View Full Version : DT or WF and why
float2ber
07-24-2005, 04:28 PM
Do you prefer DT or WF fly lines? I have WF on my 5 wt. and a DT on the 4 wt. Just curious as to why some prefer one over the other.
A DT line will roll cast and mend better for the most part but will not "shoot" as well as a WF line. I prefer DT for small dry fly fishing but use WF on my steelhead gear.
I think it's just a matter of personal prefernece :shrug:Also when one end of a DT wears out you just simply reverse it and have a new line :dance:
scoutfish
07-24-2005, 06:21 PM
One more thing too, the DT will come off the water easer than the WF line.I do like the WF line in the wind thought.
Just be careful not to use a 5wt WF line on a 4wt rod.I did that once. :redface:
My 2cents, Arnie.
Mad Mikey
07-24-2005, 07:39 PM
Stew nailed it for the most part. I use DT on everything except for my shooting lines.
I steelhead fish places where I am roll casting and/or single spey casting my 9 footer because of heavy cover behind me, no back-casting room.
Think of it like this, when you have 30 ft. of line out with a WF you are working the thickest part of your line with the THINNEST part of your line in your guides. No big deal if you are not mending a lot or trying for a delicate presentation.
DT rolls well and you can haul it and throw it just as well as a WF if you are a decent caster. With it you will have the thickest part of your line (30ft out) running through the rod guides to work the thinner stuff, just plain old physics. I dig it mostly for it's mending/roll casting properties, turning it around to save $$$ is a bonus.
:cheers:
I like WF for heavier steelhead flies because it give me the extra shooting capabilities.
Shooting lines Mikey ?!?!?!?! There's a special place in hell for strike indicator users and shooting head users :wink: :jester:
Riverkeeper
07-24-2005, 09:45 PM
I have always fished double tapers, but I bought a Wulff triangle taper (basically a WF) line in a 5 weight and it is ok. It seems to work well if you have room for a lot of false casting, and are able to work a lot of line out before laying it down, but it is definately not as versatile and is more difficult to control than the DTs. I think many entry level fly rod packages are sold with WF lines because they are easy to cast farther when you are just learning, and they do a good job of laying out dryflies.
Blue Tip Spinner
07-25-2005, 11:21 AM
DT for rivers. just works better for me on the rivers i fish because of the brush behind me.
Siwash
07-25-2005, 11:30 AM
I started w/ WFs (both a 5wt for trout and a 7wt for steel), cuz like it's been said they're easier to cast farther. Pretty soon, though, I found I had less trouble getting my cast out there than I had in managing my drift once the line is on the water. I thus switched to DTs and voila! I still suck at roll casting and mending, but not nearly as bad as I was with the WFs.
Mad Mikey
07-25-2005, 03:49 PM
Shooting lines Mikey ?!?!?!?! There's a special place in hell for strike indicator users and shooting head users
Sure is, right next to the room where folks who think they need a 13 ft. rod to catch a 2ft. fish have to go.... :tongue:
He he............
PS I own some of the Wulff TT's and they are very nice. Sage makes a real nice WF and I've got a couple of those too. I still prefer the DT for most situations since I rarely use heavy flies and I also started on the DT's for years before I used WF.
Slow and Low
07-25-2005, 05:56 PM
DT is better for short presentations as well. If you need to cast a mile WF works better for all the reasons above.
You can actually single or double spey a one hander pretty well with DT, never tried it with WF.
Stack mending is easier with DT if you used bobbers.
Sure is, right next to the room where folks who think they need a 13 ft. rod to catch a 2ft. fish have to go....
He he............
Mine is 12' 9" so does that keep me out? :laugh:
Mad Mikey
07-25-2005, 08:03 PM
Mine is 12' 9" so does that keep me out?
Weeelll, maybe purgatory for you anyways....... :smirk:
Steve L.
07-28-2005, 06:07 PM
I'm a confirmed WF guy. Can't argue the virtues of DT, it's true. However, I hate to quit fishing because the wind comes up and the WF buys me a bit more time. besides, what I lack in finesse I make up in clumsyness :grin:
Ryan Pultz
07-28-2005, 08:21 PM
I like my WF due to sometimes it does buy you a little more time when the winds start to blow. rp
drbfish
07-28-2005, 09:07 PM
If you are fishing the Deschutes a lot I think a wf is the only way to go. I also like them for lakes - long casts can be important.
AndyK
07-28-2005, 09:42 PM
If you are fishing the Deschutes a lot I think a wf is the only way to go. I also like them for lakes - long casts can be important.
Long casts can be important. However, have you ever tried to mend a WF line on a river? If the entire shooting portion of the line is on the water, it is difficult to mend the line with the "running" line portion.
Mad Mikey
07-29-2005, 12:17 AM
Well, after only fishing the "D" for 15 years, mostly with a single hand rod I have noticed that the majority of fish hooked are within 15 feet of the bank, many times so close that the fly-line was being mended in over hanging grass.
Long casts are cool, folks can argue that fish will follow the fly in from waaay out but there really is no true way to know this for sure.
In low light, undisturbed water the fish will be in tight.
Mending, IMO is a bit over rated, I have no trouble mending my WF but I stick to the DT due to the spots I fish where long casts are not necessary and roll casting is a must.
:cheers: