MASTERY
TROUT LINE
Steven Dally throws a new line from Scientific Anglers.

Specialty taper fly lines have been popping up on fly shops’ shelves at almost exponential speeds over the last couple of years. There has been a specialty line for virtually every popular US species from bonefish to permit, tarpon and both saltwater and freshwater bass. There are lines to throw Clouser Minnows, lines to plumb the depths, lines for nymphing and just about everything else.

Scientific Anglers Mastery Trout specialty taper, or the similarly new Rio Selective Trout, might just seem to be overkill, especially when you look at their existing range of excellent fresh-water floating lines. But in truth, the Trout taper is just what I had been looking for to replace an ageing GPX.

The GPX is built heavier to load fast action graphite’s, and hence allows casters to develop the feel for loading a rod correctly. Unlike the ‘over weight’ GPX, the Trout taper is a true weight line with an ability to deliver delicate presentations, yet able to cast bulky dries or heavy nymph rigs in windy conditions.

For the technically minded, SA says the Trout line has a mid-length head with a concave compound front taper for positive turnover and delicate delivery and a convex rear taper for mending and casting properties. Both double taper and weight forward versions are 90 feet long, available in Dark Willow green or Fire Orange and feature that excellent AST coating.

SA says the line is superb at traditional trout presentations. My comment would be: it works. There was a little adjust-ment in casting feel from the GPX—effectively it made my 5-weight ‘faster’—but within a couple of minutes I felt I was casting better, with a more precise stroke. It’s not to say the line will make you cast better but you can at least feel that way.

The AST coating makes it shoot like a dream and you can certainly achieve distances at which you will struggle to see small flies. But I also love its ability to land softly and delicately, for those quiet evenings on lake or river. It’s precise and smooth, and probably makes me look better than I am.

But the Trout line isn’t just for delicacy; really it’s an all-rounder. In the past few months I’ve tossed everything from size 6 dries and size 4 Clousers to size 24 midges and nymphs, and the line was quickly grabbed by my wife, once I made the mistake of letting her cast my rod.

If you are looking for a new all round Trout line, or want a bit more delicacy for your river and lake fishing, its pretty hard to go past this offering.

Australian price $130. SA lines are distributed by Mayfly Tackle: 03 9899 0034. www.scientificanglers.com