Bonefish taper or redfish taper?

[Something Fishy]

I've been fishing for bones with Scientific Angler Bonefish lines and have always felt these lines cast just fine. A fellow at the local tackle shop said I should switch to a redfish taper because it will load the rod faster. Anyone fished 'em both?

[Tarpon41]

I've been fishing for bones with Scientific Angler Bonefish lines and have always felt these lines cast just fine. A fellow at the local tackle shop said I should switch to a redfish taper because it will load the rod faster. Anyone fished 'em both?

If you can cast 50 feet of line and roll 9 foot leader with fly straight..into a 10-15 knot wind stick with what you've got...i've tried them all in the "boutique" flats line...but I still come back to old cortland 444 tropic plus...but I do have rio tarpon clear tip; and ridge tropic for when it's really hot late june and july keys...also in coil...the old teeny professionals...the rios clousers...shoot I could have bought another____rod or ____reel for all the lines I've tried...should have just practiced more....

[hago]

Redfish taper is good for bigger flies. It's got a thicker head. Very smooth line. I used it with my 9 wt. in windier conditions with crab flies for permit fishing, as well. Was glad I had it, as the casts were around 60 feet into the wind and I found the extra weight on the head helped me. Multiple perms with this line.

Bonefish taper is great, too. I have these in 7, 8 and 9, but pretty much use the redfish taper for the bigger rod. Great lines, nice and supple. Cast beautifully. Low memory on the coils.

Side note. Used the Rio Clouser taper for wind, as well. Last trip, it's honking, close to 30+. This is the line to use in these conditions. Basically a head with a running line.
Can make a lousy day a decent day.

Hope this help[s/

[sweet+salt]

It's unfortunate that it is virtually imposable to try different lines with your preferred rod without purchasing them. As T41 pointed out; he could have bought a new rod with the $'s wasted on lines that did not meet his needs. I am, however, going to disagree with your local dealer. The Redfish Taper is clunky. Sure, in off color water making quick load and shoot shots at fish not seen and intercepted from some distance out it's fine. The SA Bonefish Taper is an excellent line and, though it is more attenuated than the redfish variant, it has plenty of mass right being the front taper which graduates diminishingly rearward into the rear taper. This line loads powerful rods very well and is optimized for minimal false casting while still, assuming a tight loop on the caster's behalf, presenting bonefish flies with appropriate finesse. The Cortland (now called Presentation) Tropic Plus line is very good too. It's taper is less aggressive than the SA version, they both use a #30 braided mono core and, on certain rods that like a slightly lighter line (in the first 30') but a longer head for maximum aerializing (the Redfish Taper is ill suited in this area of presentation - it is all load and let fly), it is a better choice.

In many ways it is harder to keep up with line models and technical developments than it is with new rods and reels but a great rod can feel dull and lifeless with the wrong line mounted on it.