Search…Hooked4lifeca-welding
Official Beach Line Thread
- Thread starter mtskibum16
- Start date
I tried the needle method but went back to the original way I did it with some changes. This time I super glued the butts, whipped mono tying thread up and down the joint then coated it with flexible solarez. Landed a couple cutthroat and threw a lot of casts with weighted flies. I’ll report back if it fails.
Years ago, when starting out beach fishing, I sliced a brand new Rio Aqualux in two, by snagging it on a barnacle-crusted rock. It took numerous attempts, but I finally got a serviceable splice using the braided mono finger cuff splice.
I cut each end at 90 with a razor blade, then tacked the ends together with super glue. I overlapped the braided mono about an inch on each side of the splice, and I’d I think one nail knot with 10# Maxima UG near the ends of the braided mono. I might’ve done two on each side.
The trick was to use nippers to clean up the frayed end of the braid to be flush to the line, and then use multiple coats of very thinned down Aquaseal + Cotol to get it smooth and faired out.
It worked and I think I even caught a fish or two with it. But I was always aware of the splice going the rough the guides and it bugged me, so I soon just replaced it (and bought my first stripping basket).
I have found that sold core fly lines do not weld very well, at least for me anyway. I ended up melting the core of the fly lines.
WildBrookie
Smolt
A seal today ran off with my coho and half of my previous generation airflo 40+ 8 weight sink 3 line. No idea how my 12 lb leader didn’t break before my fly line did. But alas, I’m left with a good story and a search for a new 8 weight coho beach line. I prefer an S3 line vs an intermediate line as I like how it gets down a bit deeper quicker. I have read all 16 pages of this thread for info. It seems like perhaps the only comparable options to what I had that I can find are the SA Titan I/S2/S3 line and maybe one of the newer Airflo lines (superflo 40+ long, superflo 40+ short or sniper ridge 2.0 four season). The Cortland Compact Sink Type 3 sounds like an option as well but doesn’t seem to be available anywhere anymore. I’m leaning SA Titan bc it sounds like the Airflo lines aren’t what they once were. Does anyone have any extra insight they’re willing to share on these options?
I repaired a prop damaged intermediate 9 wt King line back in the day by clean cutting out a foot of section, super gluing the ends, then carefully using a hair dryer to apply adhesive shrink tubing over the joint. Repair held up fine even with King's tugging on the line. Electronic supply stores have the best sizing selection for such.
Just my opinion, but Airflo lines are definitely not as durable as they used to be. It’s too bad as I really like their lines and used to get 3-4 years out of them. For $100 a pop, you’d expect better durability.
My recent beach line experiences with Airflo 40+ Extreme Type 3 lines.
1. First line cranked not long after I got it. Airflo replaced it.
2. Replacement line started cracking shortly after I started using it. A hooked up humpy broke it in half.
3. I ordered another one. Glutton for punishment.
When I took it out of the box to spool it up, I found the core exposed through the outer coating just forward of the rear loop. I cut the loop off and added a new loop which held up to a sea lion that ate my coho.
I also ordered a SA Sonar Titan I/2/3 just in case the 40+ failed. I had this line before but sold it. I had a lot of tangling with the type 2 section. It probably had to do with the way I strip, so I decided to give it another try. I haven’t fished it yet.
One other type 3 line I tried and liked was the SA Sonar Stillwater Seamless Density. It also eventually cracked after less then year of use. Maybe not a good line in saltwater?
SF
My recent beach line experiences with Airflo 40+ Extreme Type 3 lines.
1. First line cranked not long after I got it. Airflo replaced it.
2. Replacement line started cracking shortly after I started using it. A hooked up humpy broke it in half.
3. I ordered another one. Glutton for punishment.
When I took it out of the box to spool it up, I found the core exposed through the outer coating just forward of the rear loop. I cut the loop off and added a new loop which held up to a sea lion that ate my coho.
I also ordered a SA Sonar Titan I/2/3 just in case the 40+ failed. I had this line before but sold it. I had a lot of tangling with the type 2 section. It probably had to do with the way I strip, so I decided to give it another try. I haven’t fished it yet.
