Selecting a Fly Line

See: [Trout Fly Fishing] [Saltwater Fly Fishing]
[Balanced Fly Fishing Gear] [Fly Tying] [Fly Casting]

There are several different fly line tapers designed to best meet various conditions and situations. As mentioned, the weight of the fly line is what delivers and presents the fly to a fish. Fly line tapers are designed to make casting easier, facilitate longer casts, maintain good line control, and present the fly with minimum splash and disturbance. There are several popular tapers for varied conditions including:

RIO Products makes some very fine products and their fly lines are especially good quality. Their web site is very good place to learn about fly lines and many other fly fishing products.

Image taken from RIO Products

• Level tapers actually have no taper. The line is uniform weight and width for its entire length. Level tapers are not very popular today as they have the rap of being difficult to cast and control, being splashy when laying on the water, and being tough to pick up off the water. They are often the least expensive fly lines available due to their ease of manufacturer (no taper). The author suggest that beginners not use level lines due to the difficulty of casting.
• A double taper line has a uniformly thicker middle section and has a gradual taper down on both ends. The light taper near the fly allows for the fly line to land gently on the water without creating a spectacle. The weighted middle of the fly line is good for general casting and roll casting. The second taper of a double taper allows the fly to be reversed should one end be damaged.
• The weight forward taper fly line is now the most popular fly line. A weight forward line has extra weight and width built into the first 30 or so feet of the fly line with the rest of the line uniform and of smaller size. This a substantial advantage for longer casts, casting big flies, and/or casting in wind. The author recommends weight forward tapers for beginners due to the ease of casting. Weight forward is very helpful for big bugs and heavy streamers.
• Shooting tapers are a specialized line that is uniformly thin for most of the line and then heavily weighted on the forward 20 feet near the fly. This taper can greatly increase casting distance for the experienced angler. The heavy forward section cause substantial disturbance when landing on the water so it should only be used when this is not a problem. The beginner should not use this taper due to casting difficulty.

Of course this is only a guide.

Another aspect of the fly is the sink rate and the color. Almost all anglers need a floating fly line. A sinking line, and especially a sinking tip line, is good backup for moving your nymph or wet fly deep in fast water. The author chooses a bright color for top water such that it is easy to see. He chooses a dark color for sub-surface fishing.