Favorite Fly Line Manufacturer

Your favorite fly line manufacturer?

  • Airflo

    Votes: 10 16.4%

  • Rio

    Votes: 6 9.8%

  • SA

    Votes: 28 45.9%

  • Orvis

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Cortland

    Votes: 11 18.0%

  • Other

    Votes: 6 9.8%
  • Total voters
    61
Scientific Anglers if I could only chose one. RIO, Airflo, and Cortland lines are all represented in my gear too.
 
Cortland #1, then SA and Orvis seem really close. Have not tried Airflo. Didn't care for, and no longer have, any Rio lines.
 
I voted Cortland but my fishing doesn't require lots of specialized tapers.
Though, I have fished a few of their non standard tapers and they were quite good.
 
Airflo, SA and Cortland for me.
Not a fan of Rio’s durability or lack of…..
SF
 
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I have been using Rio lines and have been pretty happy with them.
I found some Redington lines on sale at my local hardware/sporting good store and bought a 3wt wff and a 5wt wff, very happy with those.
 
I have a mix. But mostly Rio, Airflo, and SA. Been happy and have not had the issues with my Rio lines that others have expressed, but I have been slowly going back to SA. At a $100.00 a pop choose wisely. If you can use your local fly shop, many have demo lines you can borrow. Take them out and try them out on some waters. It is what I have been doing for years when line hunting.
 
I would say Airflo when Echo was handling them but have gone the Cortland direction since the change.
Oh, then there's the 13$ DT-5-F Maxcatch that I just bought as an experiment.🤞🙂
 
SA is my favorite. Tapers are well thought out and lines are durable.

Love airflo as well but found their site and description of tapers tougher to understand than what SA does so stuck with SA
 
I haven't used that many lines as I tend to grin and bare it rather than spend a nickel to buy something new. The airflos I've had, the Beach seemed way lighter than its rating and felt like trying to cast a ribbon. $80 experiment. The Sixth Sence was a slinky. Just bought a Cortland type 5 and so far it's nice tho it tangles a little. Not too bad if I stretch it out first. Sinks level which is nice. Wulff Intermediate is my all time favorite. Just plain user friendly. Super easy to cast..
 
Since I don't fish a lot any more. I just pick up what my wallet will stand. No name brands. Been using that line for over 10 years. Except I have one Rio line. It's on my favorite 3wt rod. I also have one Peach 444 line. I think it's a 4wt. I've been using that line for over 12 years. I just dress it ever so often and take it fishing.

I bought a 4wt line from Allen FF. I paid 12 bucks for it. I used it for quite a while. It was on the reel for about 5 years. I would store that rod away for the winter. Not do anything to the line. Would take it out in the summer time, strip some line out and get to fishing. It just didn't have a memory cause the line didn't have any coils in the stripped out line. It finely wore out and I shit canned it. I really liked that line.
 
The last 5 yrs or so it"s been SA lines. Before that it was RIO lines but my experience was they didn't last very long.
I got very dissapointed in RIO lines and how the finish on their lines did not hold up.
I like the Amplitude Infinity line - iI think t's a good all purpose line and works for me.
 
Brand loyalty is always a terrible idea. Every company, in every industry, has good products and bad products; you need to buy the best one for your intended purpose, regardless of the brand. I have owned good and bad lines from nearly all of the brands that you have listed.

FYI, Orvis lines are made by SA.
 
Even if Rio made my favorite line it would be ruined by their customer service. It’s so hit or miss.

Sometimes you get no response for weeks and other times you get three replacement lines for your one (with also no communication).
 
Trout lines I used airflo for a very long time but have been switching over to SA. I am still using very old sink lines from Rio for bass and lakes, just do not get out enough to wear them out. Two-hand I use Gaelforce, but just bought a Bridge line I am very happy with. Also use a Boss for a 16'+ 8/9.
 
jaredoconnor said:
Brand loyalty is always a terrible idea. Every company, in every industry, has good products and bad products; you need to buy the best one for your intended purpose, regardless of the brand. I have owned good and bad lines from nearly all of the brands that you have listed.

FYI, Orvis lines are made by SA.
Click to expand...
Couldn’t remember if they had parted ways…
 
Cortland - have lines that match up better with moderate action rods - especially older rods... Very good durability and reasonable pricing.
 
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