Kfish
WFF Supporter
Monic fly line company in Colorado just came out with an all clear Intermediate fly line, available in 5-9wt. This is particularly interesting to us beach fishers as it's an all clear line and intermediate so I thought I'd give it a try, at $60 it's not too much of a gamble.
There is already the Airflo Beach line which is also all clear and intermediate but it was not fun to fish and does not cast as well as CQS or 40+, something about it's taper and being too supple... hard to pin down exactly but it can be a clunky to fish with. So, I wanted to try this Monic, who knows...this could be the it?
Monic website states that their lines are true to weight, so I ordered the next up 7wt (202-210gr) for my 6wt Meridian (medium-fast rod). In hindsight I should have gone with the 8wt line (230-240gr) which would have suited my casting style better.
It comes with loops at both ends with a thin shrink tube over the weld. It's thicker and bigger than I would prefer but totally acceptable if it helps with durability.
Texture: The line has a proprietary clear non-nylon mono core, it has some stretch to it but not as much as the CQS. It's very smooth and finger friendly for you softies
Running line thickness: I compared the Monic with CQS and Beach. Monic and Beach is the same thickness, and CQS is a smidge thinner. The Monic however is stiffer compared to the other 2 lines, see my very unscientific demo here haha. This helps it shoot better than the Beach in my opinion. It's been a while since I fished the Beach line but I remember it being very supple and susceptible to coil/knot stuck on the guides when shooting line.
Monic on top, CQS in middle, Airflo Beach on bottom for running line comparison.
Caliper closes down snug on Monic and Beach, CQS has a little sliding room under.
Memory: Monic coils a lot in my stripping basket but it actually shoots pretty well. Despite it's look I did not encounter one single tangle/knot through the guides from this morning session. Not sure if this will change later on since it's a brand new line but I do remember Beach having this problem early on.
Casting: This being a clear line you don't have any indication of where the head ends so it's totally on feel while loading the rod. Line tracks well and straight, forms tight loops and shoot pretty well. I couldn't shoot it as far as I can with the CQS or 40+ but keep in mind those lines are heavier at around 230-240gr while this Monic 7wt is 202-210g. Maybe with a 8wt line on my 6wt I can get the same distance as CQS/40+.
Stripping: Soon as the line hits the water it sinks just subsurface and becomes invisible. It tracks straight and didn't form any annoying squigglies b/w the strips. It'll stay a couple inches subsurface on the strip in.
Float test: See my video. The front tip, about 6ft of it is truly intermediate at about 1 ips, the rest of the line is what I would say "weight neutral floating" It rests just below the surface, not showing itself yet won't sink any further. I would classify this as "sub-surface float with a 1 ips sink tip"
My take on it: This Monic line adds another option to our beach game. For those who like to fish a floater and intermediate this line could possibly do both jobs. I fished a Leland's popper with it and the fly stayed on the surface the whole time despite giving the head a few minutes to sink.
On the other hand if you fish a heavier fly it would cover the subsurface zone pretty well although it won't be as deep as a true intermediate.
At $60 and American made it's a pretty good deal. I plan on getting a 8wt to better match my rod for SRC/Rezzies winter fishing where it's mainly shallow and will be able to fish both gurgler/popper and subsurface flies without swapping reels. I think this 7wt will pair nicely with my 5wt Radian for stillwater.
Thanks for reading,
Lou
There is already the Airflo Beach line which is also all clear and intermediate but it was not fun to fish and does not cast as well as CQS or 40+, something about it's taper and being too supple... hard to pin down exactly but it can be a clunky to fish with. So, I wanted to try this Monic, who knows...this could be the it?
Monic website states that their lines are true to weight, so I ordered the next up 7wt (202-210gr) for my 6wt Meridian (medium-fast rod). In hindsight I should have gone with the 8wt line (230-240gr) which would have suited my casting style better.
It comes with loops at both ends with a thin shrink tube over the weld. It's thicker and bigger than I would prefer but totally acceptable if it helps with durability.
Texture: The line has a proprietary clear non-nylon mono core, it has some stretch to it but not as much as the CQS. It's very smooth and finger friendly for you softies
Running line thickness: I compared the Monic with CQS and Beach. Monic and Beach is the same thickness, and CQS is a smidge thinner. The Monic however is stiffer compared to the other 2 lines, see my very unscientific demo here haha. This helps it shoot better than the Beach in my opinion. It's been a while since I fished the Beach line but I remember it being very supple and susceptible to coil/knot stuck on the guides when shooting line.
Monic on top, CQS in middle, Airflo Beach on bottom for running line comparison.
Caliper closes down snug on Monic and Beach, CQS has a little sliding room under.
Memory: Monic coils a lot in my stripping basket but it actually shoots pretty well. Despite it's look I did not encounter one single tangle/knot through the guides from this morning session. Not sure if this will change later on since it's a brand new line but I do remember Beach having this problem early on.
Casting: This being a clear line you don't have any indication of where the head ends so it's totally on feel while loading the rod. Line tracks well and straight, forms tight loops and shoot pretty well. I couldn't shoot it as far as I can with the CQS or 40+ but keep in mind those lines are heavier at around 230-240gr while this Monic 7wt is 202-210g. Maybe with a 8wt line on my 6wt I can get the same distance as CQS/40+.
Stripping: Soon as the line hits the water it sinks just subsurface and becomes invisible. It tracks straight and didn't form any annoying squigglies b/w the strips. It'll stay a couple inches subsurface on the strip in.
Float test: See my video. The front tip, about 6ft of it is truly intermediate at about 1 ips, the rest of the line is what I would say "weight neutral floating" It rests just below the surface, not showing itself yet won't sink any further. I would classify this as "sub-surface float with a 1 ips sink tip"
My take on it: This Monic line adds another option to our beach game. For those who like to fish a floater and intermediate this line could possibly do both jobs. I fished a Leland's popper with it and the fly stayed on the surface the whole time despite giving the head a few minutes to sink.
On the other hand if you fish a heavier fly it would cover the subsurface zone pretty well although it won't be as deep as a true intermediate.
At $60 and American made it's a pretty good deal. I plan on getting a 8wt to better match my rod for SRC/Rezzies winter fishing where it's mainly shallow and will be able to fish both gurgler/popper and subsurface flies without swapping reels. I think this 7wt will pair nicely with my 5wt Radian for stillwater.
Thanks for reading,
Lou
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