WAYPOINTS x Scientific Anglers fly lines podcast episodeWAYPOINTS - with Jim Klug
Episode 33 - Fly Lines for the Traveling Angler: How to Improve Your Game and Find Success on the Water
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February 08, 2022
Jim Klug
Of all the conversations we have with Yellow Dog clients about gear and equipment, fly lines arguably generate more confusion, questions, and uncertainty than anything else. Fly lines are both the least understood component in an angler’s set-up as well as the most important; the final piece that really brings everything together when it comes to proper casting and presentation, as well as fighting and landing fish. For the traveling angler visiting and fishing new destinations, matching the right tapers and line options to each specific fishery or species (as well as to each rod and reel set-up) is critical.
For this reason, we’ve put together an episode that it totally dedicated to questions and facts about fly lines – talking about the basics of line and taper design and answering some of the common questions about line selection, care, and the importance of properly matching a line with a certain rod and reel set-up. To tackle this important subject and help explain the science behind fly line design and manufacturing, Jim sits down with Bruce Richards and Josh Jenkins of Scientific Anglers. Josh is the Research & Development Manager at Scientific Anglers and is responsible for new product development at S.A., which includes new fly line technology and fly line tapers. Bruce Richards is an absolute legend in the world of fly lines and line design, with a 34-year career at Scientific Anglers. During his tenure at S.A., Bruce developed almost every single fly line introduced by the company and arguably knows more about designing and manufacturing fly lines than anyone alive.
If you really want to understand the importance of fly lines and taper design – and learn how the right lines and tapers can dramatically improve your fishing – this is an episode you’ll want to download.
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Table of Contents
Click your region of interest below to jump to the recommended Scientific Anglers fly lines section.
Australia (Salt)
Mexico
Chile
Chile
Bahamas Oman Guyana
Belize Seychelles Iceland
Christmas Island St.Brandon’s India
Cook Islands Alaska Mongolia
Costa Rica Argentina New Zealand
Cuba Arkansas Oregon
Dubai Australia (Fresh) Tanzania
Guatemala Bolivia Tennessee
Honduras Brazil Uruguay
Louisiana Canada U.S. West
Washington
Australia
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Northern Australia Trevally
Floating (1) Amplitude Tropical Titan
Floating (2) Amplitude Big Water Taper
Sinking SONAR Titan Big Water Taper
Mangrove Jacks
Floating Amplitude Tropical Titan
Sinking SONAR Titan Tropical Clear Tip
Queenfish
Sinking SONAR Saltwater Intermediate
Spanish Mackeral
Sinking SONAR Saltwater Intermediate
Cobia
Sinking SONAR Saltwater Intermediate
Barramundi
Floating Amplitude Infinity Salt
Western Australia
Permit
Floating Amplitude Infinity Salt
Bonefish
Floating Amplitude Bonefish Fly Line
Sailfish
Floating Amplitude Big Water Taper
Sinking (1) SONAR Titan Big Water Taper
Sinking (2) SONAR Titan BWT Max Sink
Tuna
Floating Amplitude Big Water Taper
Sinking (1) SONAR Titan Big Water Taper
Sinking (2) SONAR Titan BWT Max Sink
Giant Trevally
Floating Amplitude Big Water Taper
Sinking (1) SONAR Titan Big Water Taper
Sinking (2) SONAR Titan BWT Max Sink
Golden Trevally
Floating Amplitude Tropical Titan
Sinking SONAR Saltwater Intermediate
Queenfish
Sinking SONAR Saltwater Intermediate
Blue Bastards
Floating Amplitude Tropical Titan
Cobia
Floating Amplitude Smooth Infinity Salt
Sinking SONAR Saltwater Intermediate
Eastern Australia Blue Bastards
Floating Amplitude Tropical Titan
Permit
Floating Amplitude Infinity Salt
Giant Trevally
Floating Amplitude Big Water Taper
Sinking SONAR Titan BWT Max Sink
Golden Trevally
