FLY LINES AND ACCESSORIES
The last few years, Scientific Anglers (SA) has spent a considerable amount of time and energy focusing on streamlining its past line offerings, and developing new line families with specific applications. The Amplitude series, introduced in 2016, was one incredibly successful result of that effort—so much so, they’re adding five more lines to the assortment in 2018. The Trout ($130) and Anadro ($130) tapers are for freshwater, the Bonefish ($130) and Tarpon ($130) have tapers specifically geared to pursue those game fish, and the Big Water Taper ($130) has a 100-pound test core for “larger than average” saltwater quarry. Like other Amplitude lines, all five new tapers feature SA’s AST Plus slickness additive they claim is 50 percent slicker than anything else ever made. Outside the Amplitude roster, SA also created two other noteworthy lines with specific applications—the Deliverance Spey ($145) and the SONAR Stillwater series ($90).
RIO said it spent an inordinate amount of time testing, and retesting, its new DirectCore Flats Pro ($120) line for bonefish, permit, and tarpon. The key feature is the line’s low-stretch monofilament core, refined taper, and new weight distribution they say makes it easier to make delicate presentations to spooky fish like permit. IFTD spectators liked what they saw and voted it best saltwater fly line. The company’s InTouch Single Handed Spey 3D ($100) capitalizes on the success of the original line, but now includes a float/hover/intermediate option in 3- through 8-weight sizes. The triple density coating ensures flies stay down, without impeding complex mends or sacrificing line control.
Like RIO, Hardy also spent some time the past year focusing on fly lines with specific applications. One fruit of that labor is their new Tropical Flats ($80) line the company says it created to combat high winds and extreme heat, and deliver big flies with accuracy and control, especially in the 20- to 60-foot range. Built over a solid, tropical core, the two-toned color coating has a welded tip loop and laser printed ID for quick reference.
In addition to creating new rods, the Cortland Line Company worked with legendary angler Flip Pallot on a new saltwater line called the High Vis Flip ($80). Together, Flip and Cortland made this line to be highly visible and excel at both long and short range casts by building it around a short taper that lets the line load the rod with relative ease. Moreover, the company says it intentionally didn’t design it with a specific game fish in mind. Rather it’s intended to suit a variety of purposes. In addition, Cortland created a specialty line, the FO-TECH ($130), as a long (130 feet) floating line with an aggressive, 43-foot long taper, ideally suited for fishing from a boat.
It’s no secret Umpqua Feather Merchants produces some of the most innovative, durable patterns on the market, and lately, they’ve extended their market reach and are now producing some of the best storage options for safeguarding the most innovative, durable flies on the market. The UPG Fly Boxes are a series of waterproof, double-sided containers with clear covers (so you can see the flies inside without opening), rows of slit rubber that pinch and hold hooks, magnets to hold the tiniest hooks, or a combination of slit rubber and magnets. The UPG Magnum Midge ($40) was one configuration that won over enough IFTD visitors to receive the award for best fly box/storage system.
To hold your new fly boxes and other gear in just about any environment possible, Fishpond created the Thunderhead Submersible Backpack ($300) out of its bombproof, recycled TPU coated nylon. The zippers are waterproof and the harness system is both sturdy and comfortable. Ideal for protecting phones, cameras, or anything else from whatever Mother Nature throws your way. For storing, protecting, or transporting (much) larger items than flies, Fishpond also created the Grand Teton Rolling Luggage ($400), which coincidentally won the IFTD award for best luggage.
Though it’s not a brand name that gets thrown around fly fishing circles much, you can likely find some model of a Gerber multitool in any angler’s pack or vehicle. Recently, the company has made a push to make more devices with fishing-specific applications. The Linedriver ($40) is one of those items. One end of this compact device can help tie knots and clear hook eyes, and the reverse end has a line crimper, hook threader, small scissors to cut line, and a pocket clip and tether will help you keep the tool out of the drink.
