vanven Posted February 26, 2009 Posted February 26, 2009 I vote RIO Gold without hesitation. I have it on 2 different rod/reel combos and love it. Paired with Z-Axis it is absolutely perfect. I havent fished a line that floats better/longer and shoots as well as RIO gold. The line does start off as a camo green color and transitions to orange near the end of the taper. The two tone thing is probably more gimmick than anything but i do like it when fishing at night. It makes it easier to tell how much line I have out in the dark. -Jerod
Greg Posted February 27, 2009 Posted February 27, 2009 I've found both Rio and SA lines to be equally good. The Rio seem a little more durable and the SA lines a little more supple to me (IMHO). I also like SA's lower priced lines. Greg "My biggest worry is that my wife (when I'm dead) will sell my fishing gear for what I said I paid for it" - Koos Brandt Greg Mitchell
drew03cmc Posted February 27, 2009 Posted February 27, 2009 Rio or Cortland. You never mentioned what fly rod this is going on as the action of the rod plays a huge role in what fly line you want to use. For example on a medium action graphite rod, I vote Cortland 444 Peach without hesitation. On a fast action rod, I vote Rio Grand or Gold. On a SLOW rod like cane or glass, 444 Peach again, on a superfast rod, Rio Outbound which is essentially a shooting head that is weighted 2wts high to load the faster rod and shoot great distances, or Clouser. I have used two SA lines, and will not use another one. They didn't cast for crap on the rods I like to use (glass and cane), and the tips sank quickly. Right now, on my go-to rod (6'9" 3wt cane, only rod at this moment), I am using a 10m Cortland DT3F and it casts amazingly for about 30' (length of the line). Don't write Cortland off, and don't succumb to marketing hype. Distance isn't everything, but boy do the companies want you to think it is, so you will go buy the Sharkskin (ripoff IMO). Control is more important than distance, so find a line that you can feel all the way through your stroke from load to unload. Andy
fishinwrench Posted February 28, 2009 Posted February 28, 2009 How do you guys get to fish all these different lines ..... Are ya made of MONEY ? I'm sure there are better fishing/casting/mending lines than 444SL.....but I'm afraid to switch. I'm also very picky about line color, I love Cortland mint green...or is it geckko green...whatever they call it, it looks good strung on a green rod, it blends well in a river environment I think, and I can see it good on cloudy and sunny days. I do have to trim 3-4 feet off the tip to kinda tune it up though.
Trout Stalker Posted February 28, 2009 Posted February 28, 2009 My vote goes for either Rio Gold or Rio Selective Trout depending on what type of action your fly rod is.
Trout Stalker Posted February 28, 2009 Posted February 28, 2009 How do you guys get to fish all these different lines ..... Are ya made of MONEY ? I either get a chance to cast new lines at a flyshop or recommended by others. Once you have a same collection of lines, then you can swap them back and forth and see what works. Also, when a fly line company makes an improvement such as when Rio Selective Trout went to Rio Selective Trout II, you can purchase these older style cheaper.
fishinwrench Posted February 28, 2009 Posted February 28, 2009 I either get a chance to cast new lines at a flyshop or recommended by others. Once you have a same collection of lines, then you can swap them back and forth and see what works. Also, when a fly line company makes an improvement such as when Rio Selective Trout went to Rio Selective Trout II, you can purchase these older style cheaper. Ah I see. Well I wouldn't be able to pick my favorite line by casting it in a lawn or parking lot. Charlie Reading's casting pond would be a good place to compare NEW lines though. Only problem is, if I have time to spend half a day in a flyshop...I could be fishing.
TroutFearMe Posted March 2, 2009 Author Posted March 2, 2009 Update So I went out to BPS yesterday to talk to Steve who is the lead assoc in the fly shop I showed mt line to him and he said he doesn't have an answer to why this happened to my line after a year of use but said I was in luck because SA had a factory rep there so he would talk to him about it and see what he has to say. They rep look at the line and said wow I have never seen this happen before after just a years worth of use but then in the same breath he has not seen the GPX line in the twotone color before. He gave me the email address to the rep that handles this area and left it at that. So I said I am willing to eat the sixty bucks for new line I just wouldlike to know why this happened and how can I prevent it and I didn't get an answer. So I purchased SA Mastery Trout and said if I don't likeit its coming back. Well guess what it is going back, it cast awsome in the backyard, its as smooth as silk going through my guides but that about all I can say about that. Later on last night I filled my bathtub aka"the test tank" with water too see how well it floated since it has the welded loop and the so called Dry Tip Technology well the tip sank, so I guess I should have gone with my gut and baught the RIO but I was willing to give SA another shot guess I was wrong.
Greg Posted March 3, 2009 Posted March 3, 2009 Update So I purchased SA Mastery Trout and said if I don't likeit its coming back. Well guess what it is going back, it cast awsome in the backyard, its as smooth as silk going through my guides but that about all I can say about that. Later on last night I filled my bathtub aka"the test tank" with water too see how well it floated since it has the welded loop and the so called Dry Tip Technology well the tip sank, so I guess I should have gone with my gut and baught the RIO but I was willing to give SA another shot guess I was wrong. Unfortunately I think all fly line tips sink after a time. Even the one's advertised as having a super high floating tip from SA, Rio, and Cortland. Greg "My biggest worry is that my wife (when I'm dead) will sell my fishing gear for what I said I paid for it" - Koos Brandt Greg Mitchell
drew03cmc Posted March 3, 2009 Posted March 3, 2009 I prefer Cortland products on my sticks, of course, except for the latest line I bought...it is an SA product for Orvis...who knew? You should check flyshopcloseouts.com before picking up a new line. I got an Orvis Green Mtn WF7F for $8, and for that price, I can't complain. I will be sealing the ends of my lines with Knot Sense to keep water from wicking up the core, but honestly, I probably will not buy another SA branded line for issues like yours. A sealed tip sinks? Hmm... Andy
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