Recomend a good DT5
- This topic has 16 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated Mar 30, 2012 at 10:27 pm by
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Since DTs don’t have much variation in actual design, I would say buy the one with the texture, stiffness and feel that you like, but you can’t go wrong with either Cortland or SA.
JCYou don’t want a sharkskin if you do any amount of streamer fishing either, it cuts the heck out of your hands.
You don’t want a sharkskin if you do any amount of streamer fishing either, it cuts the heck out of your hands.
Have you tried the SA Mastery Textured, Colin? All the advantages of Sharkskin (outstanding floatation, low resistance, shoots great, etc.), but completely non-abrasive. Best line on the market, in my opinion.
Not sure why you’ve got your heart set on a DT line. For better or worse, the world is demanding WF lines and the DT’s are disappearing!
Mastery Trout is SA’s last remaining DT line in the Mastery series. Otherwise, if you’re looking for a value line, there is a DT in the Supra Series and there is always the Sharkskin option you noted.
I usually buy a DT (Courtland 444) because of the two-for-one deal. Use it till it wears out, and then turn it around….and use it some more.
Disclaimer: This is strictly for a small stream application where casts are 30 feet or less.
At least this is my theory….am I missing something? Of course if the manufacturers would cease making the DT….I’d have to buy a line twice as often.
I feel a DT is a better line at fishing distances than a WF in lines under a 6 weight. Mends better than a WF, better for longer pick ups than a WF, imho more delicate than a WF ( i know that is taper related), and i can turn it around when one side gets worn, and dont forget roll casts! Im sure line manufactures would love to sell WF lines as they can only be used half as long. Just my opinion, but its what i prefer to fish with under a 6 weight. :-/
Of course, if you like DT lines, continue to buy DT lines. However, the age old debate of WF vs DT is more fueled by false assumptions than true facts. It really depends on the specific line and the specific application.
Yes, it is true that a DT line can be used twice if you’re willing to turn it around and reuse the other side. No, this is obviously not an option on a WF line.
Where it gets foggy is when people claim that a DT can pick up easier, can carry more line, can mend better, and my favorite, can roll cast better than a WF line. All of these claims assume that you are fishing distances beyond the rear taper of the WF line. If you are fishing distances less than the length of the Front Taper+Belly of the line, you are virtually fishing the exact same line.
Use the Mastery Trout as an example.
WF:
DT:
Until the rear taper of the WF line, these two lines are identical. I wont post the the taper specs but for this specific line, the Front Taper and the Belly add up to 28′ (for the WF-5). So if you have out 28′ feet of line or less, you are fishing the same line. It’ll pick up the same, carry the same, mend the same, and yes, roll cast the same.
Once you go past that 28′ foot mark, things change.
The WF line will allow you to shoot the line since a thin running line goes through the guides much better than the thick belly of the DT. On the flip side, the DT can allow you to carry more line since a longer head usually always translates to more line control at distances. However, there is a point that it becomes difficult to carry a significant amount of line due to the amount of weight beyond the rod tip and at this point, a DT become more cumbersome than a WF line. You may find that by shooting a WF line you can achieve greater distances than a DT line.
This same principle applies to picking up line. Picking up more than 30′ of line off the water and generating enough energy to cast is very difficult, no matter your casting ability. It’s simple physics – you cannot generate enough speed with the rod to move that much weight of the line.
The ‘DT lines mend better’ argument is probably the most sound of them all. More belly in the rod tip, the more control you have on the water. However, unless you’re stack mending down stream, nymphing presentations beyond 30′ are pretty ineffective and pretty susceptible to drag. Not only that, again, it’s pretty difficult to pick up more than 30′ of line (see above argument).
And then my favorite one, ‘DT lines roll cast better.’ Roll casting more than 30′ with a 6 weight or less is pretty difficult. Unless you are a very skilled single hand spey caster, you’re not likely to roll cast beyond 30′. If you are roll casting beyond 30′, a WF line will give you even more of an advantage since the transition to a thin running line will buy you even more distance! Take a look at a skagit line’s taper and you’ll understand. There’s a reason all spey lines are WF.
Remember, all this hinges on whether or no you are fishing beyond the length of the front taper+belly. Those that fish small streams or pocket water will rarely cast beyond 30′ and most lines on the market happen to have a front taper + belly that’s 30′ or beyond. So aside from the fact that you can flip a DT line around, there are virtually no differences between the two lines until you get beyond that 30′ mark.
After taking the time to write all that, I was just reminded that the work was already done for me once before.
Joe, sounds like you’re looking for a decent inexpensive fly line. I don’t know if you have tried Barrio Fly Lines out of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, but I’ve really enjoyed the lines so far.
Practicing for the CCI Exam wore out some fly line, and I needed an inexpensive, easily visible (BRIGHT ORANGE) fly line that I could roll cast, carry, and cast accurately. The Barrio GT140s suited me just fine for the exam at $32.
You might check out the GT90 or SLX, depending on your situation. RIO and SA both make fantastic lines, and it’s worth spending the money. If kept clean, an expensive line will pay itself back in satisfaction and longevity.
However, I understand pinching pennies too. Well, can’t seem to get the link posted, but you can google Barrio Fly Line.
Thanks,
Chris
Great info! I do think that the ability to flip the line around is a big one, especialy if your line gets badly damaged while on the water or your just a cheapa– like me! With lines north of $50, double the lifespan is a big one to me. 😮
That’s a perfectly good reason to go with a DT!
I like a DT in many applications too, mainly for mending. Since I fish a lot of big water (and generally not for slimey fish 😉 ), I do mend (& roll cast) a good bit farther than normal WF head lengths.
I also build short 6′ sink tips with LC-13 or such spliced onto 8 wt & 9 wt DT lines with the forward taper cut off – you can mend these out to 60′ plus. That’s the ticket when you’re fishing big flies in a 10,000 cfs worth of conflicting currents. I don’t usually have to get real deep but want to get there in a hurry – only long mends will make it happen in hard uneven currents.
Kent - FlyFishGA
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