Wonderline

[notime]

I am looking to buy a clear intermediate line for striper fishing. Any thoughts on the Orvis Sly Line Wonderline? I also looked at Cabela's Prestige Plus No-vis which is $20 cheaper. I know Orvis tends to be over priced, but $20 is a big difference and I'm concerned about the quality of the Cabela. I plan on using the line for years so I don't want to be penny wise and pound foolish.

Thanks in advance.

[Sagebrush]

I recently bought the Airflo clear intermediate at Old Salt Outfitters (Cohasset) in the bargain bin. It was an 11 but I only paid $16. They had others just no 10wt.

I really like the way the line feels. I wasn't a big fan of the early Cortland's. The tapered running line had memory problems and the texture slowed the line down.

I know nothing of Cabela's, I'd stick with someone who has been making clear lines for a while. Orvis probably would be better out of the gates but they have had there share of offerings that were more hyped than innovative offerings. Of course I'm being a little harsh, innovation comes with it's trials and tribulations.


Probably didn't answer your question.

P.s. to all of you who think I only like shooting heads. I really like long lines, I just prefer heads for mixed and heavy currents from shore.

Now that I have a boat and a better angle on the fish, and I was a pre ladder fly fisherman, I want a fresh line that gives me pin point accuracy. I might have to tweak the line a little to get a soft presentation and gentle taper.

Sagebrush

[bluewatr]

Check out the Scientific Angler full sink(wet cell) mastery at 3.5-4.5- sink rate. Slices through the wind better and can achieve same sink rate as an intermediate tip which does not cast well against wind.

-mike

[flytyer@bassguy]

Couple of thoughts. I just went fairly O/C (obsessive/compulsive) about "clear" fly lines and won't go into ALL of it here but here is what I have found out:
1. MONIC is great stuff. When I bought my 8 wt for striper fishing, the salesman did NOT tell me that this line was a "tropical line" and when I went out this spring the line was the consistency of jumper cables and hit the stripping basket like golf ball hail on a tin roof! I held on to it as I do fish NC in the late summer and it worked great last year on OBX. In warmer temps, this line casts like a rocket! Monic (http://www.monic.com) has a couple of new lines that have been reformulated to be "all climate" and you HAVE to talk to the guy as the newest products are NOT on the website. They are in the flyers and handouts that he is very happy to send you. Call them and tell the guy what you are fishing for and he can recommend something specific.
2. RIO is another terrific line. This is the one that I wound up with for this spring and it is really nice line. This company gets REALLY technical about their lines and makes several striper lines. I am using their "Cold Water" striper line in intermediate and I LOVE their "Striper 26 Ft Density Compensated Tip" which casts great and keeps the fly down there. Be very careful to READ ALL of the specs as they also make lines that are temperature specific (the Striper 26' that I bought is "all weather" though).
3. I have talked to guys who rave over Airflo but I couldn't get much info from them and very few dealers seem to be interested in doing business with them. Monic is a bit aloof as far as dealer contact and RIO seems VERY dealer oriented, therefor more information (and more product) is available at the store level.
A note about ORVIS. I have some of their trout lines and like them well enough and I don't find them to be "overpriced". They make many good products and do much to further the sport and the habitat. I can't fault a company for charging a premium price for a premium product. As far as ORVIS AND Cabella's, NEITHER make their own fly lines and although I find that Cabella's has a lot to offer at very good $$, they are not "known" for their house brand of fly lines. When I got "technical" about these "clear" lines for stripers, I found that Monic and RIO had the answers (and the products) that I was looking for.

Good luck and tight lines,
Todd

[Paul Cheever]

I,ve been using cabela,s 8wt &10wt no -vis tip since the 2nd week of april on the creeks & upper cc bay when the H2o temps wern,t any more than 50F.I didn,t experence any difficulties with casting , line mending or any other line controling, for the money these lines go for you can,t go wrong.

[ruge13]

FLytyer, I use the Rio clear full intermediate. It has a 2.5 sink rate and is rated for water 70 degrees and below I have yet to use it in cold conditions but so far has been a great line. They are technical about the lines though, but I like that. Even though I am sure differences in running line and heads has no affect on my ability to cast (I'm just not that skillled) it is still nice to pretend I can pick a line with different diamaters and line section lenghts as well as weights to fit my style preferences....but I don't really have any.

[Diggedy]

Notime,

Be careful with the wonderline. I bought one for freshwater last year and have had it replaced 2 times since. I took good care of it but after about 20 days on the water it started cracking all the way down to the dacron. Orvis described this as a production problem but for the money, I would go with RIO lines...

Just my .02

DS

[notime]

Thanks for all the input. I decided to buy the AIRFLO. The Wonderline apeared to be geared towards warm water as it listed bonefish and tarpon as targets. The AIRFLO is specificially made for the NE temperatures and based on Flytyers comments I felt comfortable with AIRFLO. Cabella's was a general clear line and I had concerns about the quality. In addition, I could buy the AIRFLO through Hunters catalog which is local (NH)