Your favorite dry fly line?

[brookie maniac]

I'm looking to buy a spare spool for my current fly reel which is loaded up with Rio Nymph line. This line is my #1 floating line for nymph and light streamer fishing, but it's not my choice for casting a tiny mayfly in gin clear water. Any suggestions/reviews/recommendations? My rod has a fast action and is a nine foot five weight. Anything regarding your personal experience with a dry fly line will be greatly appreciated.

 

[JeffK]

I generally go with the old classic the Cortland 444 peach double taper. Have been getting the Hook & Hackle olive DT lines lately since they are half the price of the other brands and cast roughly the same as the Cortland peach.

At my regular dry fly distance I'm not sure double taper or weight forward makes any difference. However, you can switch ends on a double taper and get twice the life. Due to cutting tolerance, the thin part at the head of the line is often a touch long. If you find your line isn't turning over nicely and the front seems to be a constant thin diameter for some length, cut it down to where the taper starts.

Most reputable companies make a decent line these days, so I frequently check out the bargain bins at fly shops. Royal Wulff, Rio, Scientific Anglers have good lines. Be careful though. The bargain bins are filled with weird specialty tapers (just get a basic floating DT or WF IMHO for trout dry flies). The fly fishing industry always has to have the latest and greatest to get us to buy new lines. Most of these end up in the bargain bin while the classic floating DT or WF Cortlands, Rios, Scientific Anglers, etc never seem to go out of style. Ramsey Outdoors recently had a lot of good lines in the sale pile - but they seem to getted picked over more each day.

Get a decent line - it is more important than the rod.

Finally, you will hear endless arguments over color. I'm not sure it makes a lot of difference. However, PA limestone guys I respect go with dull shades of gray and olive for camoflage. Other guys like the bright oranges and chartreuse to follow the line. For dry flies on trout streams I like muted colors like peach, tan, and olive just because it looks right to me. Fly fishing doesn't always have to make sense.

 

[NJpatbee]

I have been using the Cortland 444 DT Peach since it came out on waters from the Beaverkill to the Letort. I have not had a reason to use any other floating line, but almost all of my trout fishing is within 40 feet of fly line. If I were to give the Big D a try again I might go with a weight forward line or other distance line. But for the most part I don't even think about it - Cortland 444 is the line I use. I agree that reputable manufacturers are all making good fly lines, and it comes down to personal preference and cost.

 

[brookie maniac]

Question: do you like DT or WF lines for medium to large sized rivers when dry fly fishing? Right now, I'm leaning towards Rio Trout LT or Scientific Anglers XPS, but I haven't come to any major decision yet.

 

[coolkyle]

Everyone is going to have their own opinion. Personally I refuse to pay more than $50 for a line, mostly because I beat the shit out of my lines. For dry flies I just love the Rio Mainstream, it has a pretty delicate taper for a $35 line. The line is rather bright, so I rarely use leaders shorter than 11 feet. It's good for light nymphing and also holds up well to freezing temps.

 

[sandfly]

any floating line will do, its your choice on brand and price

 

[brookie maniac]

Yeah, I know. But I have money to blow so I guess I should get a good product. I just want something that's worth the price, delicate, and easy to drift. This is dry fly fishing, so I need something that floats for a while and presents the fly nicely. I'm looking for suggestions on a specific brand and/or product that someone has had success with.

 

[pitbull]

Yeah, I know. But I have money to blow so I guess I should get a good product. I just want something that's worth the price, delicate, and easy to drift. This is dry fly fishing, so I need something that floats for a while and presents the fly nicely. I'm looking for suggestions on a specific brand and/or product that someone has had success with.

sci anglers presentation line..u will love it..

 

[brookie maniac]

Yeah, it looks real good. Is it the xps series? Or something else...

 

[dcabarle]

Wulff Triangle Taper. You'll never usee another line again.

 

[Broadheadscreek]

If you have a pile of cash buy a few of the lines suggested as what everyone else likes you may not.It all hinges on your casting style and what type of water you will be fishing mainly and the rod you will be using. That being said I fish nearly everyday all year long and have used Rio and Orvis lines most of the time and have had no problems with them.They work well both in hot or extreme cold conditions. I can usually get a year out of a line and 2 if it's a double taper.Also by cleaning your line after each use will get you more life.

 

[BRK TRT]

I have used Orvis fly lines for years.
I recieve a coupon from them worth 25.00 from time to time and thats when I'll buy the line.



Brk Trt

 

[brookie maniac]

Question: do you prefer DT or WF lines? I know that you get twice as much out of a DT line, but I have used WF lines for years and know that they shoot very well. Will there be a difference in presentation/casting ability if I use a DT line? Right now, I'm leaning towards Rio trout LT or Scientific Anglers XPS. But I don't know whether I should get DT or WF.

 

[afishinado]

Most line mfg. make the front taper of the WF & DT pretty much the same. A WF tapers down to a thin running line for shooting on longer casts, while a DT remains the same diameter, and has a mirror image of the taper on the opposite end. Shorter casts, no real difference between the two. Longer casts, WF shoots line better. Short on cash, you can flip around the DT line when it wears out on one end and double it’s life.

