Last week, I landed my first redfish on the fly. Luckily, I accomplished this on my first trip after them with a fly rod and about my fifth cast. Somehow, the starts aligned. What a blast!
Anyways, I bought an older 9wt Orvis Battenkill and think it is time to put some new line one it. What are some of yalls favorite redfish lines?
My favorite line is scientific anglers shark wave saltwater taper. It’s a lighter line that’s capable of laying out very delicate casts to fish without them spooking. It is also lightly textured which creates less friction on the guides when you are casting which allows you to cast further. I used to use all rio lines but I’m starting to use the SA lines a lot more lately and I’ve got no complaints
“Gun control, it’s like trying to prevent drunk driving by making it more difficult for sober people to buy cars” -anonymous
Congrats on your first fly caught Redfish! I tried for nearly 40 years before finally landing one on a fly.
Fly lines are like rods or reels, everyone has a different opinion as everyone has different likes & dislikes, or needs.
I use the same lines for bass & Striped Bass as I use for Redfish, and have yet to find I can’t use any line I own. Flyfishingod makes some good points, however IMO, you may need to try different lines to find what you like best. I own several SA lines, and have no problems with them. Also own a couple of Orvis, and Cortland and they work just fine too for the fishing I do with them.
I try to choose lines based on what I’ll use them for most, and if I see a specific need, such as needing more distance, may seek a specialty line to fill that need. Otherwise, most lines are general purpose, even though I have several “specialty” lines. For example, I have a Tarpon taper SA line for my 10 wt. For the fishing I do with it, it casts no differently than a Striper taper or bass taper line I have. The Tarpon taper does seem to cast a bit better at longer distances than the other two, like over 50’, but otherwise I see no difference. I’m also using similar size/wind resistant flies with each line and most fishing I do is within 40’.
There are many good lines on the market these days. The problem is finding one that fits both your budget & the fishing you’re going to do most with it. No one else can make that choice for you.
If possible, take your rod & reel to a shop, explain to them what you want from the line & try & cast some different lines to get a better idea of what you might like best. Of course casting on grass is not the same as casting in real fishing conditions, but at least you’ll know if the line feels good to you.
The majority of fly anglers won’t see much difference in how one line casts compared to another when out there actually fishing. But, you may find you like how a specific line feels to you when you cast it. That’s been my experience, and if it feels go
Well I can help you narrow this down pretty simply…
99% of the time you will be shallow water sight fishing for reds, therefore you can eliminate any intermediate, or sink tip lines for reds…
our water is pretty off color for most of the year, and reds aren’t all that spooky most of the time, so no need to spring for a fancy clear tip line.
With redfish flies usually being on the bulky side of things, i like a Weight forward, floating line, preferably with a short head… To make things simple manufacturers all make “Redfish” lines which usually all fall into the specifications I just mentioned.
SA and Rio make the two best in my opinion… the coatings on Rio lines just don’t seem to hold up as well, though I do like the taper on their redfish line a little better…
Either one of those lines should give you multiple years of good service if you care for them properly, and avoid casting your line over oysters…
One more elephant in the room that you’ll need to adress sooner rather than later is that battenkill reel.
No you don’t need a $600 reel to catch reds, and no it doesn’t need to have a top of the line drag system… but that reel you have uses an exposed gear tension drag, and a cast aluminum frame. Salt water will destroy that reel pretty quick… It will be fine for a bit, but its gonna get eaten up, and probably faster than you think… So if I were you I would be saving up for a new reel… there are plenty of options in the sub $200 dollar range that will be just fine… Look for machined aluminum frame, and some form of stainless, sealed drag system… Lamson Reels would be a good place to start…
Anyway, don’t make this anymore complicated than it needs be. Go to a fly-shop (Charleston Angler, Lowcountry Fly Shop, etc…) Buy one that says “WF-9-F Redfish” (assuming your rod is a 9wt) and go fishing… Rinse your line off every trip, and twice a year use a good commercial fly line dressing to completely clean and re-dress your fly-line, and it will last you a long time. Don’t
I agree with everything Mad Mike has said! However, “cheap” is relative. Some fly lines are certainly more costly than others. For myself, I have no issue buying last years model at for example $35 on clearance, instead of this years “new” model at $100. I still get a good line that will last me for many years, yet at a cost I’m happier with. Those Redfish aren’t going to know the difference & neither will you as far as fishing with them.
You don’t need to spend a lot to get a good quality line if you look around.
Thanks for the advice guys. I’ve caught a few more fish since the original post and am slowly figuring it out. This wind has been making it touch on a new caster!
I hear ya on the reel. The Battenkill was an affordable option to get me in the game quick, but I will upgrade soon. I’ve been really eyeing the Allen Kraken reels