Fly LIne

[timsfly]

For a delicate presentation on the water and for fishing over spooky fish, it will be hard to beat the Tri-angle taper Wulff lines, I can fish any line I want and I get a lot of free lines every year from cortland, so for taney and bennett it is a good line. I fish the olive color and have used it all over, and it is a good all around line, it is made for Wulff by S.A. so you know it has to be good. I like the Rio Clouser lines but have not used anything else of theirs, so I don't know how the cast, but the clouser line is great for heavy flies. I use about every line made by orvis, cortland, monic, and S.A. and for slow water and spooky fish the Tri-angle taper is going to make you a good line.

[snagged in outlet 3]

I've used a lot of lines over the years and I don't think $60 is too much to pay. I get a lot of use out of one fly line and if you only use it a couple times a year I would think it could last ten years or more. $6/year doesn't seem extreme.

I'm currently using a Pale Olive SA GPX, 5 weight, weight forward, floating. This line casts like a bullet, is very abrasion resistant but is very stiff. It's not a great line for close-in fishing with short casts or when cold out. But it is great for streamer fishing and dry fly fishing with long casts. Not good for Bennett but I like it for Taney and The White River.

The previous line I had was the Peach Cortland 444 in the same dimensions as above. Very supple, casts well close-in, but was not very abrasion resistant. This is a better line for Bennett but I went through one in one season because it was all scratched up. This is a better line in cold weather.

You give up some features with either line but I like the abrasion resistance because I use the line longer and feel I'm getting more for the money. I like the pale olive color way better than the peach. The peach seems out of place when I'm wearing pale green everything but flipping a fly line that almost glows in the dark.

I haven't tried Rio or the Wulff because my fly shop doesn't recommend them and I tend to stick with what they are using and pushing.

Okay how about this. You buy a new $60 dollar line and your loop collapses while throwing a big streamer and the hook almost cuts the line in two!!!!!!!!! OUCH!!! New fly line please!! I hate that.

Snag.

[Micheal Kyle]

I belive that you get what you pay for and that there are quite a few flylines out there and there are some things one most consider befor buying a fly line. What and where am I going to fish, What is the type of fly and set up and I'm going to use. The last thing on your mind should be the price Because I would not want to have a trip of my life and Have the fly line screw up or break and lose the fish of a life time.

I have used quite a few diffrent fly lines out there and I would say the way I fish that Rio and SA are my fav. I will do nothing to a fly line and what I mean By that is never claen never wax. I will walk on it I will get it muddy I basically treat my flylines like a red headed step child No offense. I want the fly line to show me how long they will last so I can look you in the eye and say this line will last forever to a certain point. I would like to think that if you take care of fly line that it would last 4-6 years.

My Favorite fly line is Rio they are the best in my opinion they have the super floatant tech which means that the Rio is the higest flaoting fly line on the market. Most flylines will have a specific gravity of .9 Rio will have a sg of .7-.79 depending on the line. The also have the agent x which is a fly line coating which makes them the smoothest fly line made easier to cast slides through your guides easier.

There are 4 rio fly lines that I love the best they are the Grand, Nymph, Clouser, and the Wind Cutter. The clouser and the Nymph are both made to cast big fly and set ups. The clouser I will use for Bass and big flies at Taney. I like the Nymph beacuse the last 6 inches is bright orange, you do not need a indicator with that line. The Grand I use for my dry flies and the windcutter is their version of the trangle taper. Those line are fresh water, Rio has a complet line of Salt water fly lines.

One more item that I like about the Rio is the LOOP from the factory keeps the line sealed and keeps the tip floating. I hope that did not bore any of you.

Michael

[Terry Beeson]

OK.. I'll chime in. For what it's worth... and that ain't much

But... fly lines are a lot like rods, reels, hooks, waders, and other equipment. You ask 10 different people and you'll get 11 different answers. That's why Rio, SA, and others can stay in business.

Fly line is just one piece of the puzzle here. There is also the rod, the fly, and the arm that is doing the casting. So, long story short, it depends on several factors. First you have to ask yourself what it is you want from a fly line. Looking at the post here, you can see different reasons for different lines just from the standpoint of fishing styles. Nymphing vs. streamers. Long casts vs. short. Cold vs. hot. Specific vs. general use.

