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Types of Line Used For Fly Fishing

Backing Line

The first line you will require is a good quality backing line. This should be at least 100 yards long. Backing lines come in a multitude of colours most of which are fluorescent. Unfortunately as pretty as these are to look at they are susceptible to UV degradation. In our opinion the best backing lines are white or grey , made from dacron and should be 20 or 30 lb breaking strain. the backing line attaches to your reel by means of an arbour knot and once wound on your fly line is attached to the backing line. Never use nylon as a backing line.

Fly Line

There are a number of different types of fly line which are graded by weight. The line weight you require will depend on the rod you are using and should be clearly marked on the rod. The types of fly lines include include floating, intermediate, sinking and sink tip or midge lines. Design wise we have Weight forward, double tapered, shooting head and level line. Level lines are in fact old fashioned and more difficult to cast and are not recommended. Neither are any of the other types of lines which sellers describe as "Mill Ends" which are usually shorter than standard fly lines and regarded as "seconds" with some flaws.

Floating fly lines are designed to float as the name suggests. Intermediates are designed to fish sub surface and have a sink rate ib 1.25 - 1.75ips.

Sinking line are clearly meant to be fished subsurface and have a sink rate of between 3ips and 8ips the bigger the number the heavier the line and the quicker it will sink. sinking lines are used mainly on reservoirs lochs etc.

Sink tip and midge tip fly lines are floating fly lines with a leading section of 5 - 14 feet which sinks. It helps the fly sink just under the surface or sink like a stone depending on the length and sink rate of the tip section used.

Weight Forward Fly Lines WF have additional weight at the front (first 10 yards) of the line. The purpose is to provide te caster with an easier casting line and the extra weight also allows lage flies to turn over correctly. However when light flies re being used on long leaders they can fai to give you a good presentation and dump your fly and leader in a heap!

Double Taper Fly Lines DT has a fine fly line taper for the first 15 feet. The line then gradually widens in diameter for the next 60 feet and reduces again for the final 15 feet at the same rate as the front of the line. As both ends are equal it can be reversed. The DT fly line is perfect for most dry fly fishing where presentation of flies on long leaders is necessary.

Shooting Head Fly Lines ST is a weight forward fly line on steroids which was developed for tournament casting. Unless you are are tournament or ompetition caster there is really no reason to use or even own this type of line.

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