Floating Amplitude Tropical Titan
Sinking SONAR Saltwater Intermediate
Southern Australia Australian Salmon
Sinking SONAR Saltwater Intermediate
Kingfish
Sinking SONAR Saltwater Intermediate
Bonito
Sinking SONAR Saltwater Intermediate
Cobia
Sinking SONAR Saltwater Intermediate
Amberjack
Sinking SONAR Saltwater Intermediate
BAHAMAS
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Out Islands Bonefish
Floating Amplitude Bonefish Fly Line
Floating (2) Amplitude Grand Slam
Permit
Floating Amplitude Infinity Salt
Floating (2) Amplitude Grand Slam
Barracuda
Floating Amplitude Tropical Titan
Floating (2) Amplitude Grand Slam
BELIZE
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Northern Belize Bonefish
Floating Amplitude Bonefish Fly Line
Floating (2) Amplitude Grand Slam
Permit
Floating Amplitude Infinity Salt
Floating (2) Amplitude Grand Slam
Tarpon
Floating Amplitude Tarpon Fly Line
Floating (2) Amplitude Grand Slam
Intermediate SONAR Saltwater Intermediate
Sinking SONAR Tropical Custom Tip
Snook, Jacks, Cudas
Floating Amplitude Grand Slam
Southern Belize Permit
Floating Amplitude Infinity Salt
Floating (2) Amplitude Grand Slam
Bonefish
Floating Amplitude Bonefish Fly Line
Floating (2) Amplitude Grand Slam
CHRISTMAS ISLAND
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Bonefish
Floating Amplitude Bonefish Fly Line
Floating Amplitude Grand Slam
Triggerfish
Floating Amplitude Grand Slam
Milkfish
Floating Amplitude Big Water Taper
Intermediate Sonar Grand Slam Clear Tip
Giant Trevally
Floating Amplitude Big Water Taper
Sinking SONAR Titan Big Water Taper
COOK ISLANDS
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Bonefish
Floating Amplitude Bonefish Fly Line
Bluefin Trevally, Milkfish
Floating Amplitude Grand Slam
Giant Trevally
Floating Amplitude Big Water Taper
COSTA RICA
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Bluewater Sailfish, Marlin, Tuna
Intermediate SONAR Titan Big Water Taper
Sinking SONAR Titan BWT Max Sink
Dorado, Roosterfish
Floating Amplitude Grand Slam
Intermediate SONAR Saltwater Intermediate
Inshore Snook, Jacks, Snapper
Floating Amplitude Grand Slam
Intermediate SONAR Saltwater Intermediate
Sinking SONAR Tropical Custom Tip
Jungle Tarpon
Floating Amplitude Tarpon Fly Line
Intermediate SONAR Saltwater Intermediate
Snook
Floating Amplitude Grand Slam
Rio Colorado Tarpon
Intermediate SONAR Saltwater Intermediate
Sinking SONAR Tropical Custom Tip
CUBA
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Bonefish
Floating Amplitude Bonefish Fly Line
Permit
Floating Amplitude Infinity Salt
Floating (2) Amplitude Grand Slam
Tarpon, Juvenile-Migratory
Floating Amplitude Tarpon Fly Line
Floating Amplitude Grand Slam
Intermediate SONAR Saltwater Intermediate
DUBAI
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Queenfish
Intermediate SONAR Saltwater Intermediate
Sinking SONAR Tropical Custom Tip
GUATEMALA
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Sailfish, Marlin
Slow-sink SONAR Titan Big Water Taper
Fast-sink SONAR Titan BWT Max Sink
Tuna, Dorado
Floating Amplitude Tropical Titan
Sinking SONAR Tropical Custom Tip
HONDURAS
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Bonefish
Floating Amplitude Bonefish Fly Line
Permit
Floating (1) Amplitude Infinity Salt
Floating (2) Amplitude Grand Slam
Baby Tarpon
Floating Amplitude Grand Slam
LOUISANA
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Redfish
Floating (March-Oct) Amplitude Smooth Redfish Warm
Floating (Nov-Feb) Amplitude Smooth Redfish Cold
Black Drum, Jacks
Floating Amplitude Smooth Redfish Warm
Sheepshead, Gar
Floating Amplitude Smooth Redfish Warm
MEXICO
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Baja Roosterfish
Intermediate SONAR Titan Tropical Clear Tip
Sinking (2) SONAR Tropical Custom Tip
Dorado
Floating Amplitude Tropical Titan
Intermediate SONAR Saltwater Intermediate
Tuna
Sinking SONAR Titan Big Water
Striped Marlin
Sinking SONAR Titan Big Water
Sinking (2) SONAR Titan BWT Max Sink
