The hard reality is that there is no one-size-fits-all streamer fly line. Factors such as the speed and depth of the body of water you're fishing, fly selection, your approach (on boot or from a boat), the target species, and the speed of your rod are all components to consider when selecting the right fly line for you. This guide is intended to provide anglers with the ability to better narrow down what sort of line they need to effectively fish streamers, and some specific line suggestions to accomplish that goal.Â
If you first want to learn the basics of streamer fishing and some great destinations for it, check out our Guide to Fly Fishing with Trout Streamers.
How To Choose a Streamer Fly Line
Before we talk specific lines, we need to go over the WHY. Why do I need to use a floating line in one particular scenario versus an intermediate or sink-tip? When is a shooting head unnecessary, and when is it a non-negotiable? Are you looking for a line that has multiple applications, or do you need a fishery-specific line for a destination trip? We're going to touch on the fundamentals of choosing a streamer line so you are able to make an educated and informed purchase.Â
The Basics - Floating & Sinking Lines
Floating versus Sinking Lines -- This might be the most important element to consider as it will quickly narrow down your options. One important reminder for anglers shopping for a streamer line is: Don't overdo it. You aren't looking to tick bottom with your fly the same way you might with a nymph, and if you do, chances are you'll be in the market for a new line and/or flies very soon. While streamer fishing is generally associated with sinking lines, floating lines have a time and place. These scenarios might include fishing streamers on shallow runs and smaller rivers, fishing small (1-4 inch) streamers, or when when you plan on utilizing the same line for a different application such as nymphing. Floating lines are going to excel at presenting flies at depths in the 6-inch to 2-foot range, depending on the speed of the current. The faster or more forceful the current, the more a floating line will struggle.
AÂ few reasons to opt for a floating line:
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Adaptability: Fishing a floating line with streamers allows you to add and subtract weight as needed to be able to effectively fish various types of water in a single day, from shallow riffles and tailouts to deeper buckets. In the event you want to get your fly down, you can add split shot, tie on a heavier fly, or utilize a poly leader to add some additional sinking power -- or a combination of all three. If you come to a shallow run or water conditions are low, you can quickly change your system to adapt. However, if you are finding that you are having to add so much weight that casting becomes clunky and difficult, or your unable to effectively turn over your rig, its time to look into a sink tip.Â
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Line Management: A weight-forward floating line, especially one with a short, powerful head, will allow you to deliver larger flies with minimal false casts or a roll cast without the threat of the line tangling at your feet. If you are going to wade with a sinking tip, opt for a shorter head in the 10 - 12' range that will allow you to ensure any excess line will remain floating and not become a nuisance by tangling on structure or your feet.
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Good for Beginners: If you're just getting into streamer fishing or fly fishing in general, a floating line is far easier to learn the fundamentals with. Once you're comfortable casting a floating line, you can start to experiment with various tapers and grain weights with greater success.
- Versatility: These lines allow anglers to change your setup if streamers are not getting the job done with a quick leader change. You can still tie on a nymph rig, fish a dry fly, or launch a big foam pattern during terrestrial season. As you get into the more technical, purpose-driven streamer lines, the less versatility you have if you are looking for an all-around line or don't want to splurge on multiple lines.
Floating lines are still effective and necessary tools when fishing from a boat if you are drifting on a slow current, or targeting shallow pockets and riffles. However, as rivers deepen, quicken, and become more turbid, a floating line struggles to break the surface and get your fly where the fish are holding.
If a floating line is right for you, you'll want a line with a weight-forward taper to accommodate long casts and help to turn over larger and heavier flies -- the delicate taper of a line designed for dry fly presentations is not going to cut it. If you are planning to fish streamers on a line that has a more "all-around," gradual taper, consider sticking to small-ish streamers in the 1-4 inch range that won't be overly difficult to cast, and stick to small to medium-sized rivers with slower currents.
