what fly line

[ryan b]

I am looking for a new fly line for next season. The ultra 4 and the cortland444 peach floater have caught my eye. I have heard people talking about the scierra multi tip but i have never seen any advertised. I want the fly line for general sea trout fishing and rainbows.Can any of you guys reccommend a fly line that you have got on well with or were very impressed with.
cheers.

[buzzerman]

theres only one for me thats the snowbee prestige floater great presentation , i use the ivory one for stockies , and the two toned one for the seatrout the later has got a heavier head for larger flies , but the shoot slickstream is very good as well , alonger head making it also good for larger flies tubes e.t.c.

[Teifi Terrorist]

buzzerman said:

a longer head making it also good for larger flies tubes e.t.c.

Not sure about that one buzzerman? wouldn't a longer head equate to a thinner head, thus making it less appropriate for heavier/larger flies? as it would/does hinge?

I would have thought that lines with a shorter, thicker head are better for heavier/larger flies?

My recommendations would be; either go for a cortland 444 peach (a cracking line that has stood the test of time), or a slightly cheaper cortland 333. Or, I have used the airflo 40+ a lot this season, and with the short thick heads they're a great line for turning over bulky flies such as tubes and surface lures. Also, the head section is quite short, which is a lot more suitable for most of the UK rivers as you get to load the rod a lot quicker, not having to get 20yds out before the line starts to load the rod or before you reach the end of the belly. If you do opt for a standard line, such as the 444, then I would suggest overloading the rod by one i.e. if you have a 7 line rated rod, then put a 8 through it. Over the distances you are likely to be fishing it won't put your rod in jeopardy, however, it will make loading the rod a lot easier, and it will aid in turning over larger flies.

Good luck.

TT.

[silvertourist]

Hi Ryan
the SShoot Slickstream was actually specifically developed for sea trout and salmon fishing. It was developed and tested over a period of a whole season with 6 prototypes to ensure good presentation at both distance and short casting, enabling you to carry and present larger flies. Its a high floater with a longer head allowing easy and quick loading over both long and short distance, the shorter front taper enables you to turn over larger flies with ease. As a cold saltwater line you will find that it also does not reatin memory and is still very slick. The additional factor is that you are also able to use poly leaders without the possibility of hinging.

Although the lines are made to AFTM ratings the head is much longer than most other lines and therefore has more weight, this is where easy and quick loading of the rod comes in to play. As the head is approx 20% longer the weight impact means you do not necessarily have o move up a line weight, this is obviously based on what type of rod action you have. The SlickStream lines have been developed for modern fast action rods and therefore would not advise purchasing one if your rod has a deep through action.
If you require any additional information or clarity on suitability to a rod feel free to mail me as I can then provide you with the necessary information as tests have been carried out not only by us, but by the retailer base, journalists and very well respected casters.

just in case you are wondering i am connected to SShoot and just thought i would join in on the thread to give you a more informed but breif explanation of the line.

Mike

[Teifi Terrorist]

Wasn't having a pop at you or your line, Mike - I'm not that type of person

The Sshoot is a cracking line, and I would say for stillwater or saltwater work - which is, what I believe, it was invented for - it's well designed.

However, I can't comprehend how a thinner line is better for turning over a large fly than a thicker head? surely that's like saying that 0.15mm nylon turns a fly over better than 0.35mm nylon? From my experience it doesn't but hey, each to their own. Also, can't see how a thin line can load as well over a short distance as it can over a long distance? surely the more line out then the more 'load' you have to cast with? hence why the sshoot line has a hauling zone i.e. where the line should be launched from, having met some form of equilibrium? I'm no expert, but I'm sure the likes of whitehunter who's a bit of a 'casting-spotter' ;D can clarify.

TT.

[silvertourist]

Hi Steffan
never thought you were having a crack. Although it is well suited for Stillater distance casting i am puzzled why you think it's a stillawter line and why you consider its a thin line when it is exactly the opposite. It is only the running line behind the head that is thin, the head itself is approx 20% longer than most other lines in that category, that is also backed up by general consensus of the market that us it. The major development was done on rivers and was designed specifically for turning over larger flies for Salmon and sea trout fishing at both close range and distance with testing carried out on rivers like the Namsen whic is a huge river (like a flood at times), down to small rivers you could hop skip and jump accross. The line was actually developed by a friend, a former Loop and now LTS demonstrator and the general consensus of many top and known casters who have tested it re-affirm exactly those points. The hauling zone was developed to give you the maximum sweet spot for loading the rod for distance again confirmed by nthe market. Even Illtyd Griffiths an fanatical sea trout fisher came to congratulate us on an excellent development at the BFF in 2005.

