[tkww]

I have a Redington CPS 9' 4wt that I'd like to put a weight-forward line on. The four I'm considering are:

1) Rio Gold
2) Rio Trout LT (new line)
3) Scientific Anglers XPS
4) SA Mastery Trout

I've been using Rio floating lines for the last few years, and really liking them. But I've had good success with SA's mulit-tip and sinking lines as well, so I'm happy to consider them. I already have a double-taper 4 wt line for a little bit slower 4 wt, so that's why I'm leaning towards a WF line for this rod. The Rio LT line is interesting for being a more presentation-oriented WF line, but wonder if I'm sort of defeating the point of a WF with a front taper like that. The SA XPS seems to be marketed similarly, but it's taper appears to be a fairly traditional WF design.

Anyhoo, thoughts on brands, lines, or experience with that rod? Thanks!

 

[BDD]

Pretty hard to go wrong nowadays if you go with a high quality line that matches the rod. It is very likely that all the lines you mention and more will work for your new rod. If you really wanted to strain at gnats, then you could ask yourself what type of fishing do you plan to do most with this rod/line? Dry fly, streamers, nymphing? Once you determine that, line choice should seem a little clearer.

Multi-tips and sink lines are not the same as floating lines. If you like the Rio then by all means stick with it. I have not tried the new LT line but it seems the last SA line(s) I used had a little more memory than Rio, although I have had good luck with SA over the years too.

 

[Gone]

I'm a big fan of the Airflo Ridge series...have it on all my trout reels and as running line on my Spey stuff. Really moves through the guides nicely, in my opinion. Next to zero memory.

 

[prosopium]

I just picked up an LT and its a decent line. They say it is a good line for nymphing (but designed specifically for dries) but I was using a light nymph set up on friday and it works but isn't the best. More than likely thats my fault cause i probably should have over-lined the rod I have it on. I prefer their nymph line if that is what you want it for, however the nymph line doesn't overhead cast that well. Sticking with the gold is a safe bet as it is a good all around line. personally my experience with SA hasn't been that good and I only fish rio lines now and like them all you just have to find the right one. my two cents, sure some will have had other experiences so its good to ask around. If for some reason you come fish the yakima I would be more than willing to let you try out my LT.

 

[11961]

I use Airflo Ridge Lines on most of my trout rods.

 

[Big Tuna]

go to mrfc.com and you can get a ridgeline for $29.00...or at least you could when I bought one about a week ago

 

[tkww]

They say it is a good line for nymphing (but designed specifically for dries) but I was using a light nymph set up on friday and it works but isn't the best. More than likely thats my fault cause i probably should have over-lined the rod I have it on.

Thanks for the info. The CPS isn't a slow rod, but it's not the fastest either. Since I have a DT line available, I'm looking for more versatility out of this. So perhaps I stick with the Gold if i go with a Rio.

I don't have any experience with Airflo, but that's not a bad price....

 

[NW Steve]

I fished the 5wt cps. Fairly fast rod with a stiff tip. Was not the best fit for me. I used a sharkskin magnum and was ok. If you are going with one of the lighter presentation lines I would strongly consider up lining that rod. I think the gold would be good, SA GPX would also be very good, but may not be the best presentation line or mending. One line you might look at is the new courtland precision lines. Have longer heads, some are avalble in 1/2 sizes and they have over-sized running lines for better mending.

 

[toddr]

I own the same rod. Initially I purchased and fished a Rio Grand WF 4 floating line. I found the line, already a bit heavier than a traditional 4 wt, was not sufficient to load the rod given my average casting abilities. I find it loads better and actually has more touch when required, when I overload the rod and fish a 5 wt line. That being said, your list of options is very good and will likely come down to personal perference.

 

[Richard E]

I have a Redington CPS 9' 4wt that I'd like to put a weight-forward line on. The four I'm considering are:

1) Rio Gold
2) Rio Trout LT (new line)
3) Scientific Anglers XPS
4) SA Mastery Trout

Not being disrespectful, but these are some of the last lines that I would select for this rod, because its a relatively stiff, fast action rod and it will need a little heavier line to load it . . . however, it appears presentation (and likely short and close-in casting) appears to be your interest, and these lines purportedly are good at this. So, if you really want one of those llines, I would upline one line weight so the rod will load for you. And, my first choice would be the SA Master Trout, and second would be the Rio Gold.

Important: upline this rod by one line weight.

