8wt fly line advice

Snoslyder · 06-12-2008, 06:35 PM

A very well known local fly fisherman friend of mine was so gracious as to wrap me my very first 8/9 Wt 9'6" fly rod and I just got a nice matching 8wt reel for it. My question to y'all is what would be a nice weight forward 8wt line to use to spool it up with? My buddy even hooked me up with some special 50lb braid backer from Japan, and boy is it nice and small in diameter. I was too embarassed to ask him his opinion on fly line as he had already made my rod and put half a spool of that backer on for me...any suggestions would be great! I hope to use this rod for both summer and winter steelhead on coastal rivers and McKenzie, N. Umpqua and Rogue.

AndyK · 06-12-2008, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snoslyder

I hope to use this rod for both summer and winter steelhead on coastal rivers and McKenzie, N. Umpqua and Rogue.

If you want to use the rod for both summer and winter then you need a multi-tip line. RIO would be my first choice.

Ryan Pultz · 06-12-2008, 07:35 PM

if you dont wanna go the multi tip way you can just change your line out for summers I like a WF floating line and for winters cause I am always just dredging the bottom all I do is put about three feet of leadcore trolling line. Redneck sink tip rp

D3smartie · 06-12-2008, 09:26 PM

A rio anadramous advantage would be a perfect fit for you if you want to get a mulit tip system. if you want to just get a floater for now, I would get a Rio or SA steelhead taper.

C-lice · 06-12-2008, 09:32 PM

I'm a Wulff Triangle Taper guy, myself. Roll casts big flies really well where there isn't much room to backcast.

Slow and Low · 06-13-2008, 05:32 AM

I fish cortland 444 double taper. You can spey cast it, overhead it, roll cast it, and it nymphfishes well. Also for longlining it feeds very well. And last but not least, if you ever wear it out you can just use the other side of the line, as it will be like new.

rob allen · 06-13-2008, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slow and Low

I fish cortland 444 double taper. You can spey cast it, overhead it, roll cast it, and it nymphfishes well. Also for longlining it feeds very well. And last but not least, if you ever wear it out you can just use the other side of the line, as it will be like new.

i agree the 444 or the 444sl are both great lines i too would suggest the double taper but the sa steelhead taper is a great choice too

i recommend trying to pick up a spare spool for the reel when you can and have an SA wet tip 13ft type 4 put on it for your winter sink tip fishing..

Jackson · 06-13-2008, 07:33 AM

The Rio Anadromous Advantage would be my choice. It has served me well.

Steelie Mike · 06-13-2008, 07:34 AM

The SA Steelhead Taper is one of my favorite lines for dry line summer applications. It shoots well and you can use it for nymph fishing if you choose that route. It as well as RIO and Cortland lines have a fair amount of stretch in them though and you might want to consider an Airflow line such as a Ridge Distance. These lines have a core that that does not stretch so that you can detect small takes/pulls better. I pretty much only fish for anadramous fish these days and I can honestly say that this come in handy with light takes. The coating is also polyurethane and does not need to be cleaned as much as PVC lines. If you are looking at a multi-tip line the Airflow mult's are hard to beat as well.

Still there are a lot of great lines on the market and there and you are going to get a lot of opinions. So in other words I would recommend the Ridge Distance, SA Steelhead Taper or the Cortland 444SL for dryline applications.

GraciesDad · 06-13-2008, 11:10 PM

I'd go with the Rio Grand line...and since your rod is an 8/9-weight, get the line in an 8-weight...that line is a little heavy, think of it as an 8.5-weight...I sure love mine!

2/0Dee · 06-16-2008, 07:43 AM

Monic clear floater. It's all most invisible
Mike

Mojo · 06-16-2008, 08:46 PM

RIO all the way. My suggestion is a multi-tip as well.

Steelie28 · 06-19-2008, 03:00 PM

I second the Mastery Steelhead tapor, great line if you don't want a multi-tip.

Stonedfish · 06-19-2008, 07:29 PM

AirFlo multi tip. I like the running line better then the Rio. Rio would be my second choice.

SSPey · 06-20-2008, 12:20 PM

brands, brands, brands ... they'll all fish, so I fish them all

more important, consider getting a 9 wt line. On the Umpqua and Coast, you'll be mostly roll casting, and lining the rod a little bit heavy will help a ton.

nookslayer · 06-20-2008, 01:49 PM

I just went with the new Sharkline after trying it out on a recent trip. UNBELIEVABLE line. It throws, floats and mends better than anythign I have ever fished. Highly reccomended.