Clear sin lines: Would like to hear from you

1095 Views 14 Replies 13 Participants Last post by Richard E, Dec 1, 2009

G

Discussion Starter · Nov 28, 2009

My daughter is wanting a "wish list" from me so I thought I'd hit her up for a new line. Would appreciate hearing from you folks on your preference for a clear sink line. I currently have the Cortland 444 Camo Line and have had it for a long time. I hate the way it coils and no amount of dragging the whole thing through the water will take some of the coil out of it. It doesn't seem to matter if the water is warm or cold... Anyone out there swear by something else????????????

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Mumbles

· #2 · Nov 28, 2009

You are not going to like to read that I have a cortland clear camo in 3, 4, 5, and 6wt and find them to be the best over other intermeidate sink lines. Mine do not coil. I stretch the line as I strip it out and have never noticed any coiling problems.

I do have a rio clear intermediate sink lake line. It works but not as well as the cortland clear camo in my experience.

Charlie S

· #3 · Nov 28, 2009

I also have the Cortland Camo and have never had a problem with coiling. I stretch my lines, floating and sinking, before fishing and this seems to cure most of the problems. The only thing you might have is some twist in your line. To get rid of that tie a ball swivel on to your leader butt. Then walk out about 50-60 feet of line and put steady pressure on it as if you were stretching it gradually. This will sometimes really help to get out some twisting in fly lines.

Trout Master

· #4 · Nov 28, 2009

I have had SA clear lines and the Rio, and both were terrible at coiling, I Have had the 444 clear camo now for 5 years and love it.

Chris Reagan

· #5 · Nov 28, 2009

I like my orvis wonderline. Shoots like a rocket, low coiling and good in cold weather.

Grayone

· #6 · Nov 28, 2009

camo.....................

IveofIone

· #7 · Nov 28, 2009

I am on my 2nd clear camo in the past 15 years or so-no coiling yet. It sounds like your line may have come in contact with something other than water at some point.

Ive

sroffe

· #8 · Nov 28, 2009

I believe some of the earlier (first generation) camo lines had some memory problems.

sothereiwas

· #9 · Nov 28, 2009

Rio Aqualux is far better than the Clear Camo, it casts better, sinks better, and turns over larger flies better. Clear camo lines in lighter line weights dont like to sink, my 4wt has a very hard time breaking surface tension.

Nooksack Mac

· #10 · Nov 28, 2009

In general, intermediate lines are excellent for fishing over the fertile shoals of most lakes, at depths from a foot or two below the surface (where a floating line works fine) down to something like 8-10 feet. I used a Scientific Anglers Type I for years, until I wore it out. That was a conventional construction, of green color.

The clear mono lines have excellent lack of visability. However, their sink rate is a little faster than I like for the purposes described above. To me, they're a medium-slow sinker, not a true intermediate. (Airflo makes clear sinking lines in two densities; however I haven't tried either of them.)

A very useful variation is a floating belly/clear mono sinking tip line of 10-15 feet. And I spliced myself a WF6 line with five feet of clear mono from the running line of another slime line. I use it for fishing around the inshore shallows of trout lakes.

If a clear line turns out to be coil-prone, it should be returned to the dealer or maker under warranty. Sometimes the chemestry is a half a molecule away from perfection; and that line isn't going to get any better.

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Mumbles

· #11 · Nov 28, 2009

sothereiwas said:
Rio Aqualux is far better than the Clear Camo, it casts better, sinks better, and turns over larger flies better. Clear camo lines in lighter line weights dont like to sink, my 4wt has a very hard time breaking surface tension.

I disagree with part of this point, but this is just based on my experience with one Rio Aqualux. I got a free aqualux with a new reel purchase last year. That line cast okay, but not as good as my camo. That line was slick, but quickly got gummy. I cleaned it with warm water and soap and it improved but it got very gummy quickly again. I cleaned it again, put it away and later sold another reel and tossed in that line. I do agree that my 3wt and 4wt take a few seconds longer to "break" the surface tension of the water but I've found that by putting the tip just beneath the surface and giving a twitch and the line breaks the surface film and is off to do its job. I prefer this over the gummy feel of the aqualux, again my expience with a single line and maybe I got a bad one.

Kent Lufkin

· #12 · Nov 29, 2009

I've owned a number of clear intermediates including early ones from Airflo and Orvis, both of which tended to coil if I so much as thought about using one. I believe earlier models used a mono core instead of the more supple braided core on newer lines. I've favored the Aqualux lines from Rio and have them in 4 through 6 wts.

I recently picked up a clear sink tip from Rio (can't remember the name) in a 4wt. It's got about a 9 or 10 foot clear tip fused to an optic yellow floating section. I've only fished it several times but am quite impressed with the ability to sink a fly 3-5 feet and have it stay at that depth no matter how much line I have to strip in. I clearly see it as being a regular position player on my starting lineup.

K

wetline dave

· #13 · Nov 29, 2009

I have fished sinking lines in lakes for a long time. A few years back I bought into the clear line, invisible thing. the first thing I noticed was that when it was early morning or late evening they did in fact go away. But when the sun was on the water it was like a beam of light going down to the depths!!!! Maybe when it got to depth it became invisible but I tend to doubt that from results. I would switch back to the old reliable SA green sinker and catch fish!

What I should add to this equation is that I fish primarily for wild fish and avoid hatchery fish with a passion!

wet line Dave

scottflycst

· #14 · Nov 29, 2009

I've had the same experience with Rio vs. Cortland as Ed has had. I fished the Aqualux for a couple of seasons then switched to the Camo. IMO the Cortland Camo is much better to my liking than the Rio. Less memory and a slower sink rate. I also have Airflo's slow intermediate, pretty good line for fishing the shallows, too bad they no longer make that line.

Richard E

· #15 · Dec 1, 2009

sothereiwas said:
Rio Aqualux is far better than the Clear Camo, it casts better, sinks better, and turns over larger flies better. Clear camo lines in lighter line weights dont like to sink, my 4wt has a very hard time breaking surface tension.

I have a buddy that has a few Rio Aqualux lines, and his lines seem to coil less (though they still do have memory and coil) than the Cortland Camo.

I love SA lines, and I believe they were the first to market the 'clear' lines, but the SA clear lines I've had were absolutely awful at coiling.

I have an old Airflo that is opague, not clear, and it's a nice line. I'm not sure what the new Airflo intermediate line is like, but my old one is a supple line . . .

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