The next thing is to take in consideration your casting style and your rod. That is actually more of a sub-category of what you want from a fly line.

You can also see here that one guy will tell you brand X is the best thing since sliced bread and he wouldn't use brand Y to tie Christmas packages with. Then the next guy will tell you brand Y is the only brand he will use and brand X isn't worth the time it takes to flush it down the toilet.

This is not to say that the advice posted here is not valuable. I'm just saying you have to take it all in, study it with what you perceive to be what you want and need in a fly line, then make the best educated purchase you can based on it.

That said, I can't vouch for Wulff, but have also heard it is good line. But from experience, I don't think you will go totally wrong with Rio or SA. Both are very well represented on the stream as are Orvis and Cortland.

Now... what do I use? Well, I have 7 reels/8 spools and I probably have some SA, and Orvis, a RIO or two, and one Cortland. But I'm still looking for what I really like.....

[snagged in outlet 3]

Michael

You didn't bore me. I like your points, very well made. I'm gonna stop in your shop hext time through Springfield. Will you be at the Clave? I could stop in and see you there.

I'll have to try one of the Rio's next. I like the idea of higher floatability and the sealed loop.

I'm using the GPX now. Which Rio line is closest to the weight forward GPX? I like to streamer fish followed by long distance dry fly fishing. I'll nymph to catch fish if I have to or want to cocentrate on a specific fish. I use a 5 weight 9.5 foot Sage for most of my White River drainage fishing. I only got to the parks if I have to with the family.

Snag.

[gonefishin]

WOW! A lot of info. I have been a part time fly fisherman for years but have never gotten really serious about it until recently. So I guess I am an old newbie.

I agree with Michael up to a point...A person generally gets what he/she pays for but I also know there aren't that many fly line manfacturers, or at least not that I can find, so it seems to me there are several companies hawking the same lines under different name brands.

For example in 10 points post above he said CV2 and GPX lines are made by SA. If they are the same line why not just buy the cheapest.

I had a music store for a few years. At that time there were 3 string manfactures in the world yet there were at least 50 different name brands of strings. I know one brand of guitar strings that could be bought under one name brand for $2.50 or under another for $6.00. The only difference was in the advertising and packaging. From what I have been able to find out fly lines are marketed like guitar strings. How does a person sort out what is really good and what is just hype?

Of course like snagged said line really isn't that expensive so other than my curiousoity it really doesn't matter.

[The Caddis]

I was a user of the BP/SA CV2 line and thought it was great. Then my lovely wife went and bought me a Sage for our anniversary. I jsut couldn't bring myself to put $20 line on it so I bought a $60 Rio line. Let me tell you, the line is awesome, I got the WF4 and it shoots like a rocket, mends superb and lifts off the water effortlessly. Would I have been happy with the CV2, probably, but now that I know there is a difference, I don't know that I'll by the CV2 except for by bluegill rod.

[Terry Beeson]

Side note for any golfers out there.... Did you know there are only three places in the world where golf club heads are made? The very same set of clubs you pay $1,000 for can be custom built and fitted by a good club builder using "off-brand" for under $300...

Hmmmm... wonder where all that extra money goes?... Oh... wait.. how much money did Tiger Woods earn last year?

[Micheal Kyle]

Snaged in outlet 3 I will not have a booth down there this year. I plan on being there sometime on Saturday. I plan on being at the shop most of the time.

I feel that the line that is closest to The GPX is the Rio Grand. I also agree that the fly line is one of many parts to fly fishing. But I will maintain that it is the most important part. If you have a certain rod it may cast better with a diffrent line be the Cv2 or Sa or Rio who knows only you know and you can make that determination. I will probally not be the first to say this but, Rods will cast diffrent with diffrent lines. You need to find one that suits you and you casting style,and the action of your rod.

Michael

[Terry Beeson]

I also agree that the fly line is one of many parts to fly fishing. But I will maintain that it is the most important part. If you have a certain rod it may cast better with a diffrent line be the Cv2 or Sa or Rio who knows only you know and you can make that determination. I will probally not be the first to say this but, Rods will cast diffrent with diffrent lines. You need to find one that suits you and you casting style,and the action of your rod.

Michael

Michael,

Good point... very true... And that's why I'm still searching...