RIO Elite Flats Pro Intermediate
In Stock • Bozeman, MT
- Built with RIO's exceptionally slick, durable SlickCast coating
- Low-stretch DirectCore for hard, solid strip sets
- High floating running line that will not sink and impede the cast
- Easy annealing, low-memory core that lays perfectly straight on the water
Description
Conquer the flats with RIO’s Flats Pro tropical saltwater line. This line has a mid length head and long back taper for smooth, effortless loops, and a weight distribution that provide perfect presentations of just about any fly you are likely to use. Each line is built on RIO’s low-memory DirectCore that is extremely easy to anneal (stretch) and lies perfectly straight on the water, yet retains the stiffness needed to cast in hot conditions. In addition the line is built with SlickCast—the slickest, most durable coating on the market. This line is a full intermediate sinking line, and an excellent option for off shore, and around rock marks and structure. It is particularly great when there is any kind of "wave" or "swell" as it gets under the surface and ensures angler stay in touch with the fly at all times.
Features
• Full Intermediate Sink Rate — The entire line sinks slowly, keeping flies in the zone through wind, chop, and current.
• Mid-Length Head, Long Back Taper — Loads fast for close shots, carries well for longer casts into wind.
• ConnectCore Plus Low-Stretch — Roughly 30% less stretch than a standard core for solid strip-sets on hard-mouthed flats species.
• SlickCast Coating — Stays hard and slick in tropical heat; reduces friction for longer, easier casts.
• SureFire Tri-Color System — Marks the tip, loading sweet spot, and running line for a precise casting reference.
• Half-Size-Heavy Build — Turns over crab and shrimp patterns and punches into wind without an overly delicate taper.
• Saltwater-Grade Core Strength — 45lb (8-9 wt) to 60lb (10-12 wt), built to handle big, hard-fighting fish.
• Welded Loops, Front and Rear — Fast, secure connections to backing and leader.
Rod Pairing
| Rod Action | Pairing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Action | Ideal | The mid-length head and long back taper load fast saltwater blanks cleanly at range. |
| Medium-Fast Action | Works Well | Slightly less punch into wind. |
| Medium Action | Not Recommended | Saltwater-grade cores and heavier grain weights overload a soft blank fast. |
Size Guide
| Line Weight | Head Length | Head Weight | Grain Wt (30') | Species / Technique |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WF8I | ~48' / 14.6M | 335gr / 21.7g | 240gr / 15.6g | Juvenile tarpon, snapper, snook |
| WF9I | ~48' / 14.6M | 400gr / 25.9g | 280gr / 18.1g | Permit, snook, medium tarpon, snapper, cuda |
| WF10I | ~48' / 14.6M | 475gr / 30.8g | 330gr / 21.4g | Tarpon, reef permit, triggerfish, snapper, cuda |
| WF11I | ~48' / 14.6M | 545gr / 35.3g | 380gr / 24.6g | Large tarpon, GT on lighter tackle, coral head species (grouper, snapper) |
| WF12I | ~48' / 14.6M | 590gr / 38.2g | 430gr / 27.9g | Giant tarpon, GT, coral head species (grouper, snapper) |
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 it moving on long shots and quick pickups off the water. Rear Taper: The transition from running line to belly. The Flats Pro's extended back taper lets an angler carry more line in the air for distance and pick up a long line to recast without stripping everything back in first. Belly (Head): The thickest section, and the reason this taper is called "mid-length" — long enough to carry line at range, short enough to load the rod on a single backcast for a quick shot. Front Taper: The transition from belly to tip. Built at half a line size heavy, it turns over most patterns easily and punches into wind without becoming a delicate, presentation-only taper. Tip: The final section where the leader connects. On the Intermediate version, the entire line — not just the tip — sinks slowly, finished with a welded loop for a fast, secure connection.
How does the Intermediate compare to the other Flats Pro sink rates?
RIO builds the Elite Flats Pro in four configurations on the same taper and core: Floating — the standard all-purpose flats line, fishing shallow water and sight-casting to fish cruising near the surface. Float/6ft Stealth Tip — a floating line with a short 6-foot clear intermediate tip, for getting the fly just under the surface without spooking wary fish in skinny water. Float/15ft Clear Tip — a floating line with a longer 15-foot clear intermediate tip, for working slightly deeper or presenting flies more subtly to pressured fish. Full Intermediate (reviewed here) — the entire line sinks slowly, keeping the fly in the strike zone through wind, chop, and current rather than riding on the surface. It's the right call for faster presentations to tarpon and snook, and for working the drop-offs at the edges of flats where fish stage and travel. Note that the full Intermediate configuration is only offered in 8-12 wt — RIO does not currently produce a WF6I or WF7I; those weights are available as Floating or Float/Stealth Tip only.
What is ConnectCore Plus and why does it matter on the flats?
ConnectCore Plus is RIO's low-stretch core technology, stretching roughly 30% less than a standard fly line core. Flats species like permit and bonefish often have hard mouths and spook at the slightest hesitation, so a low-stretch core matters twice over: it transfers strip-set energy straight to the hook point instead of absorbing it, and it gives a more direct, sensitive connection for feeling subtle takes at distance.
What is SlickCast and how does it hold up in tropical heat?
SlickCast is RIO's proprietary coating, built to be the slickest and most durable finish the company has measured. On the flats specifically, it's engineered to stay hard and slick even on a scorching boat deck rather than turning soft and sticky — a real problem with lower-quality coatings in direct tropical sun. That translates to less friction through the guides for longer, easier casts, plus better resistance to abrasion from coral, sand, and repeated casting.
What is the SureFire tri-color system?
SureFire is a three-color marking system built into the line to give a visual casting reference. The first color marks the tip, the second marks the belly's optimal loading point, and the third marks the running line. On the flats, where a guide is often calling out distance to a moving fish in real time, being able to glance down and see exactly how much head is out — rather than guessing — helps an angler load the rod consistently and get the fly out fast.
How does the Elite Flats Pro Intermediate compare to the Elite Tropical Outbound Short - Intermediate?
Both are RIO Elite intermediate saltwater lines, but they're built for different jobs. The Flats Pro carries a mid-length head (48 feet) with a long back taper — a versatile, all-around taper for sight-fishing skinny water, quick close-range shots, and longer casts into wind without switching lines. The Tropical Outbound Short - Intermediate is a true shooting-head-style taper with a much shorter head (30 feet) and short, aggressive tapers — built to load almost instantly and cast maximum distance with minimum false casting, at the cost of the softer presentation and mending control the Flats Pro offers. Choose the Flats Pro for typical flats sight-fishing where presentation and line control matter. Choose the Tropical Outbound Short when the job is bombing long, quick casts to fish spotted at distance.
Product Video
