Puget Sound

I fished a combo of the Cortland Compact S3 and the Rio OBS full intermediate in 6wt on a Orvis Helios 3D last summer for coho. I like them both, but in my opinion the shorter head and heavier weight of the Cortland was noticeably different from the OBS. I found that that Cortland was less forgiving of slightly mistimed casts and hauls, but had a higher "upside" in terms of max distance with 1-2 false casts with good timing.

I am really liking the true to weight Cortland clear camo intermediate for SRC work this fall on a 6wt Radian.
 
Sam Roffe said:
I'm using the Cortlan Compact Intermediate. 7wt on my 6wt Burkie. It's OK. I kind of like the Rio OBS 6wt intermediate with the super slick running line on my 5wt Burkie. That fires like a cannon into the beach.

That said I fished most of the time with a type 3 sink on my 6wt most of last season.
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Which 5wt Burkie is this? I have a 595 DAL I was thinking of using as a beach rod.
 
I’ve been fishing the Cortland Compact type 3 for a few years now. I really like it.
Much easier to cast them the Airflo Beach full intermediate.
I had a Titan I/2/3 and a I/3/5. I ended up selling both mainly because I mainly beach fish. If I fished out of a boat more, I probably would have kept both.
I’ve been fishing a Titan full intermediate for cutts. SA really should have labeled that line a hover line, not a full intermediate. It works well in slower currents. No way would I use it in places with good tidal flow. It would be like fishing a floater.
SF
 
Brown head with electric yellow (Cortland’s color description) intermediate running line.
SF
 
IHFISH said:
I fished a combo of the Cortland Compact S3 and the Rio OBS full intermediate in 6wt on a Orvis Helios 3D last summer for coho. I like them both, but in my opinion the shorter head and heavier weight of the Cortland was noticeably different from the OBS. I found that that Cortland was less forgiving of slightly mistimed casts and hauls, but had a higher "upside" in terms of max distance with 1-2 false casts with good timing.

I am really liking the true to weight Cortland clear camo intermediate for SRC work this fall on a 6wt Radian.
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I love my OBS for the purposes of minimal backcasts. Interesting to hear the Cortland might me better in that regard.

Durability has to be better than the OBS. I have replaced a high end fly rod’s worth of OBS lines the last few years due to cracking a breaking. Some replaced by Rio, some bought out of pocket because I did not want to wait. How’s the coiling on the Cortland running line? Stay fairly tangle free coming out of the stripping basket?
 
jasmillo said:
I love my OBS for the purposes of minimal backcasts. Interesting to hear the Cortland might me better in that regard.

Durability has to be better than the OBS. I have replaced a high end fly rod’s worth of OBS lines the last few years due to cracking a breaking. Some replaced by Rio, some bought out of pocket because I did not want to wait. How’s the coiling on the Cortland running line? Stay fairly tangle free coming out of the stripping basket?
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The coiling isn't bad at all, minimal at most and generally only if it's super cold out. A good stretch after spooling for the first time and you should be good. We noticed that Nick's was coiling more than mine but his was just spooled up where I've had mine for a couple years now. The line is very slick which is my preference, I can't stand the feel or sound of textured lines.
 
I'm pretty sure I've tried the Cortland Compact type 3 before and sold it. It was OK, not bad but not great either. There was coiling (it was cold) and while tangles weren't bad it didn't shoot that great from stripping basket. From a boat with line at your feet level that's probably fine but I don't remember it being supple and laying down smoothly in the basket.
 
I’d rate the OBS just slightly ahead of the cortland for suppleness and avoiding tangles, but I also found it to be pretty good in those areas also. Agree it has to be more durable. No issues through a season of steady use.
 
To me the Cortland Compact doesn't feel as aggressive as the OBS, especially in the ability to launch big flies a mile off the beach sort of way. As much of an anti Rio guy as I've become, I still view the OBS as the top dog for that use.

The Cortland has a pretty short head but it didn't feel like it. By that I mean it didn't have the bit of clunkiness that I would associate with such a line. I also found it to be very forgiving to cast. I could easily carry a bunch of running line outside of the tip without it collapsing, even without a ton of line speed. I could also pick up and recast very easily if needed even when a decent amount of running line was on the water. I would wish for a bit of a thinner, more supple running line, but that's just my preference. The 40+ running line was my favorite. I did have some tangling issues the first few hours I used it but I had just spooled it the day before and two or three hours I didn't notice much tangling as I worked it in.

There are definitely differences in what I like out of a line for fishing from the boat and fishing from the beach. Off the top of my head I think I'd enjoy this line for src beach fishing but still not sure if it would be my go to for throwing large clousers for summer coho.
 
Nick Clayton said:
To me the Cortland Compact doesn't feel as aggressive as the OBS, especially in the ability to launch big flies a mile off the beach sort of way. As much of an anti Rio guy as I've become, I still view the OBS as the top dog for that use.