Isla Holbox Tarpon
Floating Amplitude Tarpon Fly Line
Sinking SONAR Tropical Custom Tip
Bonefish
Floating Amplitude Bonefish Fly Line
Permit
Floating Amplitude Infinity Salt
Floating (2) Amplitude Grand Slam
Snook
Floating Amplitude Grand Slam
Intermediate SONAR Saltwater Intermediate
Baby Tarpon
Floating Amplitude Grand Slam
Yucatan Bonefish
Floating Amplitude Bonefish Fly Line
Floating (2) Amplitude Grand Slam
Permit
Floating Amplitude Infinity Salt
Floating (2) Amplitude Grand Slam
Baby Tarpon
Floating Amplitude Grand Slam
Snook, Barracuda, Jacks
Floating Amplitude Infinity Salt
Migratory Tarpon
Floating Amplitude Tarpon Fly Line
Intermediate SONAR Saltwater Intermediate
OMAN
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Permit
Floating Amplitude Infinity Salt
Intermediate SONAR Titan Tropical Clear Tip
Queenfish, Milkfish
Floating Amplitude Grand Slam
Intermediate SONAR Saltwater Intermediate
Giant Trevally, Sailfish, Marlin
Floating Amplitude Big Water Taper
Slow Sink SONAR Titan Big Water Taper
Fast Sink SONAR Titan BWT Max Sink
SEYCHELLES
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Bonefish
Floating Amplitude Bonefish Fly Line
Floating (2) Amplitude Grand Slam
Indo-Pacific Permit
Floating Amplitude Infinity Salt
Floating (2) Amplitude Grand Slam
Milkfish
Floating Amplitude Grand Slam
Emperor Fish
Floating Amplitude Grand Slam
Giant Trevally
Floating Amplitude Big Water Taper
Sinking SONAR Titan BWT Max Sink
ST. BRANDON’S
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Bonefish
Floating Amplitude Bonefish Fly Line
Floating (2) Amplitude Grand Slam
Indo-Pacific Permit
Floating Amplitude Infinity Salt
Floating (2) Amplitude Grand Slam
Milkfish
Floating Amplitude Grand Slam
Emperor
Floating Amplitude Grand Slam
Giant Trevally
Floating Amplitude Tropical Titan
Sinking SONAR Titan BWT Max Sink
ALASKA
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Silver Salmon
Single-hand, floating Amplitude Anadro Fly Line
Spey, floating Skagit Floating
Spey tips Third Coast Textured Spey Tips
King Salmon
Floating Amplitude Smooth Titan Long
Spey, floating Skagit Floating
Spey, sinking Skagit Intermediate
Spey Tips Third Coast Textured Spey Tips
Trout, Char, Dolly Varden
Floating Amplitude Anadro Fly Line
Sink, 200-250 gr. SONAR Sink 25 Cold Fly Line
Sink-tip SONAR Titan Sink Tip
Arctic Grayling
Floating Amplitude Infinity
Pike
Floating Amplitude Smooth Titan Long
Intermediate SONAR Titan Full Intermediate
Steelhead
Single-hand, floating Amplitude Anadro Fly Line
Single-hand, sink-tip SONAR Titan Sink Tip
Spey, floating Skagit Floating
Spey, two-hand Skagit Intermediate
Spey Tips Third Coast Textured Spey Tips
ARGENTINA
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Marsh
Dorado
Floating Mastery Jungle Titan
Sinking SONAR Jungle Custom Tip
Tierra del Fuego
Sea-Run Brown Trout
Floating Amplitude Anadro Fly Line
Sinking SONAR Sink 25 Cold Line
Sinking (2) SONAR Titan Sink Tip
Spey, floating Skagit Floating
Spey, intermediate Skagit Intermediate
Patagonia
Trout
Floating Amplitude Trout Fly Line
Floating (2) Amplitude Infinity
Sinking/Streamers SONAR Titan Sink Tip
ARKANSAS
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Trout
Floating Amplitude Infinity
Sink-tip SONAR Titan Sink Tip
AUSTRALIA
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Tasmania
Trout
Floating Amplitude Infinity
Delicate floating Amplitude Double Taper
Intermediate SONAR Stillwater Clear Camo
Sink SONAR Titan Sink Tip
BOLIVIA
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Golden Dorado
Floating Amplitude Tropical Titan
Floating (2) Amplitude Grand Slam
Sinking SONAR Titan Jungle Clear Tip
Sinking (2) SONAR Jungle Custom Tip
Pacu
Floating Amplitude Tropical Titan
BRAZIL
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Peacock Bass
Floating Amplitude Tropical Titan
Floating (2) Mastery Jungle Titan
Intermediate SONAR Titan Jungle Clear Tip
Sinking SONAR Tropical Custom Tip
Payara