My favorite trout line is Wulff TT. It is tapered all the way to the running line. It casts well, is excellent for roll casting, and maybe is a little better for delicate casts, because of the taper, more of the weight of the line is farther away from the fish.

Although, I really wouldn’t sweat using any decent floating line.

 

[brookie maniac]

That helps. So many people like the triangle taper and it's a pretty reliable line when it comes to delicate presentations and casting at all distances. I just wish that they made a few more colors in their lines. What are your favorite colors for dry fly lines? Everyone has talked about their favorite lines, but not their favorite dry fly lines.

 

[Zonk]

What are your favorite colors for dry fly lines? Everyone has talked about their favorite lines, but not their favorite dry fly lines.

The SA XPS fishes dries well when used on medium action rods. They discontinued the bright orange color, so I stocked up on a few closeouts in the $30 range. New lines run about $70 now and seem to increase by $5 a year.

Zonk

 

[brookie maniac]

That sounds like a pretty nice buy for $30. You said the xps works well with medium action rods, but what about fast action rods? Will it be an issue if I buy the xps for my fast action rod? I did some research about the Triangle Taper and was corrected about the color variety. It seems like a great line and right now, it's my #1 choice with xps as my second choice.

 

[Zonk]

That sounds like a pretty nice buy for $30. You said the xps works well with medium action rods, but what about fast action rods? Will it be an issue if I buy the xps for my fast action rod? I did some research about the Triangle Taper and was corrected about the color variety. It seems like a great line and right now, it's my #1 choice with xps as my second choice.

I honestly don't know how the XPS is on a fast action rod, as I've only used it on medium action rods.

You certainly can't go wrong with a Wulff TT which is also a great line.

Zonk

 

[brookie maniac]

From what I've heard about the Triangle Taper, there's nothing wrong with it and it definitely fits my needs for delicate presentation. The xps is a little unclear to me and I don't like the color of the line. What's the point of having a white running line with a "dark willow" tip? I just think triangle taper is an all around better line.

 

[Steve24]

I have been using a 5 wt Scientific Anglers trout taper since December. Casts very nicely, feels light an accurate, especially with smaller dries and nymphs. Doesn't cast the bigger nymphs and streamers as well though but they are still very castable.

 

[brookie maniac]

That's different. I've looked at the trout taper before and have found it very good it terms of color, casting, etc. It certainly is used by many, more than the xps, so it seems like a solid and reliable line.

 

[Karel]

I just bought a new dry fly line for my new 4wt... went to the fly shop and did some test casting. I am now the "proud" owner of an Airflo Ridge Line. Used it last Sunday for the first time on the water, floats nice & high.

 

[LyNcH]

I am in the process of changing my line over to Wulff Triangle taper as all my Orvis lines wear out. I like the Orvis Gen 3 wonderlines, but love the Wulff.

 

[CatskillKid]

Best Dry Fly Lines In Order:
1. Sci Ang. Sharkskin. By a mile, not even close. SO WHAT IF IT MAKES A LITTLE NOISE???? AND? Zilch Memory, Floats higher than any other line on the planet earth, self cleaning, ingenious taper that gains energy as it unfurls, self cleaning, Fishes exceptionally well out to distances of 70 feet (Ever fish a spinner fall on the main stem of the Delaware, pancake flat water, huge rainbows sipping..etc. Get the line in Chart (not Grey) because at dusk and dawn, you simply can't see Grey.
2. Rio Trout L/T for lighter, flexier rods and Rio Gold for faster ones. Terrific taper that really loads and fishes weill at most distances. Treat it with Agent X and clean it regularly and you'll have a truly superior line.
3. Sci Anglers Expert Distance (similar to Gold but no two color feature)
4. Cortland Platinum, Dry Tip technology keeps it floating well and white front end it excellent for visibility.
5. Air Flow Lines, super all around lines and I have zero complaints with their supple features and excellent tapers.

 

[skipper3245]

When sharkskin came out, I said no way would I pay that much for a fly line. I though the GPX standard model was already high. I went one year saying the same thing, telling myself and others that it is not worth it, and actually told people it sucked, without even trying it haha. Fished it one day since my buddy had it on his 7wt. I went right from the river and bought it. Got a lot of crap about it at the fly shop since I shunned it for so long, but its wayyyy worth it. Have not tried it on the spey yet, but I am sure it will make all the difference when it comes to mending. I am very very impressed.

 

[CatskillKid]

I felt the same way about the price. But the tread said the best, so...If this be error and upon me prov'd, no man ever writ, nor no man ever lov'd.

Seriously though, I get such a laugh out of the cow-pokes who cry about their fingers getting all torn up. My God. Lot's of people criticisze what they don't understand. But people who actually use Sharkskin and fish it hard will tell you all about it. As far as a dry fly line, it is hands down the best.