rio line recommendations

The Hype: The ultimate line for delicate presentation, with ultra-low stretch performance. OPST Generic Line Chart and Tip Recommendations. The QuickShooter is also pretty similar to the Cortland Tropic Compact. In terms of taper, it’s almost identical to RIO Grand. Unfortunately, you do sacrifice a lot in terms of usability (vs Triangle Taper) to get marginally better presentation. Therefore, today we present you with current spey line recommendation charts from some of today’s top spey line manufacturers. keep in mind these recommendations serve as a starting point and are based on the best match to bring an “All-around” performance out of the rod. It also doesn’t really load well at short distances. The Hype: Designed for slower action rods; especially bamboo, glass and “classic” action graphite rods. Part of this was due to the fact that it had a significant amount of memory and it definitely needs to be stretched before use. It casts really well. The Hype: RIO Bonefish QuickShooter is a quick-loading line with an aggressive front taper designed for anglers wading the flats. Summer Redfish encourages nice, stable loops and presents smaller flies well at shorter distances. HI, very nice article thanks. I think this would be more pronounced if the two lines we tested were actually the same weight. So much so, that it would have been interesting to test the non-InTouch version of RIO Grand side-by-side with the Avid to see if there was anything that was accounting for the $20 price difference. This line didn’t have much of a chance out of the gate, but we cast it anyway. USE OUR LINE SELECTOR APP 2019 Spey Line recommendations SPEY LINES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OLDER MODEL RODS It should come as no surprise that this line didn’t perform well on the Circa – it’s just too heavy! While the company was started in 1945, Scientific Anglers has been a constant source of innovation in fly line technology, including the invention of the modern tapered fly line. When most people think of spey, they instantly think of two handed rods. Spey Line Recommendations – Updated Resources. If you like a little quicker, stiffer feel than drop a line weight, consequently for a softer, slower feel move up a line weight. The Hype: The RIO Gold has a revolutionary taper design that gives incredible loop stability at distance, a unique profile that allows a rod to load at close range and a front taper that delivers perfect presentation of flies between sizes #22 and #2. Really needs a fast-to-very fast rod to perform well. I just want to know what you think about the mainstream 12ft sinking tip ? RIO calls it “the perfect line for the wading angler”. Love your work! It greatly benefits from being stretched out before use. BVK Spey Line Recommendations 12’8″ 6-weight (400-600 Grain Window) Skagit400-475 grains18-26 foot heads … Second, as we noted with all InTouch lines, this one had a little more memory in the running line. In fact, it might be our favorite line overall on the Circa (which isn’t surprising, given Sage and RIO are part of the same entity). RIO Bonefish also has some drawbacks. We thought it was one of the best lines in the shootout for making quick shots while wading. This means that it also isn’t the best fly line for beginners. RIO Single Hand Floating Spey Line is perfect for anglers that want to spey cast with a single hand rod with their back to the brush. Bottom Line: This is a great line choice for anglers chasing small-medium Reds and Sea Trout in relatively windless environments when delicacy and accuracy at short distances are paramount. These recommendations should be considered a starting point when selecting lines. Grain Weight Single Switch Spey. To the front end you attach a tip as recommended for the regular Skagit line, while the back end loop is ideal for attaching your favorite RIO shooting line. For most rods and applications, Perception is Rio’s best all-around line for better casters on fast rods. According to AFFTA, it’s about a 7.5-weight, unquestionably 2 line sizes heavier than a standard 5-weight. Where most of the lines with a heavy, aggressive front taper struggled in the loop stability category, the lighter taper of the Bonefish QuickShooter promoted stable loops. For those of us who have been at this long enough, you'll remember when Greys left us some 6 (or so) years ago to become a European only brand. It loaded well on both rods, and had excellent presentation. On the flip side, if you’re trying to load an extra-fast action rod at short range like the Sage Igniter, an Outbound Short or a Titan Taper would probably be a better line for the job. Those characteristics are great for streamer fishing, nymphing, and to some extent, beginners. RIO InTouch Gold is pretty similar to 'regular' RIO Gold. RIO InTouch Grand is the same taper as RIO Avid and Mainstream. does RIO make a ascandi type line with intigrated sink tip. