How Much Does Fly Line Matter?

There’s a sentiment you’ll find on fishing forums, in club meetings, at fly shops—basically, anywhere that fly anglers gather. Some newcomers to the sport will ask questions about improving their fly rod setup, and at least one person will say, “Don’t worry about the rod, just buy good line. That makes all the difference.”

I bought into that theory wholeheartedly the first time I heard it. That I kept hearing it only reinforced its supposed veracity. Out went my cheap lines, in came the great ones, and so too, I thought, did some great fishing.

Now, I’m an unabashed proponent of matching your fly rod to the right fly line. Sticking a true-to-weight line on a fast-action rod designed for big flies and bigger fish won’t result in the best performance. And a half-weight heavy line on a delicate dry fly rod can make it tougher to land flies softly.

What doesn’t sit right with me anymore, though, is the idea that somehow “good” fly line is the make-or-break component in your setup. First off, who gets to define what a ” good ” fly line is, and does it really make more of a difference than the rod?

Good vs Great Lines

The make-or-break point in fly line quality for me isn’t based on price. Instead, it’s based on the line’s taper. That’s the demarcation between “good” and “great” lines, in my experience.

I’ve long been a fan of Scientific Anglers’ Infinity taper, and it’s become my go-to for most of my 5 and 6-weight rods. Since I’m fortunate enough to be on the water fairly often, I opt for the Amplitude line. I want something that’ll last long enough to make the cost worth it, and that series has always been a decent bang for the buck.

A few months ago, though, I picked up that same taper in the Mastery Series, which is cheaper. So far, I haven’t noticed any real performance difference between the Mastery or Amplitude, especially since I bought the same taper in both.

The Infinity taper isn’t available in the Frequency lineup, but the company’s new Trout GP taper is.

RIO has a similar lineup, where some of its lines are available in Premier or Elite designations, with the more expensive lines boasting a slicker coating and less memory. Nice features, to be sure, but what you’re really paying for there is the taper itself.

Again, this is where fly lines really separate themselves from each other. The price of a line isn’t a guarantee you’re getting something “good.” The taper, how it matches to your rod, and how it suits your fishing style, is much more important.

What About The Rod?

What matters most, though, is the fly rod.

Bad fly rods don’t flex well. They’re stiff and unresponsive. They lack torsional stability. In short, they throw far too many variables into the casting equation, especially for a new angler. It’s tough enough to learn fly casting as it is. Why would you stick with a rod that doesn’t let you feel and experience the casting motion? That’s the best way to build a casting stroke that’s not just matched to a rod, but that transfers from fast-action sticks to slow ones.

Yes, a competent caster can make any rod work for them. But that’s only after they’ve learned all the important fly casting lessons. Doesn’t it make sense to use a rod that makes learning those lessons more enjoyable?

Notice that I didn’t say cheap or expensive. I’m not advocating for a certain price point here. I’ve cast more than a few expensive rods that I’d consider bad, because they offered so little feedback during the cast. Some of my favorite rods run less than $250 and flex and feel almost as great as my top-of-the-line stuff.

When you pair a good line with a good rod, that’s when you’ll notice a huge difference in the quality of your setup, and hopefully, your casting and catching as well. A rod designed for the job you’re doing, paired with a line to match, can be the difference in getting that great drift, or going home skunked.

Again, I’m not saying that you’ll see a massive jump in your abilities if you just buy the right gear. But I think there’s something to be said for the mindset you have when you make the upgrade.

When I bought my first nice fly rod, I was quickly and painfully aware of just how much I needed to improve. I thought the problem was my gear, but it turns out it was me. Thankfully, I had a dad who took pity on me, showed me what I was doing wrong, and with some hard work, I started to see some improvement.

I don’t think I would have paid as much attention to my lack of skills if it weren’t for upgrading my gear. I thought that was the magic bullet, the ticket to fly fishing nirvana. Of course, it wasn’t, but in hindsight, I appreciate the nudge it gave me to get serious about improving.