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More often, intermediate and sink tip lines are utilized for fishing streamers. These lines specialize in a couple of things that some floating lines fail to accomplish. First and foremost, sinking lines have denser, heavier heads which will turn over large flies with far less effort. If you are going to be fishing big streamers, this additional power can be the difference in a good delivery and piling your fly on top of your line. Secondly, and most importantly, these lines are designed to get your fly into the feeding zone quickly, whether you a fishing a small zonker, a big articulated dungeon, or a tandem streamer rig. Finally, these dense lines are designed for ease of casting and quickly recasting. When fishing streamers, you are generally searching for opportunistic fish, or those big fish willing to pounce on a big fly where a nymph might fail. This means making lots of casts and covering water. These lines are specifically designed for picking up line, making a single back cast, and easily shooting line to do to ensure you're fly is hitting as many "buckets" as possible.Â
Top Floating Streamer Lines
RIO Grand
The RIO Grand is a full line size heavier than the industry standard, and features more weight distributed towards the front of the line to easily load faster action fly rods. This "overlining" helps with punching through the wind or turning over larger flies, while also making it an effective tool when fishing heavy nymph setups or fishing foam patterns during terrestrial season. This is a great option to pair with a 6-weight you intend to use for all walks of fishing, and a great line for beginners to improve their casting game.Â
Scientific Angler MPX
The MPX was designed to be an "all-around" fly line, but does well with small to medium sized streamers and pairs really well with most medium-fast to fast action fly rods. If you are someone who wants to be able to streamer fish in the morning, transition over to nymphs during the peak of the day, and then be able to fish the afternoon hatch all on a single line, the MPX is a safe bet. Is it the perfect line for all three? No, but there is no such thing, either.Â
Top Sink Tip Streamer Lines
Before we get into some specific product examples, its important to make sure you understand sink rate. This is measured in Inches Per Second (ips), and as the name suggests, measures the depth the line sinks per second. The sinking portion of a line can be as short as several feet, or can make up the entire line. Generally, sinking tips range between 10 and 30 feet. Full sink lines are used primarily for stillwater applications, where the depths are great and the feeding zone could be dozens of feet below the surface. For the purpose of this article, we are going to solely focus on sink tips.
RIO Streamer Tip
The RIO Streamer Tip is a fan-favorite for a lot of anglers for its short, heavy head that makes for easy loading and a smooth cast. The 10-foot sinking tip comes in a number of grain weights, with the 210 and 240 being the most popular. This is an excellent option for rivers with medium to medium-fast currents fishing from a boat, while also being a good option for wading due to its shorter tip. The shorter tip means anglers can mend with relative ease if swinging streamers through a run, though a longer sinking tip would be recommended if you are fishing big water.Â
Airflo Ridge 2.0 Superflo Streamer Max Short
This is the line you're looking for to deliver big, articulated streamers to the bank over and over. The Streamer Max Short has a 17-foot, fast sinking head (7 ips or more depending on the model) that gets flies into the feeding zone quickly, and its short, triangular taper makes picking up the line and casting with no false casts or a roll cast super effortless. We really like this line in the 160 and 200 grain weight designed for 6 or 7 weights, respectively.Â
RIO Predator
The Predator line comes in a lot of variants, from full floating lines to over a dozen different sink tip combinations. This is not the "do it all" line for fishing -- this is the line you want when you're throwing big flies for big fish such as trophy trout, taimen, or musky. The floating line is going to be used primarily for throwing large topwater flies for fish like pike or striped bass, while the sink tips come in intermediate all the way to a sink 7 for getting flies down extra fast. If you want a warmwater alternative for species such as peacock bass, RIO produces a Warmwater Predator line as well. Â
Sonar Trout Express
This is one of the best (if not the best) sink tip lines for wading. The Trout Express was designed specifically for being able to punch out small to medium-sized streamers when false casting isn't always an option. We like this line (with a sink 5 tip) in the 210 to 240 grain weight on a fast-action 7-weight because it is manageable on both small to large rivers, but also really shines on foot when a roll cast is your best option.Â
Scientific Anglers Sonar Titan
The Sonar Titan comes in a few variants, but the Sink Tip 6 (6 ips) is an excellent option for the angler looking to throw big flies at distance. Two line sizes heavier combined with a super short, powerful head makes light work of articulated streamers or flies utilizing water-absorbing and/or air-resistant materials like sculpin wool or bulky deer heads. We're using this line for trout, but its also a great option for pike, musky, or for anadromous species when you need to launch line and feed them deep.Â
Warmwater and Tropical Streamer Lines
If you're heading to places like Brazil to chase peacock bass, Costa Rica in pursuit of jungle tarpon, or headed to Bolivia in pursuit of golden dorado, you'll need a fly line capable of easily casting large baitfish patterns. Like their coldwater cousins, these lines are designed for carrying big flies and making frequent, long casts easy on the arm.
RIO Elite Warmwater Predator
These lines come in both floating and sink-tip lines, and feature a short, powerful front taper designed for turning over meaty flies in warm water. If you are someone who struggles with a double haul, making long and accurate casts, or aren't sure about being able to cast 6+ inch flies -- this is a good option. It isn't always going to offer a gentle presentation, but it does launch flies when you need it to.
