- FLOATING LINE - Use this line for fishing on or near the surface. These lines are buoyant and float along the top of the water. Used for dry fly fishing and nymph fishing with maximum line control in shallow depths.
- SINK TIP LINE - Sink Tip lines are often your best choice for moving water. Unlike floating lines, sinking tip lines reach fish feeding deeper from the surface. And unlike full sink lines, they provide the visability of a floating line for easier strike detection.These lines come in varying sink rates.
- FULL SINK LINE - Full sink lines get down below the surface where fish feed 90% of the time. These lines come in varying sink rates.
Once you have decided what type of line you would like, you will be able to choose a number of different features, styles and designs to find the right line for you. Each line will be available in a number of sizes which must match you rod and reel for maximum balance and performance. Lines come in very small sizes for light weight rods for delicate presentations and smaller fish to heavy lines for big game fish like salmon and steelhead. See below for the Anatomy of a fly line to explore the designs and options for a performance fly line.
Basic Line construction and design.
| ANATOMY OF A FLY LINE
Basic Line construction and design. Fly lines are comprised of two materials: the core and the coating. By modifying these two components, we’re able to create specific performance characteristics that meet specific fly fishing applications. It’s an exacting science. The brands we carry have a rich tradition of perfecting the castability, shootability and durability of every line we offer. So no matter which line you choose, you know it’s the best fly line available for the way you want to fish. |
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| The Core
A line’s core helps determine its tensile strength, stretch and stiffness. Altering any one of these characteristics affects the other two. The strength of a line should be greater than the heaviest tippets used. A 2-weight line may break at 20 lbs. while a heavy saltwater line may test over 40 lbs. Stretch is a parameter that determines your ability to control the line: too much creates a mushy line; too little promotes line memory.Stiffness is determined by application.Tropical heat, for instance, demands a line with a stiffer core that could have too much memory if used in cooler weather. The Coating The coating to the line’s core determines all other aspects of line performance. The coating’s basic function is to provide the casting weight needed to load the fly rod. The fly fishing industry has set precise weight standards which each of our fly lines has been manufactured to meet. The density of the coating helps determine whether the line will float or sink. Scientific Anglers floating lines feature Microballoons™ within the coating to give precise control over line density. The more Microballoons, the lower the line’s density and the higher it floats. Hydrophobic agents are also used in some lines to repel water and increase flotation. The formulations for sinking line coatings allow sink rates from 1.25" to 10" per second. Scientific Anglers lines are powdered tungsten in our sinking line coatings because it is denser and safer than lead. They also incorporate ultraviolet ray inhibitors to protect line coatings from the harmful effects of the sun. Taper Design Taper design is the key to casting performance. The shape of the fly line also determines the fly line’s performance. It’s this shape — or taper — that determines how energy is transmitted and dissipated during casting. By varying the lengths and diameters of the various parts of the fly line, we’re able to control this energy, which allows us to create fly lines with accentuated performance characteristics for specific types of fly fishing. |
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| TIP The level front end section of line — just six inches long — allows you to change leaders without shortening the front taper and thus altering the way the line casts. FRONT TAPER BELLY |
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| REAR TAPER Rear taper length determines how smoothly you can cast. Short rear tapers permit quicker casts, but sacrifice smoothness and control. Longer rear tapers allow smoother casts that are easier to control. HEAD The head — formed by the front taper, belly, and rear taper — dictates the effective casting and control range of a line. Short heads cast quickly, but with little distance. Long heads offer more long-range control, but require more false casting to clear the head from the rod. RUNNING LINE This section helps make distance casting easier. Running lines are very lightweight, which permits the energy stored in the line’s head to pull the running line through the guides during casting. The smaller diameter of the running line also creates less friction in the guides which promotes longer casts. |
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| Types of Tapers - In theory, a fly line is tapered for the appropriate delivery of the leader and fly. But making sure that theory becomes reality requires an exacting procedure that few manufacturers can meet. At Scientific Anglers™ we’ve pioneered taper development and we are committed to achieving the highest levels of taper performance — both in the lab and, most importantly, on the water. The four basic taper types — Level (L), Double Taper (DT), Weight Forward (WF), and Shooting Tapers (ST) — are described here. |
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| LEVEL (L) Untapered lines are the same diameter from end to end, making them more difficult to accurately cast and control. DOUBLE TAPER (DT) With identical tapers on both ends and extra long bellies, DT lines are ideal for short to medium casts. They also effectively dissipate energy for more delicate presentations. WEIGHT FORWARD (WF) WF lines are designed to offer excellent fishability from short to long ranges. The smaller diameter running line reduces resistance for increased distance and control. And WF lines are the easiest to cast because most of the weight is carried in the front section of the line. SHOOTING TAPERS (ST) Also called shooting heads, ST lines provide maximum distance when control and accuracy are less critical. They attach to a small diameter shooting line for less resistance in the rod guides, resulting in the longest possible casts. |
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| Specific Taper Applications | |||||||||
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- Compare these two tapers to see how different designs influence performance. Longer front tapers dissipate energy for delicate presentations. Shorter front tapers transfer more energy from the belly to the tip for powerful turnover. Lines with longer bellies increase casting distance and accuracy. Lines with shorter bellies shoot better, but at the expense of accuracy. Longer rear tapers transmit energy smoothly to belly for more distance and control. Shorter rear tapers put the running line in the guides more quickly for faster casts. | ||||||||
