What is your favorite brand of fly line, leader and tippet and WHY?

SA fly lines
Been using Umpqua leader and tippet material, but am having WAY to many break offs on the hook set with dries so am switching over to SA Absolute trout stealth leader and tippets. For lake fishing using Trout Hunter fluorocarbon...
 
See, now I'm curious if @FlyFishDan just posted this to "contribute" vs actually contributing on other threads as well. 🤷‍♂️ #thingsonethinksaboutinfleetingmoments
That moment is over...
 
RCF said:
Might help knowing type of fishing and rod(s) you are fishing with. By providing this information you may get specific recommendations what works really well.

I am a trout fisherman, lakes and streams, with older moderate/moderate-fast action rods. Cortland 444 is my go to line. They match my rod and last a long, long time. I have never had any issues with Cortland in last 40+ years (until they finally wear out). I am not a fan of Wulff. Just do not match my rods nor my style/capability of casting.

Maybe you can ask a local shop to get some Cortland lines so you are supporting them. I always like to support the local small business.

If they can't, online at Cortland would be the way to go, since you like Cortland already... Lots of sales there on already reasonably priced lines.

Edited to add: it is not easy to find lines that match the rod and you. Probably why so many 'lawn cast' lines are for sale. Once you find one ---> stock up.
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My Dad had always used the 444 Cortland series, I need to give that a try myself. Today, I have been using the Cortland Finesse Trout II and Trout Boss which have done pretty well so far.
 
Tom Butler said:
Fan of Cortland lines for freshwater trout fishing here, but have several newer SA and Orvis lines I like as well. Only had a couple Rio lines, just not quite right and none had much lifespan.
The simple SA freshwater tippet is my fav.
Wish Cortland had more of a shop presence like they used to, provided a lot of nice gear back in the day.
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I'm also a fan of Cortland after years of using RIO (switched due to quality/durability issues lately)...now I just can't find the brand in any of my local fly shops.
 
I’ve been fishing mostly SA and a couple Airflo these days…maxima ultra green, asst flouro, especially salt in heavier line test…
 
Dry Fly: Prefer lines with a long head like Rio Gold of Airflo Universal Taper

Nymph: Prefer lines with a short, overweighted head like Airflo Power Taper

Streamer: Hard to beat Airflo Streamer Max Shovelhead… also like Airflo StreamerMax Long… it dredges the bottom but it’s a little more involved to cast… for skinny water, prefer Rio Coastal Quickshooter XP

Carp: Prefer SA Mastery Expert Distance… line has a super long head and is relatively cheap… great casting line

Saltwater: Various SA for all applications

Leaders: Tie my own nymph leaders at 10-16’ and streamer leaders at 4’, use mainly SA leaders for dries but don’t have a preference… carp leaders are a 12’ Frankenstein

Tippet: Seaguar Gold for Fluoro, SA mono… also use Maxima mono on my leaders…. Berkley Big Game is another great mono that is super cheap that I use in nymph leaders

Not brand loyal… except for Seaguar Fluoro … greatest kept secret in flyfishing…. Lines, like everything else in flyfishing are over priced and under perform… but these are the lines I currently like the best… and cuss at the least 😂
 
Cortland 444 SL is money, the Cortland Camo intermediate an excellent line as well and using Seaguar Gold and InvisiX flouro eliminate wasting money on other, inferior, tippet
 
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