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2/3 Introduction 12/20/21 3:40 PM Page 2
What to know about choosing a
Fly Line
Innovation and technology has given the modern anglers a plethora of terrific, specialized fly line choices!
Marcel Siegle photo
Since its horsehair beginnings... the modern day fly line evolved from the oil-impregnated silk lines of the silent film era into the incredible selection of synthetic, polymer-coated, self-lubricating and often-radical tapers now available at your favorite fly shop. Innovation, engineering, and closely guarded manufacturing processes have provided the angler with a daunting choice of highly effective, specialty fly lines. I N 1 9 5 9 O U R S P O R T made a technologic leap far
The “new” Cortland lines were made with a braided nylon center that was greater than the advent of graphite when the Cortland Line evenly coated with a waterproof, non-porous surface material that bonded to Company developed the first truly floating fly lines. the nylon core. Originally, all the models were level lines with no taper. Prior to that revolutionary development, even the most Then in the early 60’s a genius fly fisherman named Leon Martuch developed sophisticated fly fishers used oila way to simply taper the coating during the coating application impregnated silk lines that only There are specialized fly – and the parent of the modern fly line was born. It also signalled lasted anywhere from a few minthe birth of Scientific Anglers (later purchased by 3M, and most lines tapers and densities recently sold to Orvis), utes to a few hours on the surface, and which would then have Since the 60’s, changes in fly line development have been primatailored for temperature, to be replaced in the field, dried, rily related to refinements of the porosity and composition of treated, and used another day. those coatings. There have also been some evolutions in fly line species, and designed Anglers intending to fish with taper designs as well as the fabric, strength, and stretch of the for an unlimited variety dry flies all day often carried two core, but most of the front page news in fly lines has involved the or three reels or spare spools. Each was loaded with a fresh, stuff covering that core. of freshwater, saltwater, dry, and treated floating silk line that required a lot of care. There are now specialized lines designed for different weather Those waterlogged lines were then wound onto “line dryand stillwater situations conditions, temperatures, humidity, fresh or salt water, applicaers” for the night, or strung up between tree limbs, air dried, tions, and nearly every situation imaginable. then dressed to delay the water absorption process as long as possible. Nasty Manufacturers have learned to modify the density of the coatings to make weather made all that even more difficult. them not only float better, but to also sink at predictably slower or faster rates. In that era special machines and highly skilled operators modified the braided fly Some sinking lines actually incorporate multiple densities in graduated tapers line core by painstakingly adding or subtracting braid fibers to create taper. to provide a uniform sink rate, and better connect the angler directly to the fly. At the time, Cortland was the recognized leader in fly line technology and Manufacturers have added texture to the fly line surface to better aid the line production. Still, one of their guys could only make about one double-tapered fly passage through the guides, and have developed space-age polymers which are line an hour, and tapers were often different from line to line, and even differed added to those coatings and actually self-lubricate those fly lines so they’ll shoot operator to operator. Grain weight was indicated on every single new line to through the guides slicker than snot. help anglers choose the most appropriate model for their fly rod. And no retail business in the world offers more choices than The Fly Shop®! w w w . t h e f ly s h o p . c o m
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phone
800-669-3474
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