RIO Elite Warmwater Predator - F/S5/S7
In Stock • Bozeman, MT
- Short, powerful front taper to cast large and heavy flies
- Unique, rear-loaded heads for precise, accurate casts
- Low stretch DirectCore for solid strip sets
- Built with RIO's exceptionally slick, durable SlickCast
- Features RIO's SureFire tricolored measuring system for increased accuracy and distance control
Description
Whether fishing for Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass in warmwater or Golden Dorado and Peacock Bass in the jungle, there are times when a large fly is the best or only option. Modeled after our popular Elite Predator line, RIO's Elite Warmwater Predator line series is designed specifically to cast those big flies easily with precision and accuracy in warmer conditions.
Featuring a short, powerful front taper and plenty of weight at the front, these lines have no problem casting the biggest and meatiest of flies with ease. Running lines are all floating, making them easier to mend and pick up than typical intermediate equipped running lines. Whether floating or sink tip, each line is built on RIO's low stretch DirectCore for maximum performance, and features SlickCast—the slickest, most durable coating on the market.
Features
• Fast-Sink Front Section — 10' of Fast Sink (S5) plus 10' of Extra-Fast Sink (S7) gets flies down deep, fast.
• Floating Running Line — Stays easy to mend and pick up despite the sinking front section.
• Short, Powerful Front Taper — Casts the biggest and meatiest flies with ease.
• Rear-Loaded Head Design — Delivers precise, accurate casts even with bulky, weighted flies.
• DirectCore Low-Stretch — Solid strip-sets on strikes that come well below the surface.
• SlickCast Coating — Stays slick in warmwater and 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.
• Welded Loops, Front and Rear — Fast, secure connections to backing and leader.
Rod Pairing
| Rod Action | Pairing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Action | Ideal | The short, rear-loaded head is built for fast blanks -- loads instantly with big flies. |
| Medium-Fast Action | Works Well | Handles most warmwater flies fine; slightly less punch on the biggest streamers or carrying line. |
| Medium Action | Not Recommended | The short, heavy head overloads the blank fast; a fast-action rod is the right tool. |
Size Guide
| Line Weight | Head Length | Head Weight | Grain Wt (30') | Species / Technique |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WF6 | 36' / 11M | 238gr / 15.4g | 198gr / 12.8g | Bass and peacock bass holding deep |
| WF7 | 34' / 11M | 270gr / 17.5g | 240gr / 14.6g | Bass, peacock bass in current or deep water |
| WF8 | 34' / 11M | 316gr / 20.5g | 280 / 17g | Peacock bass, golden dorado in Argentina/Uruguay |
| WF9 | 34' / 11M | 330gr / 21.4g | 330gr / 17.8g | Peacock bass, golden dorado in Argentina/Uruguay |
| WF10 | 32' / 11M | 410gr / 26.6g | 390gr / 22.1g | Big peacock bass, golden dorado in Argentina/Uruguay |
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. Even on this fast-sinking version, the running line itself floats -- easier to mend and pick up than a fully intermediate-equipped running line. Rear Taper: The transition from running line to belly. Short, matching the unique rear-loaded design of this taper. Belly (Head): The thickest section -- short and powerful, with plenty of weight up front for casting big flies with ease. Front Taper: The final 20 feet, built from 10' of Fast Sink (S5) followed by 10' of Extra-Fast Sink (S7) at the very front, for getting flies down deep and fast. Tip: The final section where the leader connects, finished with a welded loop for a fast, secure connection.
How does the Float/S5/S7 version compare to the other Warmwater Predator densities?
RIO builds the Elite Warmwater Predator in four configurations on the same rear-loaded taper and DirectCore: Full Floating (F) -- the entire line floats, for topwater poppers and surface presentations over weed beds. Float/Hover/Intermediate (F/H/I) -- a floating running line with 10' of Hover sinking line and 10' of Intermediate at the front, fishing the top 2-3 feet. Float/Intermediate/S3 (F/I/S3) -- a floating running line with 10' of Intermediate and 10' of Medium Sink (S3), dropping below the top 3 feet. Float/S5/S7 (F/S5/S7) (reviewed here) -- a floating running line with 10' of Fast Sink and 10' of Extra-Fast Sink at the front, for getting flies down deep and fast. Choose this Float/S5/S7 version when fish are holding deep or in faster current and the fly needs to get down quickly. Choose the Full Floating or one of the shallower sink-tip versions for surface or near-surface presentations.
What is DirectCore and why does it matter for bass and peacock bass?
DirectCore is RIO's low-stretch core technology. Bass and peacock bass often strike explosively and require an immediate, solid hook-set to keep from throwing the hook, especially with big, heavy flies fished deep where extra line stretch can absorb the strip-set. A low-stretch core transmits that energy directly to the hook rather than absorbing it, producing firmer, more positive hook-ups when a fish crushes the fly well below the surface.
What is SlickCast and how does it hold up in warmwater and jungle heat?
SlickCast is RIO's proprietary coating, built to be the slickest and most durable finish the company has measured. In warm climates specifically, it's engineered to stay slick and cast well rather than turning soft and sticky on a hot boat deck -- a real issue with lower-quality coatings in direct tropical sun. That translates to less friction through the guides for longer, easier casts with big, heavy flies, plus better durability over a season of hard fishing.
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. With a sink-tip line like this one, knowing exactly where the head ends also helps an angler judge how much of the sinking section is out and time the retrieve to keep the fly working at the right depth.
How does this compare to the SA Sonar Titan Tropical/Jungle Clear Tip?
Both are short-head, overweighted tapers built for casting big flies to peacock bass and golden dorado in hot climates, but they sink very differently. This RIO Elite Warmwater Predator Float/S5/S7 pairs a floating running line with a fast (S5) and extra-fast (S7) sinking front section, built to get a fly down deep and fast in current or over deep structure. The SA Sonar Titan Tropical/Jungle Clear Tip instead uses a much slower 15' clear intermediate tip (1.25 ips) that sinks slowly just under the surface, prioritizing stealth over depth. Choose this RIO Float/S5/S7 version when the job is getting a fly down fast to fish holding deep. Choose the SA Clear Tip, or RIO's own Full Floating or F/H/I versions, when fish are working the surface or just below it.
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