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Price: $89.95. Bottom line: Is this RIO Grand for (almost) half the price? On the NRX, however, RIO Grand works much better, but it’s obviously a line geared toward the intermediate and beginning angler throwing easy medium sized loops well at short to medium distances. RIO Gold has a continuously sloping belly which transitions into a long rear taper. You will notice two line ratings per line. line-height:16px; RIO DISCONTINUED SPEY LINE WEIGHTS. This fly is intricately tied with a variety of techniques that are easy to learn and fun to use in a variety of other streamer patterns. its pretty cheap... half the price of the intouch 15 ft ... thanks. Bottom line: Perception is a bit of a sleeper in Rio’s lineup. While the Outbound Short is heavier and designed to throw larger flies, the QuickShooter features a lighter front taper (although similarly aggressive) for quick, short shots. If you’re an experienced Permit angler and you’re looking for more delicacy, check out some of the other Bonefish lines. Combine that with Rio’s new InTouch core, and this line feels way heavier than Avid or Mainstream. That means that it’s more versatile than lines with a similar taper. It’s presentation capabilities at short and mid-range, however, left a little to be desired. Bottom line: A great choice for beginners and intermediates with faster rods. Comes with all of the shortcomings of a shorter head. It's the perfect line for really, really, fast rods, particularly if you're throwing nymphs and streamers. Freshwater. Like most lines with an aggressive front taper, the QuickShooter is really designed to shoot a lot of line quickly. Anglers who prefer rods with more feedback, feel, and a moderate action shouldn’t shy away from this line. This was one of our least favorite RIO lines in the shootout due to its poor loop stability. MODEL: LINE: LENGTH: GRAIN WEIGHT RANGE: POPULAR FLY LINES THAT FILL THE BILL (and check your favorite line manufacturer for updated products) Sector MODELS. The line’s taper is designed to help anglers carry a lot of line in the air and land flies accurately and delicately at distance and the line does that really well. Casting Notes: The RIO Permit is a really nice line for casting longer distances. Bottom line: If casting size 22 midges to super spooky trout is your game, there’s no better choice than this. RIO Avid Trout represents the ‘middle’ of Rio’s trout portfolio. Like SBT, Single Hand Spey unsurprisingly is excellent at both roll casting and single hand Spey casting. OB Short is also a VERY heavy line. 8136-4 475gr . And this line succeeded in another mission the company designed it for: casting larger crab flies. Here are some extra resources about our Spey lines that will help you compare our products for Spey casting. This isn’t a line made for large flies or windy conditions so if you’re targeting Bull Reds in Louisiana, you probably don’t want this. They only recommend a 200gr head, which is WELL below Rio's Scandi recommendation (OPST doesn’t offer a Scandi recommendation). That said, it does what it was designed to do really well. Bottom line: A popular line that works great on softer rods - with a low stretch core. A spey cast is deemed a spey cast when the fly line is cast under the rod tip on the back cast (as opposed to over the rod tip in a traditional fly cast), AND is allowed to anchor onto the surface of the water (near or slightly in front of the angler) before makin… Needs to be stretched before use due to the added memory of the InTouch core, A fabulous roll-casting and single hand spey line, A solid option for beginners and big crab flies, Not the best line for delicate presentations, One of the best for large flies and shooting line quickly, Not as versatile as other lines in the shootout, Great for quick shots with minimal false casts, Loop stability suffered when making longer casts, Great accuracy and presentation at short-range, Nice loop stability and loads a fast action rod well. RIO Trout LT has been around for a while. Read on to learn more. This isn’t a mistake, it’s exactly what RIO intended. And now, they're back. 4110-4 240gr . Casting Notes: RIO designed this line to be accurate and delicate at short distances and the line does that really well. Integrated lines are best for fishing closer in and smaller rivers. The running line is at least .01” thicker than Rio or SA. SPEY LINES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OLDER MODEL RODS. RIO Gold might be one of the best-selling fly lines of all time. It’s an ideal line for those new to the flats or for anyone who doesn’t want to false cast a ton. Combined with the powerful line control advantage of the switch rod, it’s a deadly set up for trout or steelhead. These heads are available in 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700 and 750 grain sizes. Rio Spey Line Recommendations; Scientific Anglers Spey Line Recommendations; More on Spey Tech. Bottom line: Not a trout line per se, but a line that will work well when combined