One other type 3 line I tried and liked was the SA Sonar Stillwater Seamless Density. It also eventually cracked after less then year of use. Maybe not a good line in saltwater?
SF
Last edited:
WildBrookie
Smolt
This info seems to give support to my SA Titan leaning. The Stillwater Seamless Density seems to be like the Titan but without the S2 section?Just my opinion, but Airflo lines are definitely not as durable as they used to be. It’s too bad as I really like their lines and used to get 3-4 years out of them. For $100 a pop, you’d expect better durability.
My recent beach line experiences with Airflo 40+ Extreme Type 3 lines.
1. First line cranked not long after I got it. Airflo replaced it.
2. Replacement line started cracking shortly after I started using it. A hooked up humpy broke it in half.
3. I ordered another one. Glutton for punishment.
When I took it out of the box to spool it up, I found the core exposed through the outer coating just forward of the rear loop. I cut the loop off and added a new loop which held up to a sea lion that ate my coho.
View attachment 166594
I also ordered a SA Sonar Titan I/2/3 just in case the 40+ failed. I had this line before but sold it. I had a lot of tangling with the type 2 section. It probably had to do with the way I strip, so I decided to give it another try. I haven’t fished it yet.
One other type 3 line I tried and liked was the SA Sonar Stillwater Seamless Density. It also eventually cracked after less then year of use. Maybe not a good line in saltwater?
View attachment 166595
SF
Correct.
It is just an intermediate running line with a type 3 head like the 40+.
SF
Grandpa Jim
Steelhead
I recently ordered an ArcticSilver Compact 2.0 Intermediate (27' head, 245 gr.) in a 7wt. as an alternative for my OBS Intermediate line. The OBS full intermediate running line is the same material as the intermediate head, is thick, seems to tangle easy and knots up and jams into the 1st guide...and then is a real pain to untangle. It has held up well, though.Just my opinion, but Airflo lines are definitely not as durable as they used to be. It’s too bad as I really like their lines and used to get 3-4 years out of them. For $100 a pop, you’d expect better durability.
My recent beach line experiences with Airflo 40+ Extreme Type 3 lines.
1. First line cranked not long after I got it. Airflo replaced it.
2. Replacement line started cracking shortly after I started using it. A hooked up humpy broke it in half.
3. I ordered another one. Glutton for punishment.
When I took it out of the box to spool it up, I found the core exposed through the outer coating just forward of the rear loop. I cut the loop off and added a new loop which held up to a sea lion that ate my coho.
View attachment 166594
I also ordered a SA Sonar Titan I/2/3 just in case the 40+ failed. I had this line before but sold it. I had a lot of tangling with the type 2 section. It probably had to do with the way I strip, so I decided to give it another try. I haven’t fished it yet.
One other type 3 line I tried and liked was the SA Sonar Stillwater Seamless Density. It also eventually cracked after less then year of use. Maybe not a good line in saltwater?
View attachment 166595
SF
I fished the ArcticSilver line yesterday. It casts very nice, shoots further than the OBS and the running line (much thiner than OBS) does not have near the tangle problems as the OBS. However, the ArcticSilver Intermediate head barely sinks...sort of between a floater and the OBS intermediate. I should still be able to use the ArcticSilver Intermediate line over shallow eel grass flats and for estuary fishing. They don't have any sink 7 wt. lines other than the intermediate.
I really liked how the line handled so I hope to try an ArcticSilver Compact Beast in S2/S4 8 wt. (30' head, 19 grams/295 grains) and see how it casts and fishes. I have no idea how durable the lines are. The lines are $100 a pop but they pay the shipping.
By trying to find the OBS replacement maybe I'm a glutton for punishment too?
The Arctic Silver Compact 2.0 float lines are, in my opinion, superior to anything Airflo, Rio, or even SA offer for our beaches. I agree that Airflo has lost their way a bit. They’ve also gotten stupid long. Why would I ever need a 120’ fly line? Don’t know, but Airflo seems to think I do. I have spent the last couple years trying out all the ones I could find, but I keep returning to AS for a floater (which is what I fish from the beach).