Scientific Anglers Tropical/Jungle Titan
A super slick, easy shooting line that is ultra durable. The line features a camo tip for added stealth that transitions into a high-contrast sighter toward the back. The line is designed two line sizes heavy and makes throwing big streamers a breeze. This is going to be a great option if you are fishing bigger water, making a lot of blind casts, or need a little extra "oomph" with your cast. Keep in mind, less is more with a line like this -- let the heavy shooting head do the work and don't overpower your back cast.
Scientific Anglers Amplitude Grand Slam
A high-performance, all-around great line that isn't traditionally thought of as a jungle line, but certainly should be. The line is not nearly as over-lined as our other two suggestions, meaning novice casters might struggle with casting big flies at distance. However, when it comes to presenting big flies to spooky dorado in shallow pools, you need to have all the odds in your favor. The line features a short, powerful head designed for turning over big flies, but can give you some finesse when you need it.Â
Yellow Dog Staff Favorites
"When it comes to freshwater fishing, especially for streamers, I always carry a selection of line options to adapt to varying conditions. My go-to choice is a longer 25-foot sinking head, which allows for optimal depth control and presentation in the rivers I frequent. These rivers are substantial in size, and maintaining the streamer in the feed zone for as long as possible during the retrieve is crucial for success.
While a floating line can certainly help achieve the desired depth, there are many scenarios where a sinking line is necessary to get down quickly and effectively. From my experience, using the right line can significantly enhance your chances of enticing those elusive strikes. Here are the three sinking lines I rely on:Â
- Floating Line with Heavy Taper: This line is designed to generate enough power to turn over larger streamers, like Kelly's big patterns. Its heavy taper ensures that you can cast those bulky flies with ease, providing versatility for various fishing situations (mostly in shallower water).
- 200 Grain 25-Foot Sink Tip: This is probably my most frequently used line. It sinks quickly, allowing me to target fish at varying depths, especially when the rivers run lower later in the season. The 200 grain tip is versatile and effective in deeper and faster buckets and runs, while also performing well in the 2-3 foot depth range, making it a staple in my quiver.
- 250 Grain 25-Foot Sink Tip: This line is essential during the early season or when fishing rivers with high volume. When fish are holding in the swiftest spots, the 250 grain tip gets my streamer down quickly, ensuring I’m in the strike zone where the fish are most active.
In summary, having the right lines at your disposal is essential for successful streamer fishing. By tailoring your approach to the conditions of the river and the behavior of the fish, you can maximize your time on the water and increase your chances of landing fish." -Â Josh Mills
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"My favorite line for peacock bass and dorado is the Scientific Anglers Grand Slam. I feel that it is overweighed just enough to effectively cast and turnover the heavy systems, leaders, and flies associated with those species, but I can still carry plenty of line and maintain accuracy at distance. I much prefer this line to the designated "jungle lines" which I find to be too overweighed with too aggressive of a forward taper.
For trout, I like to use the Sonar Titan Sink Tip in the S#3 and S#6 depending on the water that I'm fishing. This line loads the rod quickly and makes it ideal for quick shots and lots of casting while fishing out of a boat. I find this streamer line to be great at handling large articulated trout streamers, and the 12' sinking head is the right length that I can effectively manage the depth and presentation of the fly from shallower riffels to deeper buckets." -Â Jack Porter
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"Whether I’m fishing from the boat or on foot, the SA Sonar Trout Express is my favorite line for tossing streamers on Bozeman area rivers. The medium length, heavy sinking tip is great for fishing both shallow quick water or getting a fly down into a deep hole. With the smooth transition from floating running line to the sink 5 tip it is easy to put my streamer right where I want it and enjoyable to fish all day! - Teagan Jendro
The fundamental elements of choosing a the proper streamer line is: Is my fly in the feeding zone? If you're streamer is not presenting to the fish, you might as well call it for the day, and if you can't stop snagging bottom, its time to tone it down. The goal is to have your fly in the sweet spot, and you can and should adapt to the conditions. If you need your fly deeper, give your line time to sink, utilize added weight, or tie on a heavier fly. On the flip side, if you're fishing a shallower river and have on a sink tip, actively begin stripping as soon as your fly hits the water. Like in all of fly fishing, there is no "one size fits all" when it comes to streamer lines, and new rivers and varying conditions means you have to learn, adapt, and keep at it.Â
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