with the right (really fast) rod. .mobile-ticker.copy a { It shoots really well. The Hype: RIO's Mainstream series of fly lines have been developed to meet the overall needs of the average and novice fly fisher, and are designed to optimize rod performance with slightly heavier and shorter head lengths. Unfortunately, RIO Mainstream Trout felt quite different. As we’ve discussed earlier in this shootout, a long rear taper also makes a fly line feel lighter than it actually is. 6116-4 400gr . The total head weight of this line was in the top 10 of the lines we tested. It’s a modern classic - the standard against which all [trout] fly lines are measured. This post is part of our Fly Line Shootout, so if you haven't read our main post, you probably want to check it out. Here's a taper comparison between Grand, Avid, & Mainstream: You'll notice that the only difference is that Grand is a little larger in diameter (and therefore a little heavier). Overall, RIO Avid Trout is a solid performer across the board, but its shorter head made it a bit more difficult to roll cast or get extreme distance. If not what line manufacturer makes this type of line? Scroll up and read our review of RIO Gold. Fly Lines; Leaders; Tippet Slicker line means longer casts, which is something all anglers strive to achieve. It’s up to you to decide if that’s worth it. 2020 RIO SPEY LINES WEIGHT CHART. .ticker.copy a{ RSR just didn’t shoot well enough for it to be a long-distance contender. While it might be designed for bamboo and glass rods, it did a really nice job on both the NRX and the Circa. You will notice two line ratings per line. This is one of the best line options for anglers blind casting or throwing heavy flies in tough conditions. It’s kind of like the opposite of Triangle Taper, and a lot like Airflo’s new Bruce Chard saltwater taper. Bottom Line: If you’re new to the Permit game and looking to cast large crab flies, this is one of the best lines for you. For more infomation contact info@opskagit.com or call 206-858-8476. That said, on a relatively windless day in FL when short shots with small flies are typical, this line would be a great choice. The line’s mid-length front taper creates beautiful fly line turnover and presents smaller Bonefish flies really well. ... product info and the chance to win RIO stuff. While many of Rio’s offerings are geared towards making it easier for beginners, Perception is a much higher performing line that offers truly blended performance. Both these lines are heads only and I’d prefer to have an integrated shooting line, but this will not stop me from using these RIO Lines. But, they make it in a 5-weight and RIO was gracious enough to send us one to test. RIO is a relative newcomer to the fly line game. Bottom Line: This is one of the best fly lines for targeting technical Bonefish. Finally, many-time World Spey Casting champ James Chalmers takes it a step further by actually recommending a heavier 'Scandi' line (EIH at 523gr vs ESP at 500gr) than Skagit on this rod , and others as well. Rod Rod Size Feet Meters Grains Grams Size Feet Meters Grains Grams Feet Meters Grains Grams Feet Meters Grains Grams #3/4 20 6.1 275 17.9 #6 23 7.0 425 27.6 18 5.5 350 22.7 #4/5 55 16.8 300 19.5 RIO Single hand Spey has a very long front taper, a short, fat, belly, and a short back taper. It just left us wanting more on the NRX and didn’t load the rod enough, or shoot line particularly well. Sign up for our Newsletter, a monthly dose of new ideas and exclusive deals on great gear, sent directly to your inbox. I don’t know if it’s AgentX or XS Technology the simply the slightly smaller diameter or a different core, but the Mainstream trout didn’t cast very well on either rod. They are however, not what we look for in a dry fly line. The RIO Line Selector is designed to help you find the right fly line for any fly fishing situation. This is a line that loads fast action rods well and encourages accuracy at short distances. If you’re a beginner, however, this line is extremely versatile and loads fast action rods well. padding: 3px 0; Overall, it’s actually a full 7-weight line. RIO’s switch line has a 55 foot head which is well over the 3:1 ratio and requires that you modify your casting stroke on a Spey cast. This is an all too common challenge! 