The Titan line is great, and SA Bonefish is a good line too if you’re of the persuasion that coily floating lines are easier to manage in the surf than cold water lines that stay flexible and drift around and get tangled, but for me AS Compact 2.0 float are greaterer than any current-gen lines from Airflo, Cortland, Rio, or SA/Orvis.
The Titan line is great, and SA Bonefish is a good line too if you’re of the persuasion that coily floating lines are easier to manage in the surf than cold water lines that stay flexible and drift around and get tangled, but for me AS Compact 2.0 float are greaterer than any current-gen lines from Airflo, Cortland, Rio, or SA/Orvis.
Last edited:
Avid Angler may have some Cortland Compact Sink 3 on hand. They’ve got several of the other Cortland Compacts (float, int, etc) in stock.
I'm back to the OBS and accepting its fate over time. After a run of really good luck with the Cortland Compact I've had durability issues with my last couple Cortland Compact lines not to mention them discontinuing the type 3 which was the best one in the lineup imo.
If in the end they all have durability issues then I'll go with what the line I most prefer to fish which is the OBS. I spooled up the I/3/5 on my 6wt a few months back and have been liking that off the boat. My last gen type 3 OBS on my 8wt is still holding strong currently.
If in the end they all have durability issues then I'll go with what the line I most prefer to fish which is the OBS. I spooled up the I/3/5 on my 6wt a few months back and have been liking that off the boat. My last gen type 3 OBS on my 8wt is still holding strong currently.
I had major durability issues with both the Cortland Compact type 3 lines I had. Absolutely beautifully casting line but each one of them lasted me about two weeks. I've been fishing the SA Titan Int/3/5 and the SA Stillwater Seamless Density 1/3. I find I can cast the Titan a bit further then the Stillwater Seamless Density but both are nice casting lines. I also have noticed some micro cracks forming in the coating of the Seamless Density so my time with that line will probably be limited. I am still on the search for the beach line for me. The ArticSilver Compact Beast looks interesting but I wish they would make it in a 6 or 7wt.
It seems most of the European intermediate sea trout lines have a pretty slow sink rate and many have a floating running line. That sounds like a good combo for cutthroat, but not for coho at least for me. I also like a longer head.
I’ve kind of come to the conclusion that you just need to find a line you like. Then hope it lasts a complete coho season and plan on buying a new one every year.
SF
WildBrookie
Smolt
I’m pretty intrigued now by this AS Compact Beast s2/s4 but am wondering if it might sink just a bit too quickly for beach usage…guess it just depends on the beach
adamcu280
Life of the Party
I'm still a big fan of the AS compact 2.0 but, after a couple seasons of use, my 6wt is finally showing some wear in the handling section. Seems fair to me.
Recently I've been using an OBS 6wt and a Sonar Titan 7wt and they both have noticeably thicker running lines that tangle with ease. Not to say the AS is 100% tangle-free but at least it shoots better.
We'll see how the rest of my beach/rowboat efforts pan out this year but I'm probably going to be buying another AS when the time comes.
Recently I've been using an OBS 6wt and a Sonar Titan 7wt and they both have noticeably thicker running lines that tangle with ease. Not to say the AS is 100% tangle-free but at least it shoots better.
We'll see how the rest of my beach/rowboat efforts pan out this year but I'm probably going to be buying another AS when the time comes.
Grandpa Jim
Steelhead
Just found out that they don't carry the S2/S4 lines for the US market. Only the intermediate. Since their intermediate didn't sink much when I fished it on Friday I thought the S2/S4 might work out fine. Oh well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Anyone try the Cortland Striped Bass Intermediate (full intermediate) off the beach? Not sure I want to drop a c-note on it without some positive feedback. ...a quick search within this thread yielded only one brief mention of the Blitz version (float/intermediate). The head and taper looks similar toe the OBS.