Fly line explained

The fly line is, unlike ordinary fishing line, thick and heavy, and that is the whole point: it is the line’s weight that loads the rod and carries out the weightless fly. For put and take it is enough to understand two things about it, namely the profile (usually WF) and how it behaves in the water (floats, sinks slowly or sinks).

WF – the profile

WF stands for Weight Forward and means the weight is gathered in the front part of the line. That makes it easy to cast and the standard choice for beginners. The line is given in a class, and it should match the rod and the fly reel, for example class 5. A line in the wrong class makes the rod feel either dead or overloaded, and the cast suffers.

Floating, intermediate and sinking – the depth

This decides how deep you fish, and it is really your most important setting in fly fishing:

  • Floating line lies on the surface. Easiest to cast and control, good for fishing near the surface and for beginners.
  • Intermediate sinks very slowly and keeps the fly just under the surface, good when the fish hold a little deeper but not on the bottom.
  • Sink-tip and sinking line take the fly down into the depth, either only the front part or the whole line.

For rainbow trout fishing it is valuable to have at least a floating line and an intermediate or sink-tip, so you can meet the fish wherever it holds. Many solve that neatly with spare spools for the fly reel.

Start simple

As a beginner you get a floating WF line in the rod’s class and learn to cast with it. It is enough for a lot of the fishing. If you notice the fish hold deeper you add a sinking line. A Booby fished on sinking line just above the bottom is a classic trick when the fish stay down, see streamer fishing.

Look after the line

A fly line lasts longer and casts better if it is kept clean. Wipe it now and then, and clean it sometimes with lukewarm water and a little mild soap, so it glides more easily through the rings. Avoid leaving it in sharp sunlight for a long time. More about lines in general is under lines and leaders.

FAQ

Which fly line should a beginner start with?

A floating WF line in the same class as the rod. It is the easiest to cast with and is enough for a large part of put-and-take fishing.

When do I need sinking line?

When the fish hold deep and will not come up to a floating line. Then an intermediate or sink-tip helps get the fly down to the right depth.

What does the class on the line mean?

The class gives the line’s weight and should match the rod’s and the reel’s class, for example class 5. The right class means the rod is loaded as it is built for and the cast works.

How do I look after the fly line?

Wipe it now and then and clean it sometimes with lukewarm water and mild soap. A clean fly line glides better through the rings and casts further. Avoid leaving it in sharp sunlight for long.

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