12'Commando Tip. The line’s aggressive front taper loads fast action rods really well and helps anglers pick up line off of the water and cast at distance with minimal false casting. SA's use of micro-balloons and variable tapered coatings was named the most important sport fishing innovation of the 1960's. This line has better overall loop stability than other shooting-style lines in the shootout  and is a great line at longer distances due to its shooting characteristics. The "A" rating is for more experienced casters, or for It’s really not designed for it. WINSTON BORON III TH 6110-4 375gr . The Hype: RIO designed this line for anglers targeting Redfish and Speckled Trout in warmer climates with typical Redfish patterns. Though primarily designed for roll casting, this line also performs exceptionally easy overhead casts with incredibly smooth loop control. .mobile-ticker.copy p { Very informative review with s lot learned about fly line that I didn't know before reading it. But it will take some getting used to. The Hype: RIO’s Flagship Saltwater Fly Line Series, the DirectCore Flats Pro is designed for a wide range of applications from Bonefish to Permit to Tarpon and more. The first 10’ are quite light, giving the line quite a bit of presentation, but after that it’s quite a heavy and thick to allow the line to water load well. The Hype: RIO has been touting its low-stretch, low-memory tech for a while now and claims the DirectCore Bonefish is “the very best Bonefish line on the market”. December 19, 2013 at 8:32 am. RIO has done extensive research to determine which lines go well with a number of different rods on the market. It’s definitely non-traditional and it’s very evident while casting. For that reason, we preferred the standard RIO Gold on the Circa, but thought the InTouch was a little better on the NRX. They made their first fly line in 1997. Great work guys. I’d actually describe it as a really, really, aggressive Triangle Taper. RIO Spey Line Recommendations. As the marketing states, though, RIO InTouch Trout LT is the ultimate line for delicate presentations. Bottom line: Spend the extra $20 on Avid. font-size: 16px; Bottom Line: If you’re looking to get a fly in front of a cruising Bonefish or Redfish quickly while wading or even from the bow of a skiff, this is a great line. Before we talk about how it casts, I wanted to touch on its taper in more detail. We have attempted to simplify this and give anglers the resources needed to pair up their rods with "New School Skagit" lines like the OPST Commando, Airflo Skagit Scout, SA Spey Lite, RIO Trout MAX, and others. The Hype: The rear weight distribution loads a rod deeply in the tightest of quarters, allowing anglers to make long, effortless casts with obstacles close behind. 690-4 225gr . Bottom line: One of the top choices, particularly if you’re fishing a lot of dries. 2020 SINK TIP WEIGHTS & SPECS. And because we get the question a lot, we have compiled a list of recommendations. So, we cast it on the Sage Method, and it really started to shine. Echo/Airflo Spey Line Recommendations. N/A 275 Gr. Two-Handers for Trout – An Update; Sage ONE Spey Review – 8136-4; Slack is the Enemy . This isn’t a line that helps present flies delicately, especially at longer distances, with laser-tight loops and high levels of finesse. TWO-HANDED LINE RECOMMENDATIONS Trying to determine what line to use for your two-handed rod? It’s important to note that this is probably the first time RIO InTouch Outbound Short has ever been tested as a trout line. The rear taper is also a bit different as it feeds into a thick handling section that extends for roughly 10’. It’s also a very light-weight line and it won’t work very well on faster rods. 7129-4 425gr . For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. A fly-casting technique that evolved in 1800’s Scotland, Spey casting has a rich history in the sport of fly fishing and RIO’s product family. 8140-4 475gr . It’s worth it. The Hype: The ultimate, all-round fly line, with ultra-low stretch … You will notice two line ratings per line. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. It also helps match the right RIO fly line to hundreds of the most popular fly rods on the market. RIO is pleased to be able to provide this line recommendation for a number of two handed rods on the market. You’re not alone. I tested RIO’s 0.042″ Metered ConnectCore Shooting Line with a Skagit Gamechanger and a Scandi 3D head, and RIO has managed to make its already outstanding ConnectCore running line better. While we found that this line loaded fast action rods best, the lighter taper accommodates a wider range of rod actions than, say, the SA Titan. Bottom Line: This is a great line for the novice angler looking for a do-it-all saltwater fly line. Reader Interactions. } The simplest guideline is if the rod is less than 12' 6" long, choose the "Short" version of these lines. By the numbers, it’s relatively average, with a 7’ front taper, 21’ belly and 6’ rear taper, but the front taper is actually extended an extra two feet before the main section of the belly begins. Casting Notes: This line does everything a high-performance Bonefish fly line should do. Scientific Anglers needs no introduction. It’s worth talking about the weight of this line. 790-4 250gr } These lines will allow you to cast a nymph rig with an indicator either Spey style or overhead. Shop the right line for every fish at RIO. Shorter front taper makes a great nymphing line (on softer rods), Lives up to its promise of an easy to load line, Possibly a good choice for some 6-weights. Bottom line: If you spend time in tight quarters and want a line that you can fish the rest of the day as well, this is it. Select your two-handed rod below and you’ll find our suggestions. RIO… line-height: 20px; The actual grain weight on the RIO Grand line we tested was a full 6 grains heavier than Avid. The Hype: The lines are designed for easy casting performance, with slightly heavier and shorter head lengths. WINSTON BORON III PLUS FRESHWATER 590-4 200gr . 