Best Floating Line for Florida??

[stephen]

Guys,
I need a new fly line for my eight weight. I haven't bought new line in 8-9 years! There are so many out there now I'd like to get some input from guys who use warm water lines regularly. I only fish Florida once or twice a year.

I mainly fish from shore along the beaches but occasionally splurge for a guide trip which may mean more "bonefish" type presentations. What line would you recommend that would cover clousers from the beach and gotchas on a flat?

Thanks.
Steve

[hatidua]

While not usually a fan of Sage branded lines, I fished with a friend who is a guide recently who had an 8wt rod/reel setup with a Sage "Equator" line and must say that it cast about as nicely as any floating 8wt line I've fished.

[JGH]

I favor the Sci Angler lines. I tried the Sage Equator Taper (9 wt) last year in Andros, and did not like it at all. It was twisty right out of the box. Maybe I got a bad one. I sent it back to Sage and complained and they never responded. :confused:

[bonefishdick]

Stephen

I have used two different Floating Lines and have been very happy with both, The Sci Angler Bonefish Line in Horizon worked very well for me in Belize and I also use the Rio Bonefish line. I like this one because all you have to do to remove any coils is take the line and give it a quick pop with about three pounds of pressure and the coils just disappear. Used it the last two trips to Belize and it was great when in the boat and you wanted to get the coils out quickly. You really only need to do this if the line has been sitting on the reel for any length of time.

I don't know what it is but it seems most lines coil after any extended casting during the day. I hate that and I always walk my lines out the entire length and remove the coils at least once a week. It's a pet peeve I guess. Hate the coils, I think thats why I like my Rio Bonefish line so much.:)

[bonefishwhisper]

for me it CORTLAND REDFISH TAPER all the way...dont fish for redfish but its a killer bonefish line for 8wts and it shoots really well...never strayed since I found it 3yrs ago...I need some new line myself

[sweet+salt]

I spent a couple of days at the Somerset Fly Fishing Show in NJ last wekend and talked with the line manufacturers. To begin with, the SA Mastery Bonefish is my general line of choice and I too have found the RIO Bonefish line to memorize coils more than I care to deal with. All the solid braid monofilament cored lines have some memory and require stretching but the RIO is the worst in this respect. Incidently, Sage ownes RIO now and their proprietary lines are built by RIO. Both Sage and RIO have worked hard to improve their tapers and one must keep an open mind...I like what they have done with their freshwater Performance Taper II a lot! Cortland's Lazer Tropic Plus is worth a look: it is a bit less stiff thus has less memory and I have found it to be a fine handeling line up here in the North East as well as in the Keys.

Having switched lines around on a favorit 8 weight it is clear that the rod has a lot to do with line selection: one of the lines will be better on your rod and a different one matches better with your buddy's, therefore it is hard to actually recomend a specific line (which won't deter your local flyshop clerk from trying). One piece of news: within the next couple of weeks SA will introduce the saltwater version of their new and much talked about Sharkskin Line...this could be the subject of a forum all by itself.

[bonefishwhisper]

thats interesting about the sharkskin line coming out for saltwater...today I made myself a liar and bought some Wulff Triangle Taper...its 2 tone line with tan running line and blue taper...cant find my line anywhere anymore...the BPS here in Miami really sucks in a major way and is a total buzzkill after waiting so long for it to open...just for spite I went across town to a small local baitshop with some fly stuff and bought HIS line which was the Wulff...I will know tomorrow morning at sunrise if its any good

[loon]

I suspect you'll like it a Lot.

[Onshore]

I've been visiting Florida for ten years now and moved here last June. I've found no reason to change from my Cortland floating or Rio Intermediate lines -and I'm fishing the surf or the Indian River or Mosquito Lagoon 2-3 times each week.

[Tarpon41]

For me on 8 through 12 keys and bahamas...I use cortland 444 tropic plus, rio permit, tarpon, airflo's new tropic so far they work for me...now at this time in bahamas with temps in the 70-78...these lines are stiff but the kinks can be stretched out just before use...the new airflo tropic on the nine wt is the stiffest...will be trying it out today I do not think you could go wrong with the old cortland 444 tropic plus

[stephen]

Thanks for all the great input guys / gals. The sharkskin intrigues me but at $100 it's going to have to blow me away. I like SA and Rio lines for freshwater duty so I'll probably stick with one of those.

When does the SA Sharkskin come out?

[teflon_jones]

I pretty much only buy Sci Anglers lines these days, but I have a couple of different brands including a Cortland 444 Razorline Tropic Plus 8 wt floater. It's an awesome line that cuts through the winds on the flats in the Bahamas. I highly recommend it.

[bonealone]

Ive tried a few so heres my opinion. Scientific anglers horizon is probably the best casting line ive tried but is very stiff and so will give not to good a presentation sometimes to spooky bones when your trying to just roll it out at short distance. It also doesnt float to well for wade fishing.
Rio bonefish line is very floppy, it coils with memory a lot & needs stretching, but when sorted gives a lovely soft presentation at short distance, not as good as a distance casting line.
Wulf Bermuda triangle taper, is for me the perfect compromise, you can put a real long line out, and also it can give a very soft presentation. This coupled with the two tone head/running line trains you to lift the optimum amount of line to shoot, and although we should all know that anyway any little edge you can get yourself whilst casting at fish is a good thing. The only problem i have had with this line is that after 3 weeks solid use without a clean/dress it sinks whilst wading and will tangle round your feet. Clean it once or twice a week and it should stop sinking on you!
This is just an opion and I think lines are a very personal thing, as previous posters have said much depends on the rod and casting ability/action.