The Cortland has a pretty short head but it didn't feel like it. By that I mean it didn't have the bit of clunkiness that I would associate with such a line. I also found it to be very forgiving to cast. I could easily carry a bunch of running line outside of the tip without it collapsing, even without a ton of line speed. I could also pick up and recast very easily if needed even when a decent amount of running line was on the water. I would wish for a bit of a thinner, more supple running line, but that's just my preference. The 40+ running line was my favorite. I did have some tangling issues the first few hours I used it but I had just spooled it the day before and two or three hours I didn't notice much tangling as I worked it in.

There are definitely differences in what I like out of a line for fishing from the boat and fishing from the beach. Off the top of my head I think I'd enjoy this line for src beach fishing but still not sure if it would be my go to for throwing large clousers for summer coho.
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Thanks for this. Looks like my search for an OBS replacement continues :)!
 
Has Rio done any more, even if just PR wise, to address their line durability issues? It’s not just OBS. I had a CQS give up the ghost really fast too.

Maybe Puget sound fishers just crank way harder on 6 wt lines than your average angler, but I’m surprised their lines sell as well as they do.
 
Nick Clayton said:
To me the Cortland Compact doesn't feel as aggressive as the OBS, especially in the ability to launch big flies a mile off the beach sort of way. As much of an anti Rio guy as I've become, I still view the OBS as the top dog for that use.

The Cortland has a pretty short head but it didn't feel like it. By that I mean it didn't have the bit of clunkiness that I would associate with such a line. I also found it to be very forgiving to cast. I could easily carry a bunch of running line outside of the tip without it collapsing, even without a ton of line speed. I could also pick up and recast very easily if needed even when a decent amount of running line was on the water. I would wish for a bit of a thinner, more supple running line, but that's just my preference. The 40+ running line was my favorite. I did have some tangling issues the first few hours I used it but I had just spooled it the day before and two or three hours I didn't notice much tangling as I worked it in.

There are definitely differences in what I like out of a line for fishing from the boat and fishing from the beach. Off the top of my head I think I'd enjoy this line for src beach fishing but still not sure if it would be my go to for throwing large clousers for summer coho.
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Totally agree with your assessment of Cortland Compact. I still use mine, but I chopped off the front foot or so and that helps with turnover. I really like how they fish once in the water, but you're right, not as aggressive as obs. But, I'm on season 2.5 with both the type 3 and int and they show zero signs of wear. (Minus a chopped off front taper). I woulda burned through multiple OBS by now.....but it really is the best taper out there.

SA Sonar Titan is pretty good too...
 
Too bad Cortland doesn’t make a Compact full intermediate. I requested it from them…..😂
Hopefully Airflo starts making some new offerings in their lines as well.
SF
 
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Is the OBS problems a random thing? I have two OBS lines with each one easily having hundreds of hours plus or more of service and still no issues. One is the X-coastal OBS, purplish line follows the clear intermediate head. Other is an OBS short. I really enjoy both lines and find they both shoot well. Both are at least 4 years old now. Still going strong.
 
Porter2 said:
Is the OBS problems a random thing? I have two OBS lines with each one easily having hundreds of hours plus or more of service and still no issues. One is the X-coastal OBS, purplish line follows the clear intermediate head. Other is an OBS short. I really enjoy both lines and find they both shoot well. Both are at least 4 years old now. Still going strong.
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You have one OBS short and one Coastal Quickshooter XP.
I’ve had both the OBS and the CQS non XP version fail multiple times on each.
It’s mainly cracking, but I had one CQS snap in half while casting it.
To Rio’s credit, they replaced them a but they just shouldn’t be failing so quickly in my opinion.
Their customer service explanations on the failures left a lot to be desired.
One being told their lines don’t break. Funny, others here had the same thing happen with the CQS line.
Secondly, telling me how often guides replace their lines. I’m not a guide or on any pro-staff getting discounts on their products.
SF
 
Wulff has a clear intermediate Ambush that I also like for throwing big junk, but a distance line it is not....
 
I have fished CQS for several years w/o a problem. I fished an OBS intermediate hard this year without any problems. I fished an OBS I/3/5 hard for 6 weeks this year and the outer coating of the terminal loop cracked and broke down. I clipped it off and put a braided loop back on the end. Didn't get to fish it long enough to see how that would hold up. Next year will tell. I bought a 3-pack of braided loops so think I can get through another year if I have the same problem with cracking line immediately behind the braided loop repair. I have not seen any issues with cracking of the OBS running line close to the head juncture like others have reported. The Rio intermediate material is different than the other Rio coated sink lines and seems to hold up better. I wonder if Rio should include a 3-pack of braided loops with any OBS sinking line above 3ips that they sell?
 
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