4 Dimensional Two-Handed Spey and Switch Rod Fly Fishing Take the RIO's InTouch Scandi 3 D to the 4th Dimension by utilizing RIO's … It’s designed for pike, or stripers, or roosterfish. Bottom Line: If you need a line that’ll pick up big flies and shoot them quickly with minimal false casting, especially in windy conditions, this is one of the best on the market. RIO is pleased to be able to provide this line recommendation for a number of two handed rods on the market. It shoots effortlessly through the guides with both heads and overall, it’s super slick, and it doesn’t tangle into a bird’s nest when shooting line. The Hype: The InTouch RIO Grand is a full line size heavier than the industry standard, and features more weight distributed towards the front of the line to easily load faster action fly rods. The Hype: Exceptionally powerful, easy casting, line built for maximum distance, with ultra-low stretch performance. The Hollow Fleye Squid is a phenomenal pattern for Stripers keyed in on schooling Squid at night and during the day. The grain windows listed are intended to give the caster a general idea of the rods power and flex. In its latest incarnation, RIO has added its low-stretch InTouch core to this popular line, which makes it feel a bit heavier. It’s designed to load quick, carry a lot of line and turn flies over quickly. We spend a lot of time testing gear and writing shootouts to give you all of the tools to make your next trip a success. Looking at the taper, it’s pretty similar to one of our favorites, the Wulff Triangle Taper, and is nearly identical in weight. RIO is pleased to be able to provide this line recommendation for a number of two handed rods on the market. They are definitely NOT the same line, however. It’s more of a 6.5-weight line, than a 5-weight. 100% of our funding comes from your gear purchase, so if this shootout helps you on your next fly fishing adventure, support us by buying your next fly line (or better yet, your next rod and reel), from us. Author: James Iwase Created Date: An above average line in virtually every category. It’s a lot like Wulff’s Triangle taper in its basic shape, but features a longer head and about twice the front taper. SALTWATER 690-4 225gr . Free ground shipping on all orders over $50. It’s also a line that received a high score in the ‘shooting’ category because of the weight of the head. First, let’s look at the taper. RIO Lightline is new for the 2016 season. font-size: 16px; The line didn’t really load either fly rod well at short range and suffered in the loop stability and presentation categories. 6126-4 375gr . The Rio Switch line does not work for Spey casts. There were two noticeable differences between the two lines: First, while InTouch Gold is 6 grains lighter, it actually feels a little heavier. Shop. Free ground shipping on all orders over $50. RIO Fly Line Reviews and Recommendations: Fly Line Buyer’s Guide, An above average line, at a below average price, Like many RIO lines, the Avid felt like it was geared toward the intermediate angler. Video: How To Choose A Spey Line Watch This is also a fine line choice for beginners who need to turn over large flies or cut through the wind. I’m not going to even attempt to figure out what each of these design features is supposed to do, but I can tell you that it’s one of Rio’s best all-around trout lines. XS Technology is the latest development from RIO’s lab coats that focuses on creating an ultra slick line, with dirt-repelling tendencies.) The "A" rating is for more experienced casters, or for casters that like to cast off the tip of the rod. RIO doesn’t tell you a lot about this line. The other reason they aren’t talking too much about it is that it’s got an incredibly unique and complex taper. In fact, we thought its performance on the Helios 3F was pretty smooth overall. However, an important distinction to make is that spey is a style of casting, not necessarily a type of rod. Since then, they've become a market leader due to great products and clever marketing. It has the heaviest 10’ weight between 20-30 feet (108.6 grains) and a pretty heavy overall head weight. The 1960 's Created Date: when most people think of Spey, they instantly think Spey! Often targeted at longer distances anyway have shorter heads to facilitate shooting line against which all [ ]... The day the right line for really, aggressive Triangle taper, the marketing doesn ’ t talking too about! Rating is for more experienced casters, or roosterfish 450, 500 550. Than Avid for throwing large flies or cut through the wind, loops... 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