Fly Fishing Lines: Learn how to choose Fly Fishing Line that will catch the most fish. This section contains expert advice on basic gear rules, fly line care, and more. Choosing the right fly fishing lines will help you get to where the fish are. Learn how to select the best fly lines for your fishing needs.
SELECT THE BEST FLY FISHING LINE
The weight of the lure being cast pulls the monofilament line off the reel in spin fishing. The weight of the fly fishing line being cast - i.e., the main line attached to the fly line backing - carries the fly to the fish in fly fishing. The "presentation" of the fly is created by the fly fishing line you use and the way you cast it. To catch fish, you must present your fly in the water column in the manner in which the fish expect to see their prey. That is made possible by having the proper fly lines among your fly fishing equipment.
BY SHAPE AND CONSTRUCTION
These characteristics influence how the fly fishing line delivers the fly. You want to deliver the fly where and how the fish expect to see their prey when fly fishing. To do so, select fly lines with the appropriate length, weight, taper, colour, specific gravity, and coating for the fish you want to catch.
BY LENGTH AND WEIGHT
The weight of fly fishing line is distributed throughout its length - from 90 to 105 feet or more - but its weight designation (1- through 15-weight) is determined by the weight of the fly line's front 30 feet. To match the fly lines, use your rod and reel as a guide. A 5-weight fly fishing line, for example, is a good match for a 4/5/6 fly reel mounted on a 5-weight fly rod.
Also Read: Fly Fishing | Best Fly Fishing Flies
BY TAPERS
The taper design allows fly lines to shoot, turn over a heavy fly, present a small fly delicately, or cast efficiently over long or short distances. The taper (outside dimension) of the fly line is created by varying the thickness of the line coating. Take note of the terminology used to describe a fly line: tip, front taper, belly, rear taper, head, and running line.
All of these variables can be changed to alter the casting performance of the line. Fly fishing lines are classified into five design categories: level (L), weight-forward (WF), double-taper (DT), shooting-taper (ST), and specialty tapers. Weight-forward, double-taper, and specialty fly lines are the most common.
BY COLOUR
Unlike clear monofilament fly fishing leader line, the main fly fishing line is available in a variety of colours. Brightly coloured fly fishing line is preferred by some anglers in order to see where their line is in the air and on the water. Others prefer fly lines that blend in with the environment in which they are fishing.
Also Read: Fly Fishing | Aquatic Fly Fishing Insects
They reason that fish see colours, so why frighten them with colours they aren't used to seeing? Seeing an unusual object in the water, on the other hand, may direct fish toward your fly as they try to avoid it. Keep a variety of colours in your tackle box so you can determine what colour fly line works best for you based on what's biting.
BY COATING
Fly fishing lines are made up of a core, an inner layer, and an outer layer coating (usually polyvinylchloride). The taper effect is achieved by varying the thickness of the outer layer. These fundamental elements are varied to make form follow function.
Fly lines, for example, float because the surface coating is designed with tiny air bubbles. If the manufacturer instead adds lead or tungsten to the fly line's coating, the line will sink. Manufacturers distinguish these designs by labelling fly lines with a (F) for floating line and a (S) for sinking line.
SINKING FLY LINES
Because more than 90% of a fish's feeding occurs beneath the surface, you'll need fly lines that can get your fly underwater quickly and slowly.
Full-sinking fly fishing lines are designed to get flies down to the level where the fish are feeding and are best suited for fishing in still waters. The key to successfully using them is to match the sink rate of the fly line to the fishing conditions.
Fly lines that sink uniformly (evenly) or head first are ideal for fishing lakes and ponds because they allow for better strike detection. Because they do not sink uniformly, some sinking fly lines tend to belly in the middle. Because the belly creates a sensory disconnect between the angler and the fish, the angler misses strikes before the fish rejects the fly. Uniform-sinking fly fishing lines connect to the fly in a straight line, allowing you to detect a higher percentage of strikes and catch more fish.
Also Read: Fly Fishing | Fly Fishing Starter Flies
SINKING-TIPS
Sinking-tips (best used in moving water) are sinking sections of fly fishing line (typically 8 to 15 feet in length) attached to the front of floating lines. They're great for shallow and deep nymphing, mending fly lines for a drag-free float, and turning over and sinking very large streamers in riverbank and pool fishing.
FLY FISHING LINE CARE TIPS
- Because fly fishing lines accumulate dirt and algae on their surface, making casting difficult, and floating fly lines sink, they should be washed in mild soap and water and wiped dry or cleaned with a line cleaner after use.
- Allow the fly line to dry in the shade after cleaning (ultraviolet light from the sun destroys the chemicals in a line), or wipe the line dry and dress it with the manufacturer's lubricant or Armor-All. Some newer fly fishing lines require less dressing because the line coating contains lubricants that gradually weep to the surface.
- When you're done fishing, remove the fly and wind the line onto the reel until your next trip. Long storage on a reel can cause reel coils in the fly line, but the coils are easily removed by stretching or casting the line. Clean your fly lines thoroughly at the end of the season and rewind them onto their original line spools.
- Always store your fly lines away from direct sunlight. The sun's ultraviolet rays and high heat can quickly deteriorate the coating chemicals on the fly line. Under normal conditions, fly fishing lines should last three to five years if properly cared for.
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