Fly Fishing Lines: The Critical Connection
A fly fishing line is the engine of your cast and the most critical link between you and the fish. Whilst fly reels and rods often get the spotlight, the fly line is what propels the fly, turns over the leader, and communicates every subtle take. Understanding the unique characteristics of fly liens is essential to getting the most out of your setup and achieving success on the water.
The Anatomy of a Fly Line
A modern fly line is a highly specialised piece of equipment, composed of several key parts that work in harmony.
The Core: This is the inner material of the line, providing its strength and a foundation for the outer coating. The core material and its stretch are crucial for sensitivity and effective hook sets.
The Coating: The outer coating determines the line’s buoyancy, durability, and slickness. It is often a polymer blend that is formulated for specific performance benefits.
The Taper: The line’s taper, or the distribution of its weight and diameter, is arguably its most important feature. It dictates how the line loads the rod, the type of casts it excels at, and how delicately it presents a fly. Tapers are designed for everything from delicate dry fly fishing to powerful Spey casting.
Choosing the Right Line: A Layman’s Guide
Selecting a fly line can be a difficult choice, but by considering a few key factors, you can find the perfect match for your ord and fishing style.
Line Weight: This number should match the line weight of your rod. It dictates the overall mass and thickness of the line and ensures your rod loads properly. An exception is for single handed floating trout lines, where we often recommend using a line size heavier than the rod rating for ease of casting and to increase casting distance, particularly for beginners.
Common Line Tapers:
Weight Forward (WF): The most popular taper for general purpose fishing. The majority of the line's weight is concentrated in the front, which helps load the rod for powerful casts.
Double Taper: Evenly weighted at both ends with a thinner running line in the middle. These lines are designed for delicate presentations at close range and can also be reversed and fished from the opposite end when one side wears out.
Shooting Head: A short, heavy front section that can be attached to a running line. This system allows anglers to quickly change fly line heads to suit different fishing conditions or techniques.
Spey Lines: A family of fly lines specifically designed for two handed rods and Spey casting. They come in various configurations, including integrated lines, shooting heads, and multi tip systems.
Line Type:
Floating Lines: These are the most common type, designed to float on the surface for fishing dry flies, nymphs, and streamers in the top layers of the water.
Full Sinking: The entire link sinks at a specific rate, allowing you to present flies at specific depths. They come in various sink rates (measured in inches per second) for different fishing situations.
Intermediate Line: These lines are designed to sink very slowly often at 1-2 inches per second, for fishing just below the surface.
Technology: Innovations for the Modern Angler
The world of fly lines is constantly evolving, with brands developing new technologies to enhance performance.
Low Stretch Cores: Lines with low stretch cores (e.g. RIO’s ConnectCore or Airflo’s Power Core) provide superior sensitivity, allowing you to feel subtle takes and achieve faster, more positive hook sets.
Advanced Coatings: Proprietary coatings (e.g. RIO’s SlickCast and Airflo’s SuperFlo) reduce friction for longer casts and increased durability.
Welded Loops: Most modern lines feature a neat, factory welded loop at both ends, making it quick and easy to attach leaders and backing without the need for bulky knots. This is a common feature on lines we stock, including those from Airflo and RIO.
FAQs
What do the numbers on a fly line mean? The number (e.g. #5) indicates the rod weight the line is designed for.
What is the difference between fly line and tippet? The fly line is the heavy, coated line you cast, while the tippet is the very thin, clear monofilament or fluorocarbon section at the end of the leader that you tie your fly onto.
How do I choose a line for my Spey rod? Spey lines come in many different configurations. It is crucial to match the grain weight of the line to your rod’s recommended grain window to ensure the rod loads properly and casts efficiently.
How should I care for my fly line? Regular cleaning is key. Use a soft cloth and a dedicated line cleaner to remove dirt and restore slickness, which will improve casting performance and prolong the life of your line. Store lines off the reel in large, loose coils if possible.
Complete Your Setup:
Trout Fly Lines: Check out our full selection of trout fly lines.
Salmon Fly Lines: We are experts in salmon fishing! Check out our selection of salmon fly lines.
Pike Fly Lines: Looking to turn over big flies with ease? Check out our range of pike fly lines.
Saltwater Fly Lines: Heading on an exotic trip? Check out our range of saltwater fly lines.
Fly Line Backing: Get your reels spooled up with fly line backing before heading to the water.
Line Loading Service: For added convenience, we offer a service to load reels with complimentary backing and your chosen fly line, ensuring your reel is ready-to-go out of the box.
Leaders: Browse our wide selection of leaders and sink tips for your fly line.
Tippet Material: Browse our extensive range of tippet material.
Braided Loops: Check out our range of braided loops for a quick and easy connection to your leader.
