The debate continues! Peter Sutton AAPGAI replies...

Hi Paul

It was very interesting and enlightening to read the response from 3M concerning fly line design. I would like to comment further as follows.

I really should have come clean from the start and given more detail as to what kind of fly fishing I was thinking about when I discussed my idea of what the best, all-round design for a fly line would be. I fully appreciate that the design of a line takes account of the purpose for which it is intended eg; distance to be cast, size of fly or lure to be cast and the length of leader to be used. As well as factors such as climate (hot/cold/windy/calm etc).

I live in East Anglia in the UK (Norfolk actually) and the bulk of my fly fishing is for trout in still waters including large reservoirs such as Rutland Water and Grafham Water as well as some smaller lakes of 20acres or less. I think it is true to say that most other fly fishermen/women in Britain also fish predominantly on still waters. Whilst I love fishing in streams and rivers there just aren't enough of them to go round and there certainly aren't many in Norfolk - not with trout in them anyway!

So what does this mean to the fly fisher? Long casts are quite often necessary and by this I mean casts from 60' - 90'. Also many anglers like to fish with a floating line and imitations of midge larvae and pupae (usually tied on hooks size 10 - 14) or other nymph imitations. To attain depth long leaders of 18' - 30' are the norm usually carrying 3 flies, a point fly (sometimes leaded) and 2 droppers spaced along the leader. The weather is usually windy!

Any fly line to be used in conditions such as this must carry as much energy into the leader as reasonably possible in order to get some sort of turn-over. I wouldn't say it is possible to 'turn-over' the leader in the sense one would when stream fishing and some reliance is often placed upon help from the wind and the weighted point fly. All the lines that I have tried which incorporated long front tapers fail on that point as far as I am concerned in spite of being otherwise very pleasant to use especially if trying them out with a short, 9' leader with a piece of yarn on the end. Good tip there, when trying tackle try it in the conditions in which it will be used if at all possible. That is why I like a shortish front taper. I also take on board the point made concerning the thickness (mass?) of the point. I have lines, of the same AFTM numbers, with thick and thin tips and the thicker tips definitely transmit more energy to the leader.

The long casting calls for a longish belly, which also helps line mending when dead drifting nymphs round on the wind.

A long back taper, in my opinion, makes the line so much more pleasant to use and noticeably improves the flight of the shot line through the air.

I think I may well try one of 3M's Distance Taper lines, it is one that I haven't so far used. My favourite line at the moment is the RIO Longcast which performs pretty well on most rods.

Best wishes and congrats on the superb web site. Keep it coming!
Peter.

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