RIO are one of the largest manufacturers of fly fishing line in the world, and are specialists in creating fly lines, leaders, and tippet line. This guide will help you to select the ideal RIO fly fishing line to meet your fly fishing requirements.
- correct weight of your fly fishing line
- correct line taper
- required line density (line buoyancy)
- line color
Many factors need to be taken into consideration when it comes to picking the right RIO fly fishing line. The fly fishing line weight is the most important factor and requires that you choose between weight categories of between one and fifteen in which the former is the lightest while the latter is the heaviest. Light line weights are used to catch the smaller species of fish. Light line weights are ideal for making shorter casts with small flies using small rods (on small bodies of water).
Heavier lines are better when you are using larger, heavier, as well as wind-resistant flies. Heavier lines are used with big-game fly rods, and are used to catch the larger species of fish. The size of fly rods are also numbered one to fifteen. It is important to match the proper line weight with the proper rod – the rod’s strength, and relative flex or stiffness must match the fly line you intend using. The fish you are intending to catch determine the line weight you should use.
The line taper is another important consideration when buying fly fishing line, and if properly chosen it will help you make more efficient casts. Taper is the changing diameter of the fly line. Tapers are generally classified into weight-forward, double taper, shooting head, and spey. The double taper (thick part of the line is in the middle, and the thin part on each end) fly line is a good line to use when teaching someone how to cast.
Weight forward line (most of the mass in the front of the line) is the line most used by fly fishermen, and is the most versatile line for most forms of fresh and saltwater fly fishing. With weight forward lines, the length of the taper is important. If you intend casting bigger, heavier flies, then you will want a shorter taper length (3 foot to 4 foot), which will have enough mass at the front of the line to turn over the bigger flies. If casting smaller, lighter flies, then use weight forward line with a longer taper, which will provide you with a softer presentation of the fly (the fly will land softer on the water, which will not spook the fish).
Another important consideration when choosing your RIO fly fishing line is the density of the line, and this affects the buoyancy of the line. Here you can choose between floating (F) lines and Intermediate (I) lines, and also between sinking (S) lines and even floating/sinking (F/S) lines. Most beginner fly fishermen should learn to cast and fish with floating fly lines. Fly fishing is easier when your line is clearly visible on top of the water.
For beginners, the color of your RIO fly fishing line should be extremely visible, so select from colors such as orange, yellow and lime green which are quite visible on top of the water. This helps the beginner to recognize and then easily correct any mistakes made whilst casting. A highly visible fly line also makes its easier to mend the line (straighten the line floating on top of the water) when you are fishing in rivers and streams.
Finally, you have to consider line backing which adds some length to your RIO fly fishing line. Line backing is tied onto your reel spool, and is also tied to your fly line. Line backing gives you extra line length, so that you can catch the strong fish when they decide to take the line and run – you have that extra line to play the fish with.
For the beginner, getting to grips and trying to understand fly fishing line jargon, and the types of fly fishing lines currently available can be confusing. RIO has several brands of fly fishing line that are ideal for the beginner angler in terms of their line characteristics and their price range.
The RIO Mainstream floating fly line is an excellent value-for-money line for beginner anglers, and can be used for any type of freshwater fishing. It comes in 2 weights, a 5-weight for trout fishing, and the 8-weight for bass, steelhead or salmon fishing. The RIO Mainstream line has a weight forward taper, and is a floating line. The line has a lime green color for good visibility and has a shorter front taper which makes it easier for the novice to turnover the fly when casting. The RIO Mainstream fly line is the ideal line if economy is the name of the game, but quality cannot be comprised.
Fly fishing lines for saltwater fly fishing lines are generally more expensive, because they have to be constructed to withstand the more extreme conditions of the sea, and have to be strong enough to handle the larger saltwater fish species. Two good saltwater lines from RIO are the RIO Bonefish fly line (6-weight to 9-weight), and the RIO Tarpon fly line (8-weight to 13-weight).
The RIO Bonefish fly line (6-weight to 9-weight) is a general purpose saltwater fly line, and is designed for warmer conditions, loop control and longer casts. This line can be used for multiple saltwater species, such as bonefish, speckle trout, redfish, bluefish and stripe bass. This saltwater line is a floating line, and is available in a 6 to 9 weight. Complete with the latest RIO fly line technologies XS and Agent X plus a new saltwater coating over a medium stiff core, this new Bonefish fly line for 2009 won’t tangle, won’t melt in the tropical sun, will float higher and will zip through the guides easier.
The RIO Tarpon fly line (8-weight to 13-weight) is a large species saltwater floating fly line, suited for warm water conditions. The perfect line for Tarpon and other tropical species such as permit and redfish. This line has a long back taper for smooth, controlled casts and is slightly heavier than the AFTMA standard to load the rod for quicker and accurate casts, and also to be able to turn over large streamers. The RIO AgentX and XS technologies adds buoyancy to the line as well as slickness so that the line will not tangle, and will run through the guides a lot easier. The Rio Tarpon line is available in a 8 to 13 weight, and is a sea grass color for good visibility.
What floating fly line do you recommend for Stripe Bass fishing off the coast of Maine?