Selecting Saltwater Fly Lines
Thu August 27, 2009
We are always a bit mystified when we see guests spend $600 or $700 on a new fly rod, $500 on a new reel, and then buy only one fly line.
Finding the right fly line for your rod is like buying a tuner for a guitar -- so lets try to tune your rod. There is no way to effectively do this without trying several lines to find out which ones you prefer, and which ones feel right. Go to your local shop and try a few. Then spend another 50 or 60 bucks to make your rod sing when you cast. Youll have more fun, probably catch more fish, and all for spending an extra $50 after you just laid down as much as fifteen hundred for that new outfit!
While there are a growing number of saltwater fly lines on the market, there are some basic guidelines to help you make an intelligent selection without being brand specific. The most critical characteristic is that the line be an aggressive, front-loaded taper to deliver the fly accurately and QUICKLY to the fish.
Unlike many freshwater species that may live and eat in a specific spot for an entire season, saltwater species are almost always on the move. This means that once your guide tells you where to cast, you have seconds (not 30 or 40 seconds, but more like 7, 8 or 10 if youre lucky!) to deliver the fly. As a result, you need a line that will deliver the fly with a minimum of false casts in the shortest time.
Assume that while saltwater fly fishing you are going to get only one cast to a given fish, which is usually true. The way to make that first cast count is by testing a variety and selecting the best fly line for the rod and conditions youre fishing.
If you are interested in specific local favorites, contact us and well be happy to provide you with a list of our go-to fly lines.
