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Fly lines: much more than string

By BOB PUCCINELLI

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 28, 2001

There are three major components to every fly-fishing outfit: the rod, reel and fly line.

The fly rod is the most important part of the outfit. It casts the line and fights the fish.

But without the proper fly line, an expensive rod is useless, and you might as well be fishing with a broom handle.

Selecting the correct line weight for your rod is easy, but picking the line configuration that's conducive to your style of fishing and the climate can be a little more difficult. If you add up all the companies, weights, tapers and sink rates of lines on the market, you'll find there are more than a thousand to choose from. To simplify the choice, it helps to know a little about fly line tapers and cores.

Most saltwater fly fishermen use a weight-forward taper, which consists of two sections: the head and the running line. The head is made up of the tip, the front taper, the belly and the rear taper.

The tip is the short, thin portion at the end of the line. Its purpose is to have a place to connect the leader and to provide a quieter presentation of the fly.

The front taper is the transition portion of the line between the belly and the tip. It gradually changes the diameter of the line and determines how the fly is delivered. Short tapers deliver the fly with more power, making them ideal for casting large, wind-resistant hair bugs and poppers. Longer tapers present the fly with more finesse, perfect for demanding situations such as sight-fishing for tailing redfish.

The belly of the line is the longest portion and has the largest diameter. This part carries most of the energy and determines the distance of the cast.

The rear taper also is a transition portion of the line and is located between the belly and the running line. Like the front taper, it gradually changes the diameter of the line, but instead of affecting how the fly turns over, it controls the smoothness of the cast. Short rear tapers are made for quick casts when pinpoint accuracy is not as important. Long rear tapers make the cast a little slower but usually smoother.

The running line might be the most overlooked. It's the section that causes more line-management headaches than all others combined. Theoretically, the thinner and lighter the running line is, the easier it passes through the guides and the longer the cast. This is great until the wind twists a thin running line like a pretzel.

Beefier running lines don't cast as far, but it's a small concession for more control.

The core of the line affects casting -- generally speaking, stiff line casts better. There are three common types of core materials: braided dacron, braided monofilament and single-strand monofilament.

Single-strand monofilament cores come in many specialty lines, most with a clear coating. Mono-cores can be very stiff with a lot of memory, which causes the line to twist and foul, but these lines are fine in warmer climates.

Braided dacron has been around for years and is the most popular core, especially in fresh water. It's pliable and performs well in colder climates. Around Tampa Bay, this material works well in the winter and isn't bad when wading.

Braided monofilament is the core of choice for most companies that make saltwater fly lines. It is more stiff than dacron in hot weather and doesn't have as much memory as single-strand monofilament. For year-round fishing around Tampa Bay, this material is probably best.

The perfect fly line for every situation does not exist. Ask around at fly shops, they have a lot of experience and will steer you in the right direction.

-- Bob Puccinelli is co-host of Let's Talk Fishing (8-10 a.m. Sundays) on WQYK-AM 1010 and can be reached at www.toddandbob.com

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