Fly Line Recommendations

[Don Thompson]

I took up photography a few years ago and let fly fishing go by the way side. I plan on picking it up again and know that I will need to buy a new line. Being out of the loop, no pun intended, for awhile, I am not sure what lines I need to look at.

I will be using a 7 weight rod for mostly smallmouth and panfish on small to middle size Indiana creeks and rivers. But I might occasionally use it for trout.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Zach Matthews]

Hey Don –

Scientific Anglers’ Mastery Textured Trout is a good high end place to start, as is Rio’s Gold line, both in a WF7F. What you’re describing is fairly square in the wheelhouse of a general purpose fly line, and these are just two places to start.

One quick note, if you’re already committed to the 7 weight, that’ll do fine, but if you’re not, yet, the more typical weight rod for what you’re describing would be a 5 weight or maaaybe a 6 weight.

Zach

[David Anderson]

Don, I like the Rio Gold as a general line as well.

I would also agree with Zach about rod weights – a 7 is a heavy hitter for trout.

www.dsaphoto.com

A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.

[Don Thompson]

Thanks Zach and David. I already have the 7 weight and don’t anticipate buying anything else, particularly at this time. As I said, I used to fly fish quite a bit, but not concentrate on my photography, and until I see what I might do with both, I won’t be spending any money for a new rod.

I also have a 3/4 weight which I have used for smallmouth up to about 18″, but it can be a little small at times. I may buy a line for both rods. Can I assume your recommendations still apply for the 3/4 weight?

David, as I said in my OP, I would only occasionally be fishing for trout, so while I understand it is a little large for most trout fishing, it will have to do for the time being. I have used it for trout in the past but it was on larger, western streams.

Thanks again.

[Bobby Lockwood]

I’m partial to Airflo lines as they seem to be more durable. The new super-dri series is really nice as is the previous ridge series. You can probably find the ridge series on close out and get a good deal on a line that will last many years.

[Tim Pommer]

Don’t listen to Zach – Don’t buy the Mastery Textured Trout if you plan to use it for smallmouth too. Go with a Mastery Textured GPX or Magnum, it’ll double as a smallmouth/big trout line better than the Trout.

[Zach Matthews]

Don –

Listen to Tim, not me. He’s the line designer.

Zach

[Ronnie Moore]

Tim Pommer wrote:

Go with a Mastery Textured GPX

Yes to this. I went with it on an 8wt that I use mainly for smallmouth and it works great. Tim did a great job on this one.

[Ian Crabtree]

Zach Matthews wrote:

Don –

Listen to Tim, not me. He’s the line designer.

Zach

Don’t listen to either of them. Level line all the way.

Oh fine, GPX.

[Tim Pommer]

Zach Matthews wrote:

Don –

Listen to Tim, not me. He’s the line designer.

Zach

WAS the line designer.

[Zach Matthews]

Don’t listen to Ian, he only designs rods and knows nothing of fly lines. Tim, have you figured out how to texture a light bulb yet?

[Tim Pommer]

Zach Matthews wrote:

Don’t listen to Ian, he only designs rods and knows nothing of fly lines. Tim, have you figured out how to texture a light bulb yet?

Actually, yes.

[Don Thompson]

Thanks Tim, I will look further at the lines you suggested. A quick look already did find some comments about the line cracking at the loop. Anything to that?

Ian, I said I hadn’t fly fished in awhile, but it hasn’t been so long that I would want to try a level line. 🙂

[Tim Pommer]

Don Thompson wrote:

Thanks Tim, I will look further at the lines you suggested. A quick look already did find some comments about the line cracking at the loop. Anything to that?

A crack can happen at the loop from time to time on any line. Especially if one folds the line over at the loop to string a rod (never do this!!!). Loops cracking after a few uses is more of an oddity than anything and not anymore likely with an SA line than a Rio or Airflo or even a $20 China line (even if you can pick your own custom color).

[Don Thompson]

Thanks Tim. In the past, I always used SA lines, and they will most likely be my first choice now that I need to buy a new one.

[Zach Matthews]

Hey Don –

Even if the loop were to crack, it’s easily fixed with a heat gun and a little bit of the right kind of heat-shrink tubing (get the clear stuff). I made a bunch and in my testing those welded loops were the strongest kind of knot one could tie on a fly line.

Zach

[Don Thompson]

Thanks Zach. I did a search of the articles and didn’t see the story on the loops. Did I miss, or can you provide me a link.

[Joe H.]

[/quote]
Loops cracking after a few uses is more of an oddity than anything and not anymore likely with an SA line than a Rio or Airflo or even a $20 China line (even if you can pick your own custom color).
[/quote]

Hahahahahaha!

[Zach Matthews]

Hey Don –

It’s in the context of a little more extensive article on “editing” your fly line:

Line Hacking

There’s also a video, but again I would recommend the heat-shrink tubing and a heat gun as there’s less room for error than the hand-made version in the video.

Zach

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