It might be worth checking out what the independent reviews made of the performance themselves- Fly Fishing & Fly tying- Rutland- Fish Wild on line mag etc.

Clips below- full reviews on www.sshoot.com

WF 7- This is a shooters line. I consistently found myself carrying 55ft to 60ft of line, ie the head and a good few feet of running line, and shooting the rest. Carrying beyond 60ft felt both awkward, time consuming and rather pointless given the distances I acheived with shoot. The SlickStream deals with all the fishing distances i need and more. "Considerably more". Read full review

Magnus Angus- Fly Fishing & Fly Tying Magazine May Issue 2006


WF 7- Double hauling with this line using the 'hauling zone' created good line speed, tight loops and the line cast almost effortlessly. The distance cast was impressive with only minimal hauls. Roll casting using this line is very effective. "This line can and will improve your distance casting and accuracy as it removes the effort that can often spoil casts causing accuracy to decrease". Read full review

D Luckhurst STANIC- www.Sea Trout Fisher.net April 2006


WF-7 We have tested these lines, using a Sage XP 10ft #7 and a New Orvis ZERO Gravity 10ft #7. The results were excellent; we used the 7-weight line for the test. I found that the claims for easy loading within the hauling zone to be absolutely right, and when used into wind the turn over and distance achieved was more than I could have expected. Read full review


Mike

[buzzerman]

hi stef what i ment to say was the two tone snowbee is heavyer all though they state it is not , but the shoot is a much longer line with a longer head

[silvertourist]

Hi Buzzerman
that is correct and hence the longer head the weight is also more eveny displaced, thats what allows the flexibilty on casting performance and presentation of larger flies. That is the SlickStream Distance of course and not the SP

[silvertourist]

Hi Robert
i can see your point but it would not be in anyones interest to give incorrect advise no matter how good or bad a product if you are in busuness for the long term and not a quick hit. Its Very easy to get a bad name and very hard to get a good one.

As already mentioned the lines are manufactured to AFTM ratings but the Q then begs what defines AFTM on rods as they become even stiffer and why would you want to step one line wt up when buying a line. Is that not a true definition of overloading. Anyone stepping up a line wt generally does it to compensate for their casting ability, or the rod action is stiffer than a true 7wt, if a rod breaks due to overloading who is to blame. What happens when you buy a line with a dual rating, how then do you classify that and how do you make your decision. Under such circumstances it is considered that a rod that breaks with overloading is either due to misuse and abuse or a manufacturing fault and all amnufacturers know that if its a manufacturing fault it will break within the first few outings as the weekness will expose itself. Their is lots of discussion about rod and line ratings etc as to which you will probarbly find very good info on Sexy Loops from some of the worlds best fishermen and fly casters.

A final point is am not trying to sell a line here just point out the attributes. As Steffan pointed out its horses for courses. Dont you like to try before you buy, i certanly do and I dont get involved with anything i dont beleive in. I am possibly quite lucky living only 200 meters from great SWFF for sea trout and many many more places too, and i have 6 of Europes top salmon rivers on my doorstep, i therefore have lots of opportunity to test lots of other equipment to which some truly impress me but again its horses for courses.

Hope that helps a little

Mike

[scotty]

courtland 444, i have several of these line and they are all great, i have a 555 gold floater it is just as good though mabye just a bit lighter than the 444, i have just returned a 555 ghost tip floater,it snapped and the memory was terrible i have just put my new lee wulff tt 5 weight onto my real cant wait to get out and try it.

scotty.

[howell]

Hi Ryan

The Cortland 444 peach floater is a great line but I have had a few problems with durability with them in the past. If you get one make sure to clean it regularly after use.

I purchased a WF8 Cortland 333 'moonglow white' floater this year and that is a good line for night fishing. Remember, white lines are far easier to see in the dark, flu orange or peach lines etc are nowhere near as visible. Check out a couple of websites such as Sportsmail, Sportfish & Tacklebargains who have been selling these lines recently for as little as £15.

[ryan b]

thanks a lot everyone,much appreciated. i think i will have a look at the sshoot line.

[Hoppy]

Ryan, i have a Slickstream line and i like it alot, i have ditched the Snowbee and i am now using the slickstream for all my floater work!

Hoppy

[macemu]

Ryan, I am very surprised at you, do you never listen to what anyone on the leven tells you about mill ends, ok so their cheap, thats what we all use and have done for years and still had no problems. And when you think about it £5-99 is'nt that bad for a line that will do you 3-4 full season's for sea trout and rainbow bashing. C you on the river next time your down with JC and your off......