Hi all,
I'm finally getting back in to some fishing again after a few years of doing v little. I'm still using a floater that I got from Fred many moons ago. The line served me very well but think it's time to get a replacement. Thing is...I've no idea where to start.
Usually I'd fish a double taper #5 coupled with my Gatti FRM 9ft. I focus mainly on dry fly in rivers with no real long casting required. I went to angling store today and saw what seemed like hundreds of varieties... lost...Any recommendations?
Cheers,
Tom
Pretty much all are good these days. You can't go wrong with Scientific Anglers and Rio, expensive but great and last a long time.
Quote from: admin on November 20, 2020, 07:35:11 PM
Pretty much all are good these days. You can't go wrong with Scientific Anglers and Rio, expensive but great and last a long time.
Scientific Anglers (excellent lines) are owned by Orvis and make the Orvis lines. I have just had a voucher offering £25 off Orvis products which brings down the price down to a more reasonable level - and it is worth keeping an eye on their sale page as I bought some one year for £20.
I like the Orvis "Trout" lines on my light rods - now on my fourth season with one. I also agree with Fred that most lines are good these days - but I have not tried Airflo again after my hopeless early experience with them!
Thanks guys.
Do you both use WF for dries on river? I see most lines are sold in that design.
I use WF lines for everything. As long as the head of the WF is within the tip ring they feel pretty much the same.
Quote from: admin on November 20, 2020, 09:43:50 PM
I use WF lines for everything. As long as the head of the WF is within the tip ring they feel pretty much the same.
Ditto.
I got two and a half seasons use out of a Barrio floater. That is with zero line care You can buy three for the price of a Rio line .
Another vote for Barrio lines, especially at the price. I particularly like the SLX and the small stream. Worth emailing Mike Barrio, he's very helpful in matching his lines to your fishing etc. You need to watch some of the other makes as they tend to make the lines a half to one size heavier than stated. Barrio lines have full details of head length and line weights.
The cheap "clone" lines are OK, but lines from Rio / SA etc are vastly superior and I say that as one who used to sell lines myself. The coatings of premier brands are much smoother and the lines last longer. I bought 2 x Rio and one SA line of different weights 5 years ago and they are still as good as they were then and shoot more effectively than any other lines I have used. Alex who is the best angler I know by a mile was telling me this for years and I wish I'd listened to him sooner. The absolute best line I have owned is an SA trout taper, it was a revelation to cast.
Buy cheap lines if that's all you can afford, but don't expect a Ferrari if you buy a Lada. :lol:
I use quite a few Rio salmon lines. They are just as capable of falling to bits as any other line.
If you want to go cheap these are worth a try. 1/3 of the price of Barrio lines. No fancy boxes and spools to bin either and welded loop built in. I tried one years ago and it was as good as any other cheap line. Caimore do decent budget gear, great fly boxes too.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Voodoo-Fly-Line-Caimore-Weight-Forward-Floating-Choice-Sizes-/110830346405?var=&hash=item5f7a703b5a
I have used the Air Cel range for many a year including the one below & have never been disappointed.
https://www.fishingmegastore.com/fly-lines/scientific-anglers-air-cel-floating-fly-line~30043.html?&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=SHP_CSS&housecode=SA1395&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwPGUntmT7QIVWO3tCh1gHAT9EAQYASABEgKXcPD_BwE
Tight Lines
I still use a Wetcel 1. Seen better days, but still useable!
There used to be another seller on Ebay who did his own lines. Made in the same factory as Barrio lines but much less expensive at well under £15. Kinnkele I think he was called or something like that. I bought a few of his HD lines and they were very good.
I bought a Wulf TT in 2002. I still use it as my main #5 floater. Some wear but I consider it supreme value.
Snowbee lines are quite good and not too pricey.
I also have lines from loop, wulff, rio etc but the price of some of these lines now is getting out of order :shock:
Quote from: Hill loch gold on November 22, 2020, 03:21:13 PM
Snowbee lines are quite good and not too pricey.
I also have lines from loop, wulff, rio etc but the price of some of these lines now is getting out of order :shock:
I agree, over maybe the last 5 years I've been using the Rio Versatip line as I really like being able to change tips when it suits me and in a few seconds plus not needing to carry extra reels or spools or whatever. However they are now £179 I think!! I mean, for a bit of string? The other thing is that I don't get to fish that much, I only fish when I'm on Lewis and even there I have lots of other things to do as well, and I'm on my 3rd of those Rio lines in the approx 5 years I've been using them, the previous 2 simply wore out.
If you fancy a SA line, Glasgow Angling Centre has some very decent sale prices on just now for a wide range of Scientific Angler lines.
I really like the Sharkwave (but noisy when shooting though) that is on sale.
Quote from: Laxdale on November 20, 2020, 09:50:28 PM
I got two and a half seasons use out of a Barrio floater. That is with zero line care You can buy three for the price of a Rio line .
Only snag just now is Mike at Barrio is struggling to get stock in . His lines are constantly out of stock just now . Snowbee lines are good . But if you want to spend a but more Rio lines are as good as it gets .
Quote from: Suki1312 on December 12, 2020, 07:13:22 PM
But if you want to spend a but more Rio lines are as good as it gets .
You get what you pay for. I have 2 Rio Gold - 4 and 5 weight. They have lasted for years. Assuming you don't stand on them with tackety boots you will get more casts per £ than with cheap lines. They are expensive though.
Tom,
Your original query was for a replacement for a DT5 floater for river use not usually at long range. So a totally reliable very long lasting replacent is a Cortland 333 DT5. You will get it by looking about online for about £30. It will last very well and do everything you want. All else is just marketing bahooky.