Fishing: How To Fish: Basics

Next you will decide which taper is best for your fishing conditions. The taper is what makes a fly line easy to cast and gives your presentation its subtlety. Energy is consumed as the fly cast unfurls. As the energy is used up, the mass of the tapered fly line decreases because of that taper. This allows the cast to unfold completely and allows your fly to land gently on the water. The tapered section of the line also disturbs the water less when it lands so you are less likely to spook trout.

Fly lines come in a variety or tapers and variations of tapers, but basically they are available as level line, double tapers, weight forward, and shooting tapers.

Level lines are useless for fly fishing and basically a waste of money. They do not cast well and they have no delicacy. With a level line the energy will often dissipate before it unrolls and the line will fall in a heap. If you put enough energy into the line to make it unroll completely it usually bounces back at you and often puts a wind-knot in the leader. You will develop a number of bad casting habits if you try to learn to fish with one. Don’t buy a level line.

Double taper lines typically have a tapering section about 6 feet long on each end of the line with a level section (the belly) in between them. This taper is a carry-over from the hey-days of silk lines and bamboo fly rods. Because it has a long belly section, it can be roll-cast out to 60 - 70 feet in the hands of a skilled caster. The long taper also keeps the fly farther away from the belly section and thus allows a delicate presentation.

A double tapered line can also be the most economical line to use if you take the time to turn it around on the reel once a month or so. Turning it around on the reel reverses the end you are casting with and you will get almost twice as much longevity out of the line by doing so. If you wait until the first end is worn out before reversing the line you’ll lose this economic advantage. The other end has been so tightly coiled on the reel for so long it becomes unusable.

The disadvantage to double tapered lines is that they take up about an extra 50 yards of backing space on the reel and they don’t shoot line very well. It is more difficult to cast long distances with a double taper line because it requires aerializing large amounts of line before the shoot. The more false casts required before the shoot, the more skill is required of the caster. Also keep in mind that your fly is not fishing unless it is in the water. More false casts mean your fly is spending less time on the water.

Weight forward lines are by far the most popular lines and with good reason. Some weight forward and double taper lines are virtually identical for the first 37 feet. Then, the weight forward line tapers down to a thin running line that allows easier long distance casts. Because the weight forward lines have the same long front taper as the double taper lines, they preserve that delicacy of presentation, and yet they are also easy to cast when long distances are needed.

Some manufacturers make the taper on their standard weight forward lines short (3 to 4 feet) in order to turn over large flies more easily in windy conditions. By doing so, they sacrifice the delicacy of the line. They gain power but lose subtlety. Some manufacturers also offer specialty lines for conditions where power is needed and subtlety is not, but the standard weight forward line is every bit as delicate as the DT. Another advantage for the weight forward line is that it takes up less room on the reel which allows you to add extra backing or perhaps even use a smaller, lighter reel than possible with the double taper line.

The disadvantage to the weight forward line is that you can’t turn it around when you wear out the front taper. You have to replace it. Another disadvantage is that the weight forward line is difficult to roll cast extreme distances. Once the running line gets past the tip-top of the rod, it becomes very difficult to put enough energy into this thin running line to turn over the fat belly section of the line. Some manufacturers also make a specialty line with a longer belly section to help facilitate long roll casts and mends, but for extreme roll casts the double taper is still the best choice.

Shooting taper lines (also known as a shooting head) are short sections of fly line (Some shooting tapers are 38 feet in length) that are attached to a separate running line. They are specifically used for long distance casting and are anything but delicate. They are most often used when fishing for steelhead, salmon, and some saltwater species. Because they are so short, a number of different types and densities can be kept in a wallet or pocket and interchanged easily, as the particular fishing conditions require.

Fly lines come in Floating and a number of different density sinking lines as well as combinations float/sink lines known as sink-tips. Most fly fishers learn to fly fish with a floating line and then purchase additional sinking or sink-tip lines as the need arises. In most cases you will be wise to purchase a floating line and learn how to use it before you branch out. If you are going to fish with a lodge or a guide and they tell you to bring a specific type of sinking or sink-tip line, that’s the time to go out and buy one.

If you are a beginner and this is your first fly line you may want to purchase a less expensive fly line. It has a special weight forward taper that is easier for beginners to cast. After you gain some skill in fly-casting, you may want to upgrade to the weight forward or double taper line to take advantage of their better delicacy.