading the rod
quickly with less false casting. For experienced casters, consider the
RIO Atlantic Salmon/ Steelhead line for single-handed spey, roll casting, and mending line at longer distances with 9 1/2' to 11' rods.
DOUBLE TAPER LINES
These lines are gradually tapered from either end and have a
uniform diameter "belly" between the tapers. The double taper design is
classic, the one our grandfathers used. Modern double taper designs,
however, maximize performance, as well as subtlety. Designed for delicate presentations, these lines may be reversed on the reel when one end becomes worn, which makes them more economical to use in the long run. Double-tapered lines like the Scientific Angler's XPS and the Sage Quiet Taper II are
ideally suited for a moderate or slow action rod for the most demanding
presentations. Double Taper lines are often the choice for ulta-light
or light line enthusiasts as well as for bamboo fly rods. Cortland's SYLK fly line is specifically suited for bamboo.
SPEY LINES
Spey Fly Lines are used with Spey, or double handed rods. Spey
rods range from 11' to over 18' in length and the most powerful of
these, in the hands of an expert, are able to reach distances sometimes
approaching 200 feet! Spey rods are most often seen on steelhead and
salmon rivers, but the recent leap in the popularity of Spey casting and
fishing finds them on trout rivers, lakes and saltwater, as well. Spey
Fly Lines are much thicker and heavier, can be longer than their
single-handed cousins and have their own numbering system; so an 8
weight Spey line, for example, is a lot bigger than an 8 weight
standard, or single-handed fly line. There are many styles of Spey
casting that exist today. For traditional Spey casting, making longer,
fixed distance, D-loop casts choose a longer belly (57 - 71' head length) spey line such as the RIO PowerSpey. The Scandinavians have developed their own overhead casting method of Spey using very fast action rods and very short (31 - 40'), shooting head Spey lines attached to thin running lines. For Scandinavian-style lines, check out the RIO AFS Spey Shooting Heads, or the complete AFS Shooting Head Kit.
Currently, the most popular Spey lines used in the States have head
lengths, more or less, (34 - 56') that fall between these two previous
categories. The RIO Skagit and Windcutter lines are considered by many to be the easiest spey lines to learn with and
are also preferred by the majority of experienced Spey anglers to match
the conditions encountered on many North American steelhead rivers.
The utmost in versatility is offered by a fly line system with
interchangeable floating and sinking tips when Spey casting in a variety
of conditions. Depending on your style, go with RIO’s Skagit, WindCutter, or PowerSpey Versitip systems.
SHOOTING HEADS
Shooting heads are very short fly lines, 24' to 41' in
length, designed to be cast, or 'shot', the greatest distances using
fast action fly rods with minimal false casting and minimal backcast
room. The shooting head is attached, usually by a loop-to-loop
connection for a quick, convenient exchange, to a thin running line that
has minimal surface contact with the fly rod guides, thus achieving the
long distance casts. Shooting heads usually sink, and a selection of
various densities allow the angler, with one reel and spool, to fish a
variety of water depths and water speeds. Shooting head systems are most
often used by steelhead and salmon anglers, with either single-handed and Spey rods, and lake, and Striper fishermen. Check out the RioMax 30' Shooting Heads; Type 3, Type 6, or Type 8 for progressively faster sink rates.
SINKING LINES
There are two main categories of sinking fly lines: sink-tips and full sinking lines.
Full-sinking fly lines, as the name implies, sink for their entire
length. Full-sink lines are most often used for fishing flies in still water;
lakes and ponds, or slow moving rivers. These flies are usually
retrieved, or “stripped” in by the angler to imitate prey swimming
through the water. Full-sink lines come in a range of densities for fishing at different depths in
the water column, from a few inches below the waters surface, to over
twenty feet deep. Sinking fly lines are usually rated by Inches Per
Second, or IPS, according to how fast they sink so that you can
choose the appropriate line for fishing at a given range of depths in a
particular piece of water. For presenting shallow flies in lakes, use
the clear, stealthy Scientific Anglers Stillwater Fly Line. Go a little deeper with RIO DC Full Sink Line Type 3, or deeper yet with the DC Full Sink Line Type 6.
Sink-tip lines are comprised of a sinking head section integrated with a floating running line
behind it. The sink-tip portion itself, depending on application, will
range from 5’ to 30’ in length. Sink-tip lines are most often used in
moving water, and this design allows the angler to “mend” or reposition
the floating back section during the course of the drift. Sink tips can
also be used effectively in lakes and saltwater. Sink-tips, like full
sinking lines, can be stripped in, or be allowed to swing the fly
in an arc downstream in the classic steelhead and Atlantic salmon
presentation manner. One of the more popular sink-tip lines for fishing
in rivers for trout and steelhead would be the RIO DC 15' Sink Tip Type 3 or Type 6.
Popular these days, due to their versatility and simplicity, are Interchangeable Sink Tip lines.
These lines have a short, floating or intermediate belly with a loop at
the front and running line behind. The angler, in a small wallet, can
carry a variety of different length and density tips that can be
exchanged conveniently by looping them onto the front of the floating
section. Thus, with one reel and spool, an angler can effectively fish a
variety of situations encountered that day, or that year. An
interchangeable sink tip system for steelhead and salmon can be found in
RIO’s Dredger Versitip. For large saltwater critters; tuna, billfish, big dorado, and the like, try the RIO Leviathan. For interchangeable tips when Spey casting, go with RIO’s Skagit, WindCutter, or PowerSpey Versitip systems.
SPECIALTY TAPERS
Nowadays, there’s a fly line designed for every possible type
of fishing you might encounter. Line manufacturers offer a wide range
of species-specific lines with tapers catering to the near-exact
conditions you'll encounter when chasing your quarry. These tapers are
expertly designed: they’re products of years of development and
field-testing. If you're headed out on a quest for Billfish, Bonefish, Redfish, Bass, Tarpon, Steelhead or Striper, pick up a species-specific line for the utmost in technical performance.
CONSTRUCTION
A modern fly line is comprised of a core material and a plastic coating.
The stiffness of the core material is important when considering in
what climate you'll be fishing. Supple materials for colder weather and
stiffer braids for warmer climates ensure that loose loops or tight
coils between your guides will not hamper your cast. When fishing
saltwater, a braided multifilament core serves colder environments
better, offering lower memory and greater suppleness. For tropical temperatures,
Scientific Angler's Tropi-Core braided monofilament doesn't wilt in the
heat and offers better shooting for longer casts. Floating lines are less dense than
water, due to hollow microspheres imbedded in the PVC plastic coating.
Heavier than water, sinking lines usually employ a coating of varying
amounts of tungsten mixed with the plastic for different rates of sink.
Slickness and Shootability
Scientific Angler's Advanced Shooting Technology (AST) is an impregnated chemical composition that lubricates the line as it runs through the guides, and Rio's new Xtreme Slickness Technology makes their lines fly as well. Scientific Anglers has recently introduced their remarkable Sharkskin micro-replication technology that may very well prove to be the slickest fly line surface ever.
Time is washed into utter stillness. The slight bob
of the belly boat lulls you into a foreign state of consciousness -
relaxation. You're not aware of how many hours you've spent out here.
The only time measurement is that apportioned out by fish hits and
landings. Three in the last . . . hour? The light has definitely
changed, but who knows? Musing, you form a perfect loop to cut through
the wind and watch your line disappear into lavender depths. A three
count to let your Type VI line get down to the depth that has been most
productive. Now, the waiting begins. But not long...
