The fly fishing world is full of nuances, and nowhere is this more evident than in fly fishing lines. Today’s fly line technology gives manufacturers nearly unlimited options when designing tapers, coatings, densities, and sink rates. As a result, anglers now have access to specialized fly lines for nearly every fishery on earth—from small mountain streams to big rivers, lakes, and saltwater flats.
What Does This Mean for You, the Angler?
Fly lines are designed to float or sink. Manufacturers add material to the fly line core and/or coating to make it sink. We have written this article to help you make sense of the wide array these sinking fly lines. Despite all the technology, the most important question in fly fishing hasn’t changed:
What do the fish want to eat—and where are they feeding in the water column?
Modern fly patterns are tied using an enormous variety of materials, allowing fly tiers to create precise shapes, profiles, and sink characteristics. From perdigon nymphs to large articulated streamers, today’s flies fish differently than ever before. This evolution in fly design has driven the need for multiple sinking and floating fly line options.
Floating Fly Lines: The Industry Standard
The floating fly line remains the most popular and versatile option for freshwater fly fishing—and it’s still the top-selling line at Murray’s Fly Shop.
Specialty floating fly lines allow anglers to fine-tune performance for specific fisheries and techniques. Lines like the Scientific Anglers Trout Expert, Bass Bug, and Bonefish Taper floating fly lines are designed to handle different fly sizes, casting styles, and conditions while maintaining excellent presentation and control.
Fly Lines and Leaders That Sink
When it comes to sinking fly lines, the terminology can quickly become confusing—especially for anglers new to fly fishing with different fly lines.
Years ago, fly lines were commonly labeled by grain weight (200, 300, 400 grain). This loosely indicated how fast the line would sink. A heavier grain weight generally meant a faster sink rate. Today, manufacturers use more refined systems, and each brand may use slightly different nomenclature.
Sinking “Leaders” or Heads
A Sinking Leader, like the Scientific Anglers Sonar Leader is a short line, or head, that is designed to attach to your fly line. Then you attach a nylon monofilament or fluorocarbon leader or tippet to attach to your fly. These leaders or heads are available in several sink rates and lengths. These do not require an additional reel or spool since they integrate with your existing fly line.
Sinking Tip Fly Lines
A sinking tip fly line features a floating rear section and a sinking front section—often marked by a color change. The length and weight of the sinking portion vary and allow anglers to get flies down while maintaining easier casting than a full sinking line.
Full Sinking Fly Lines
A full sinking fly line is designed so the entire line sinks at a consistent rate. These lines are best for deeper water, lakes, or strong currents where maintaining depth is critical.
Check out Part Two for a more in depth look at each of these styles of fly line next week. We’ll simplify things by breaking sinking fly lines down by where they fish in the water column.
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