[sweet+salt]

I have some new information so I am revisiting this thread. The new SA "Sharkskin" saltwater line will be shipped for availability around March 1st. It is a 6 - 12 weight bonefish and tarpon taper though I was not able to determine anything specific about the taper design. Based on what I have observed on the trout version, however, I anticipate further innovation in compounded, fast action rod loading sophistication. It will be built on the same #30 solid nylon braided core as the Mastery bonefish line so it will be moderately stiff but, because of the Sharkskin technology it is claimed it will float much higher and shoot further. It will be a pale tanish yellow in color. I am sure it will be expensive but if it floats higher, casts better and lasts longer...well, going bonefishing is already the most expensive thing I do.

PS: Bonefishwisperer, how did the Triangle Taper work out for you?

[bonefishwhisper]

it works ok...its probably just me...I use a 2pc 10ft 8wt GLX traditional rod...its not a saltwater taper and the way I tend to cast it will knot up the line just about where the taper ends....the line cant go thru the guides fast enough or maybe the guides are not as big creating the line slap which leads to knots...if I feather the cast I can prevent the knot but I am losing distance....all in all its a good line and I got the smallest taper of 35ft I believe...some are 40 and so forth...I think I have just been so used to the other and distance really isnt an issue with me on bones...I get right on top of them and must force myself to back off...I see no reason to change it...if anyting I will need new 10wt line...another headache

[sweet+salt]

An expert distance caster friend of mine insists on the TT for bonefishing, so I tried one while with him in Andros last Nov. I didn't care for it. If you extend it's full triangular head out of the tip-top, it shoots great as if it where a floating shooting head. But that continuous taper means that if shorter cast are made and you prefer, as I do, 12' leaders (wind permitting), there simply is not enough mass out there to load your rod efficiently. Also, the transition from the thickest, rear most portion of the triangular head to its thin running line is very abrupt, I like a longer rear taper to eliminate hinging and facilitate in-air line control. I do, however, like the two-tone feature and, if one where making lots of long casts, it works OK.

[bonefishdick]

A I said earlier I like the two lines that I use.

I do have a question however, I would be very interested to hear later on when the jury is in about the Shark Skin lines and how they treat peoples fingers when stripping them in after a long day on the water.

I think the Sand Paper affect will be a topic of discussion, a regular line will do a number on you, I have worn three grooves in one finger in one day with a regular finish. Can' remember if was from just stripping the fly in or if it was the added pressure of stripping all those fish in that caused the grooves.

Thank God for for Stripping Guards, The Strippees are the best in my book.

[bonefishwhisper]

wow...thats a lot of striping...I am willing to try it as soon as it shows up...I rarely strip the line and make very few cast..all are sight casting shots for bones/permit and with a crab fly you dont strip

[sweet+salt]

I too am a sight caster which is why I like a line that will load the rod appropriatly at any given distance and will not be so memory prone as to be entangled when I spot my fish. However, the question about Sharkskin's surface texture is not without reason. The Trout version came out in November and the Bonefish version has yet to hit the flyshops, so I don't actually know anyone who has fished one yet. A friend and I did cast a trout line at the NJ Somerset Show and the surface is obviously unique in your hand. I can't believe that striping it will be an issue and one should keep one's fingers free of the line during a hot run. The line does produce an audable "hiss" as it skips through you rod's guides.

SA is a very smart company and I look forward to experiencing this newest fly line innovation out on the water and, yes, knowing the opinionated nature of R-T forum participants (including me), I expect this new line to be a forum topic unto itself.

[bonefishdick]

I agree that when Bonefishing stripping will not be an issue, I guess I should have been a little more clear in my question. My only issue with bones is in pilot error, not being able to clear the line fast enough and you get that parting is such sweet sorrow feeling.

I was taking about striper fishing, here I do a lot of stripping both on the retrieve and when fighting and bringing fish in. I would still like to hear comments about the possible sand paper affect on my fingers.

Thanks

[bonefishwhisper]

yes...I also am very interested in any feedback from the 1st person that scores the line...personally, I like the sound you describe...my bonefish taper used to do that too

[MichaelDS]

I cast the Sharkskin Saltwater WF8F last weekend. Put it on a Winston BIIMX 9ft 8wt (the SA rep is also the Winston rep) and took it for a test drive. I like it. It has a somewhat unique taper in that (as I recall) the running line is larger near the head and tapers down the further away it gets. This allows the running line near the head to float higher for better pickup off the water when casting.

And, of course, no memory and it sings to you like the freshwater trout taper Sharkskin. Sorry, no choice of tunes :cool:

I'll have one for my April bonefish trip and if it works out okay, there'll be one on the 10wt and 12wt soon after. With no memory it should be a good line for those situations where a big, fast-running fish is screaming away and you are frantically trying to clear line and get it on the reel (now what critter might that be??) :rolleyes:

Mike

[MichaelDS]

It has been suggested by the SA rep that a lightweight stripping glove or finger cover would be useful on the rod hand. I have a 4wt Sharkskin that I have yet to use (too much snow & ice this year) but will try soon. We'll soon see how it wears on the finger.

Might put a smooth, shallow groove in the cork under your stripping finger over time but that can be dealt with, too. I wrap my grips with tennis wrap when fishing salt so cork wear won't be a problem.

Mike

[bonefishdick]

Cast one today, very impressive, it sure does make a humming sound going through the guides. Don't think it will wear the finger away any more than any other line from what I could see.

The finger guard is still the way to go, I know some finger guards will wear the cork down on the grip over time but the "Strippee" finger guards have a felt pad and don't seem to wear the grip at all. A very good investment, once you get used to fishing with one, it feels strange to fish without one. Just my two cents.