Whether you are picking out a fly line for your first fly rod or your tenth fly rod, there is no denying the fact that choosing a fly line can be a bit overwhelming. Understandably, deciding which one is best can be borderline paralyzing between floating, sinking, and shooting head fly lines; there is a lot to process.

However, when you feel a bit overwhelmed staring at the seemingly endless options of fly lines, ask yourself this question first, “What type of fly fishing will I primarily be doing?”. Wanting the quintessential small stream dry fly experience you read about? Choose a double taper. Looking to just try out the sport and fish a variety of different ways? A Weight-Forward floating line should be your first choice. Thinking your fly fishing journey will take you beyond the small streams of the west? Maybe a shooting head fly line is in your future.

Whatever the answer is to the above question may be, having a definitive answer will help tremendously when picking out a fly line. If you are still unsure which fly line is best for you, continue reading for our quick guide to fly lines.

WEIGHT FORWARD FLY LINES

Over the years, fly lines have advanced, and in turn, improved. If you were to make your way down to your favorite trout stream this weekend, I would argue that around 60-70% of the trout anglers out on the water have a fly reel that is spooled up with a weight-forward (WF) fly line. In modern-day fly fishing, forward fly lines have become increasingly popular for anglers of all skill levels. It is widely accepted that WF fly lines are much easier to cast - especially for the beginner angler - and due to the weight forward fly line design, the head turns over flies easier giving the angler a better presentation. Weight Forward fly lines also provide the angler a lot of utility when they are out on the water. With a Weight-Forward fly line, anglers have the opportunity to throw large hopper dropper rigs during the summer, turn over heavy nymph rigs when the water is deep, and if you decide you want to throw streamers, a high-quality weight forward fly a line is a great option.

SINKING AND FULL SINK FLY LINES

As you navigate the different avenues of fly fishing, you may find yourself pondering sinking fly lines. And when you get to this point, you will find two options: a Full sinking fly line and a sink tip fly line. As the two names suggest, the former is a line that will sink when in contact with water, and the latter only allows for the tip of the fly line to drop. Full sinking and sink tip fly lines are much more challenging to cast than floating fly lines. Since they are weighted, these fly lines often do not need multiple false casts to get them out on the water.

If you find yourself navigating large lakes or reservoirs, a full sink line will be your best bet. The ability of the entire line length to reach deeper sections of the water column will be a significant key to success when fishing big deep still waters like lakes and reservoirs. When you look at full-length sinking fly lines, you will find that they come with different sink rates. Again, as the name suggests, Sink Rate corresponds to the rate at which the fly line sinks in the water. The most common sink rate for anglers would be Intermediate. Typically you will find that Intermediate fly lines have a sink rate of about 1.5 inches per second.

On the other hand, sink tip fly lines are an excellent option for anglers looking to fish deep, wide rivers. Since only the tip section of the fly line sinks, the anglers can still mend line upstream effectively when fishing large deep runs. Sink tip fly lines are an excellent option for the angler who wants to fish streamers day in and day out. Since the tip of the fly line is designed to sink, anglers can target specific locations in a water column more effectively than they would with a weight forward line.

SHOOTING HEAD FLY LINES

If your trout chasing has you needing to cast father and fish deeper, then a great option would be a shooting head fly line. While shooting head fly lines are not typically used on inland freshwater trout streams and creeks, shooting heads are a perfect option when targeting salmon, steelhead, various Stillwater species, and the occasional saltwater quarry. Most of the time, you will find that those who use a shooting head fly line often use it on a two-handed fly rod or "Spey rod."

Shooting Head fly lines (or shooting tapers) are typically the length of a heavily weighted fly line and are often around 30' in length. These fly lines can be tapered or have no taper at all.

Shooting heads can be purchased individually and attached to a section called running line. Another option is to purchase a whole kit complete with a shooting head and running line. Similar to WF fly lines, Shooting head fly lines allow anglers to choose between floating or sinking options. Each option allows the angler to cover large amounts of water and target fish holding in deep pools. Shooting head fly lines are often seen on large river systems like the Yakima River or the Rogue River, where covering large amounts of water efficiently is critical to a successful day on the water.

EURO NYMPHING/TECHNICAL FLY LINES

Since we are talking about the best fly lines for trout, it would be a shame if we didn't cover a truly effective style. Euro Nymphing. While the term Euro Nymphing speaks to a style of fly fishing, the fly line used in the technique plays a big role in the technique's success. The weight and diameter are the most significant difference between a Euro Fly Line and the others mentioned above. A Euro Nymphing fly line will be thin and level most of the time. Honestly, in a perfect world, your fly line shouldn't do any of the work. When euro nymphing, frequently you are using the length of your leader and tippet to do most of the work in most Euro Nymphing Scenarios. Even though I mentioned earlier that a WF fly line is an excellent option for nymph rigs, using a WF fly line with a Euro Nymphing setup will prove highly ineffective. This is because Euro Nymphing garners success from the lack of drag that occurs while the flies are in the water.

Euro Nymphing fly lines will be completely level and have no taper compared to the fly lines mentioned above. Yes, some euro fly lines note a double taper, but the taper is extremely minimal. The benefit of using a straight taper is that you can trim back your fly line after it has been worn out. Then, when the fly line gets too short, you can swap it out for a new one. The straight tapers found in most Euro Nymphing Fly lines also are beneficial for anglers when more control of your fly is needed. Your fly line is simply an extension of your leader in a perfect world, thin and delicate. This is why you often see Euro Rods stay within the 2-4WT range.

DOUBLE TAPER FLY LINES

A fly angler has wanted to pursue trout at some point or another. Historically those who have found success with a fly rod in hand often are using a double tapered fly line. When an angler correctly uses a double taper fly line, it allows for the most delicate fly presentation - an optimal scenario, especially when trout are particularly picky. While a double tapered fly line is optimal for delicate casting situations, it is somewhat a one-trick pony, and they are difficult to cast for the beginning angler. Even intermediate anglers struggle to cast double tapered fly lines every now and again.

Since DT fly lines are best used for dry flies and delicate casting scenarios typically this type of fly line is paired with a slower action rod. When paired correctly the angler will be able to feel the fly rod load properly and make a smooth roll cast or mend line beautifully.

Hopefully, you understand the difference between different types of fly lines by now. The next step is choosing a fly line. The easiest way to do this is by thinking about the predominant type of fly fishing you will be doing. Ultimately maximizing your time on the water. Remember, fly lines are purposefully built and designed to achieve different goals; next time you are thinking about purchasing a fly line, ask yourself a few questions first.

Only fishing dry flies and need a delicate presentation? A double taper fly line is probably for you. Looking to get a lot of utility out of your fly line? A WF fly line is perhaps in your future. Happen to be fishing wide and deep rivers? Need to turn over big terrestrials or, fishing stillwaters? A shooting head will maximize your chances of success.

When it comes down to it, fly lines are one of the most essential pieces of the fly fishing puzzle. They truly connect you to your quarry, day in and day out, so investing in a fly line that suits your needs best is paramount. Our list of fly lines are all options that we at the shop would happily put on our fly reels and trust day in and day out. Still need some trip-specific fly line questions answered? Feel free to come into the shop where we are happy to help guide you through fly lines. If you cannot go into the shop, reach out to us over the phone or live chat.