Intermediate SONAR Sink 30 Clear
Fast Sink SONAR Jungle Custom Tip
Wolffish
Floating Amplitude Tropical Titan
Floating (2) Mastery Jungle Titan
Matrincha
Floating Amplitude Tropical Titan
Floating (2) Mastery Grand Slam
Bicuda
Floating Amplitude Tropical Titan
Floating (2) Amplitude Smooth Grand Slam
Arawana
Floating Amplitude Tropical Titan
Floating (2) Mastery Grand Slam
Arapaima
Floating Amplitude Big Water Taper
Intermediate SONAR Titan Big Water Taper
Sinking SONAR Titan BWT Max Sink
CANADA
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Alberta Trout
Floating Amplitude Infinity
Sink Tip SONAR Titan Sink Tip
Pike
Floating Amplitude Smooth Titan Long
Intermediate SONAR Titan Full Intermediate
British Columbia Trout
Floating Amplitude Infinity
Sink Tip SONAR Titan Sink Tip
Steelhead and Salmon
Single-hand, floating Amplitude Anadro
Single-hand, sink-tip SONAR Titan Sink Tip
Spey, floating Scandi
Spey, floating (2) Skagit
Spey, sinking Skagit Intermediate
Spey tips Third Coast Textured Spey Tips
New Brunswick Atlantic Salmon
Single-hand, floating Amplitude Anadro
Spey, floating Scandi
Manitoba Northern Pike
Floating Amplitude Smooth Titan Long
Intermediate SONAR Titan Full Intermediate
Walleye
Sinking SONAR Sink 25 Cold
Arctic Grayling
Floating Amplitude Infinity
Northwest Territories Lake Trout
Floating Amplitude Smooth Titan Long
Intermediate SONAR Titan Full Intermediate
Sinking SONAR Sink 25 Cold
Arctic Char
Single-hand, sink-tip SONAR Titan Sink Tip
Spey Skagit Floating
Spey (2) Third Coast Textured Spey Tips
Northern Pike
Floating Amplitude Smooth Titan Long
Intermediate SONAR Titan Full Intermediate
CHILE
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Trout
Floating Amplitude Infinity
Sink-tip SONAR Titan Sink Tip
GUYANA
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Arapaima
Floating Amplitude Big Water Taper
Intermediate SONAR Titan Big Water Taper
Sinking SONAR Titan BWT Max Sink
Payara
Sink Tip SONAR Jungle Custom Tip
ICELAND
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Atlantic Salmon
Single-hand, floating Amplitude Anadro
Brown Trout and Char
Floating Amplitude Infinity
Sink Tip SONAR Titan Sink Tip
Sinking SONAR Sink 25 Cold
Sea-Run Trout
Floating Amplitude Infinity
Sink Tip SONAR Titan Sink Tip
Sinking SONAR Sink 25 Cold
INDIA
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Golden Mahseer
Single-hand, sink-tip SONAR Titan Sink Tip
Single-hand, sink SONAR Sink 25 Cold
Spey Skagit Floating
Spey (2) Third Coast Textured Spey Tips
MONGOLIA
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Taimen
Floating Amplitude Smooth Titan Long
Sinking SONAR Sink 25 Cold
Lenok
Floating Amplitude Infinity
NEW ZEALAND
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Trout
Floating, dull-colored Amplitude Infinity
Delicate floating, dull-colored Amplitude Double Taper
OREGON
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Steelhead
Spey Skagit Floating
Spey (2) Third Coast Textured Spey Tips
TANZANIA
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Tigerfish
Floating Amplitude Tropical Titan
Intermediate SONAR Titan Jungle Clear Tip
Sinking SONAR Tropical Custom Tip
TENNESSEE
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Trout
Floating Amplitude Infinity
Sink tip SONAR Titan Sink Tip
URUGUAY
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Golden Dorado
Floating Amplitude Tropical Titan
Intermediate SONAR Titan Jungle Clear Tip
Sinking SONAR Tropical Custom Tip
Wolffish
Floating Amplitude Tropical Titan
U.S. WEST
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Trout
Floating Amplitude Infinity
Delicate Floating Amplitude Double Taper
Sink Tip SONAR Titan Sink Tip
WASHINGTON
Destination Target Species Recommended Fly Line
Steelhead
Spey, floating Skagit Floating
Spey (2) Third Coast Textured Spey Tips
Rainbow Trout
Floating Amplitude Infinity
Delicate Floating Amplitude Double Taper
Sink tip SONAR Titan Sink Tip
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