 

[Tom House]

Save your money and get a Rio Selective Trout. They have recently been discontinued only to make room for new product for 2010. You can find them on sale for half price at most of the usual discounters.
It is a great line in either DT or WF.

TC

 

[Tom Palmer]

I have this exact model and it has become my primary trout rod. I have a WF4 XPS on it and it works well. I would also consider the Gold as it is an excellent fly line, but then again there isn't a dog in the bunch listed so I don't think you can go wrong.

For me personally, I'm not a big fan of uploading a light rod. If I had a 4 weight that wouldn't cast a 4 weight line for my casting style I'd sell it. Putting a 5 weight line on a 4 weight is like, well... fishing with a 5 weight from a presentation standpoint.

Just an opinion

 

[NomDeTrout]

Not being disrespectful, but these are some of the last lines that I would select for this rod, because its a relatively stiff, fast action rod and it will need a little heavier line to load it . . . however, it appears presentation (and likely short and close-in casting) appears to be your interest, and these lines purportedly are good at this. So, if you really want one of those llines, I would upline one line weight so the rod will load for you. And, my first choice would be the SA Master Trout, and second would be the Rio Gold.

Important: upline this rod by one line weight.

I haven't casted the CPS before but if it is comparable in stiffness/fast to the TFO TiCR, I've found the Rio Gold to load pretty well on a fast action rod.
I recently started using a Rio Gold on my 6wt for my TiCR 6wt and love it. I believe the Rio Gold isn't as heavier loaded like the Grand but the head is designed to be slightly overlined than a typical wt line.

Taken from a review on the Gold.
"The Rio Gold is an aggressive weight-forward design. According to the Rio web site, the Rio Gold weight-forward floating fly line has a 47-foot working head length with 43-feet of running line. Its specs indicate that the first 30-feet weigh in at 146 grains. AFFTA standards define a 5-wieght fly line as being 140 grains for the first 30-feet (less the level tip of the line) plus or minus 6 grains. By that definition the Rio Gold is a 5-weight line living on the upper end of the scale. But the other half of the story is also told in Rio's specs (which are far more complete than that of most manufacturers - thank you Rio!). According to the same table, the Rio Gold in a 5-weight specification will tip the scales at a chunky 228 grains for the full 47-foot head length."

 

[Flyphishguy]

i have that very same rod and fish the rio gold on it. I like both the line and the rod. a great dry fly rod that can handle the bigger fish (took several 20''+ fish this past summer). That being said, I also fish a 5wt and 6wt on the redington RS4. On both of these rods i use a sharkskin WF in the appr. class. I have also fished the sharkskin for tarpon on 9wts (for babies) and again with a 12wt. For my money, and it aint cheap, those sharkskins are awefully nice.

 

[tkww]

Thanks for all the replies. The slower rod I initially references is an RS4, in fact, so I’m glad some of you have chimed in with experiences on that rod.

I’ve used my double-taper line on the CPS and not had any unexpected problems (didn’t work so well trying into a 10 or 15 mph headwind ;-). I was using smaller flies so it wasn’t quite the all-around situation that I’m suspecting I’ll mostly use this rod for (including light nymphing and small streamers).

At this point I’m thinking I’ll avoid the presentation style lines and get either a standard or front-loaded weight forward, but I won't be up-lining the rod. I cast a sharkskin once, and it was certainly a slick line, but the noise drove me nuts. If I was in a boat or on a big river all the time, or if it was a heavier line weight (6 and up), I'd probably go for it. But I think I'll stick with a "quieter" line for the time being.

 

[Old Man]

Oh no. Not another fly line question. You should of done a search on this subject. There have been many questions asked about this shit.

What one person likes and another dislikes will not get you what you are searching for. If I was you I would stick with what you are used to and let it go at that

 

[tkww]

Oh no. Not another fly line question. You should of done a search on this subject. There have been many questions asked about this shit.

I can't tell if you're joking or not, but I did try to do a search and had very bad luck with the search engine. Namely, it brought back either no results or said it had results but the pages were blank. I'm not sure if it's a firefox issue or what, but I did actually try. :hmmm:

What one person likes and another dislikes will not get you what you are searching for. If I was you I would stick with what you are used to and let it go at that

This is very true. I wouldn't ever buy a rod, for example, based on posts. Because casting it is the only way to know how I am going to feel about it. Of course I can't try out fly lines that way, so I thought I'd at least get some opinions to start from.