RIO Gold
In Stock • Bozeman, MT
- Long head for ultimate casting control
- Taper design to cast flies between #2 and #22
- Front biased weight to load rods at close range
- Built with RIO's exceptionally slick, durable SlickCast
Description
The redesigned RIO Gold is the standard for everyday trout fly-fishing in the northern rockies. This line pairs well with modern fly rods that with super-fast actions as well as it does with our favorite spring creeks rods like the Sage Trout LL. Whether you are fishing in close or trying to hit that slow pod of risers at 70,' the Gold is a great all-around choice.
RIO has enhanced the performance of this wonderful trout line by building it with SlickCast - RIO's proprietary coating technology. SlickCast creates the slickest, most durable fly lines on the market. Lab tests show that lines built with SlickCast have the least amount of friction ever measured in a fly line. In addition, the line features MaxFloat Tip Technology, RIO's proprietary tip coating formula that floats more than twice as high as regular line tips, without any increase in diameter.
Features
• Long Head & Back Taper — 44-50 feet depending on weight, for line control and mending stability at range.
• Standard-Weight Design — True to line rating, for the same delicate turnover the Elite Gold is known for.
• Mid-Length Front Taper — Presents flies from #22 to #2, then turns over dry-dropper and light indicator rigs.
• SlickCast Coating — RIO's slickest, most durable coating; reduces friction for longer, easier casts.
• MaxFloat Tip Technology — Tip floats over 2x higher than a standard tip, with no increase in diameter.
• Broadest Weight Range in the Gold Family — 2-9 wt, from ultralight presentations to bass and light steelhead water.
• Welded Loops, Front and Rear — Fast, secure connections to backing and leader.
Rod Pairing
| Rod Action | Pairing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Action | Works | Loads well at distance, but needs more line out to fully load than an overweighted taper. |
| Medium-Fast Action | Ideal | The classic pairing — long head and rear taper form smooth loops with easy mending. |
| Medium Action | Works Well | Long rear taper suits soft, delicate presentations; less punch at long range. |
Size Guide
| Line Weight | Head Length | Head Weight | Grain Wt (30') | Species / Technique |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WF2F | 44' / 13.4M | 120gr / 7.8g | 86gr / 5.6g | Ultralight presentations, small streams, bluegill |
| WF3F | 45' / 13.7M | 158gr / 10.2g | 106gr / 6.9g | Small streams, spring creeks, technical dries |
| WF4F | 46' / 14M | 175gr / 11.3g | 126gr / 8.2g | Small streams, spring creeks, dries |
| WF5F | 47' / 14.3M | 208gr / 13.5g | 146gr / 9.5g | All-around trout, rivers and lakes |
| WF6F | 48' / 14.6M | 234gr / 15.2g | 168gr / 10.9g | All-around trout, streamers, bigger rivers, wind, attractor dries |
| WF7F | 49' / 14.9M | 270gr / 17.5g | 193gr / 12.5g | Bass, stillwater, streamers, dry-dropper rigs |
| WF8F | 50' / 15.2M | 310gr / 20.1g | 218gr / 14.1g | Bass, light steelhead and salmon |
| WF9F | 50' / 15.2M | 345gr / 22.4g | 250gr / 16.2g | Bass, pike, steelhead, salmon |
FAQ
What are the parts of a fly line and what does each section do?
A weight-forward fly line has five sections: Running Line: The thin, level back section that shoots through guides. SlickCast's low friction keeps this line moving on long shots and easy pickups. Rear Taper: The transition from running line to belly. The Gold's rear taper is notably long — the defining feature of this classic taper — smoothing the loop during the cast and giving precise control when mending at distance. Belly (Head): The thickest section, and where the line's grain weight lives. At 44-50 feet depending on weight, this head is long by design, letting the angler carry more line in the air for longer presentations. Front Taper: The transition from belly to tip. A mid-length taper (5'6" on the WF5F) — long enough for a soft, accurate presentation, but with enough rate to turn over dry-dropper and light indicator rigs. Tip: The final section where the leader connects. MaxFloat Tip Technology keeps it riding more than twice as high as a standard tip, finished with a welded loop.
How does the RIO Gold differ from the Elite Gold?
Both use the same classic long-head taper and RIO's SlickCast coating, but they're built to different specs: RIO Gold (Premier tier): Built on RIO's standard core rather than a named low-stretch core, and does not carry a multi-color distance-marking system — just SlickCast coating and MaxFloat Tip Technology. Available in 2-9 wt, the widest range in the Gold family, at 80' (2-3 wt) or 90' (4-9 wt) total length. $99.99. Elite Gold: Adds RIO's ConnectCore Plus low-stretch core for better sensitivity and hook-setting power, plus the SureFire tri-color system for a visual casting reference. Available in a narrower 4-8 wt range, stepping up to 100' total length at 7-8 wt. $129.99. Choose the RIO Gold for the same trusted taper at a lower price and a wider weight range, including 2wt and 3wt options the Elite Gold doesn't offer. Choose the Elite Gold for the added core sensitivity and casting-reference features.
What is SlickCast and how does it affect performance?
SlickCast is RIO's proprietary coating, built to be the slickest and most durable finish the company has measured. In practice, that means less friction through the guides — longer, easier casts and smoother shooting on both the cast and the retrieve — plus meaningfully better durability over time on the water.
What is MaxFloat Tip Technology?
MaxFloat Tip Technology is RIO's proprietary tip coating formula, built to float more than twice as high as a standard fly line tip without any increase in tip diameter. A higher-floating tip keeps dry flies and light dry-dropper rigs riding cleanly on the surface and makes the line easier to see and mend, without the thicker profile that would otherwise come with extra buoyancy.
