FLY LINES

and how to choose one




Introduction


When choosing a flyline, like any other part of your outfit, there are a few things that need to be considered. For example the weight, colour and density are very important. On this page I will discuss the various aspects of flylines and give you a guide for choosing the appropriate flyline for your needs.
Flylines are described by their weight, density and taper. Each of these are given a code that will appear on the box and these codes will help you choose the right line.

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Weight


The weight of a flyline is measured in grains and is taken over the first ten metres. It is best to match the weight of the line to the weight rating of the outfit you own. For example if you own a #8/#9 weight flyrod then choose a #9 weight flyline. I tend to opt towards the heavier weight of the rods weight rating as this tends to aid in casting.
The weight of the flyline is coded by numbers 1 - 18, 1 being the lightest and 18 the heaviest. (I don't believe that there are heavier lines than 18 yet) I will cover lead core and quick descent lines in the density section.


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Tapers


Flylines are not uniform in taper along their whole length. They generally are split into three sections : Forward, middle and rear. The taper of the flyline assists in the presentation of the fly both in accuracy and delicacy.
There are generally two different tapers in use today, the WEIGHT FORWARD (WF) and the DOUBLE TAPER (DT)
The double taper has an equivalent forward and rear taper and has little use in saltwater fly fishing applications other than to be cut in half and used as a shooting head, but more on that later.
The weight forward is a little more complicated as there are many variations of the theme. A weight forward line is made up of a tapered front section, heavy middle section and a long flat rear section. The front two sections generally only taking up the front third of the flyline.

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Density


This refers to the sink rate of the flyline which I will discuss more in the sinking flylines section below. It is important to understand the different uses for different density lines. For example it would be a pointless exercise to whip the surface to a foam with a floating line when the fish are feeding 5 metres down.

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Is the Colour of my Line Important?


The colour of the flyline you use can be very important indeed. Choose neutral or natural colours over brightly coloured lines wherever possible. A brightly coloured flyline can betray your presence to a spooky fish particularly in shallow water under a metre. If it is not possible to get the line you want in a non-bright colour then I would recommend using a cold water fabric dye to dull its appearance. Most flylines will take a dye.
If you are just learning to cast then a bright coloured flyline can be easier to see, but once you have developed your casting I would dye it.

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Floating Lines


More floating flylines are sold in the world today than any other type of line but mostly have freshwater applications. Floating lines do have some uses for the saltwater fly fisherman, particularly at the novice stage. They are also useful in shallow water conditions.
However the reality of saltwater fish feeding habits is that they tend to feed down deep and spend little time on or near the surface. Even though the fly can be allowed to sink deep as soon as the retrieve is started the floating line drags the fly back to the surface away from the strike zone.
The advantages of floating lines are that they are easy to pick up off the water and are generally bright in colour and easily seen in the air whilst casting.

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Intermediate Lines


Intermediate flylines are basically slow sinking lines and are probably the most useful flylines in saltwater, especially in waters over a metre deep. As with all sinking lines they are not easily picked up from the surface and the majority of the line must be retrieved before another cast can be made. However this disadvantage is far outweighed by the advantages that an intermediate line offers. Generally thinner in diameter than floating lines they are easier to cast as they offer less resistance through the air. Also with the finer diameter you will get a softer touchdown when presenting the fly, particularly useful when chasing spooky fish such as bonefish and mullet. In shallow water an intermediate line will get the fly down faster than a floating line and as intermediates break the surface they are not prone to wind drift. That is on a windy day when the water surface has a little chop, floating lines that sit on the surface film, tend to drag and can pull the fly off target. This drag can also create slack in the line giving you less direct contact with the fly whereas intermediate flylines sink under the waves and keep you in direct contact.
Not all intermediate flylines sink at the same rate. They can differ greatly between brands, some actually float briefly on the surface before breaking through. The newer braided monofilament lines are the fastest sinking of the intermediates.

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Sinking Lines


Sinking flylnes are rated by their weight and their density. The weight is like any other flyline, #8 for example. However the density can vary, a #8 flyline can come in many different sink rates. There is no industry standard to follow but most manufacturers offer at least three sink rates in their range.
Sinking lines generally start at the slow sinking range at a rate of about 4-10cm per second and go through to around the fastest sink rates of about 30cm a second. Each has a particular use and can aid the angler in catching more fish when used correctly. Example, with tuna it is often a requirement to get the fly down deep quickly before the school has moved on and fast sinking lines can help do that.

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Sink Tips and Shooting Heads


With technology comes wonder. Also available are sink tip flylines which as the name suggests are lines that float with a section at the front that sinks. The sinking section can vary from 2 metres to 10 metres and like sinking lines can vary in the sink rate. These lines can be very useful for the saltwater fly fisher particularly in tropical locations where tidal flow is a factor. However the disadvantages of sink tip lines are that they can be difficult to cast due to the joining of the floating and sinking sections and they are more difficult to detect strikes with. A keen eye must be kept on the floating sectionfor movement either downwards are sideways.

Shooting heads are an extreme version of the weight forward configuration where the long level bell section of the weight forward has been replaced with a thinner running line. The running line can be either oval shaped monofilament or braided monofilament. Both are relatively tangle free and give little resistance through the air or water.
Shooting heads are generally sinking and vary in length from 4 to 15 metres depending on the application. Shorter heads are specialised and are mostly used for chasing XOS fish or world records. Longer heads are generally used for distance casting. These days a lot of manufactures are producing shooting heads with the running line already attached for those who are less confident in joining lines themselves.

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Flyline Information


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