RIO Premier Bonefish Quickshooter
In Stock • Bozeman, MT
- Short, easy casting head that loads a fly rod at close range
- Mid length front taper that turns over typical bonefish flies with great presentation
- High floating running line that will not sink and impede the cast
- Built with RIO's exceptionally slick, durable SlickCast coating
Description
The perfect choice of line for novice bonefish anglers, and for anglers wading flats, with ultra-slick performance
RIO's Bonefish QuickShooter has a short head, and loads a rod quickly. It is an ideal line for low light conditions and for the angler wading flats when fish are hard to spot and close range casts are required. It is also a fantastic line choice for the novice bonefish angler.
Features
• Short, Quick-Loading Head — Loads a fly rod fast for accurate, close-range shots.
• Mid-Length Front Taper — Turns over typical bonefish flies with clean presentation.
• High-Floating Running Line — Stays on the surface through the pickup instead of sinking and dragging.
• DirectCore — RIO's low-stretch tropical core for solid hooksets in hot conditions.
• SlickCast Coating — Low-friction, durable finish built to shoot cleanly through the guides.
• Beginner-Friendly Taper — Loads easily for anglers newer to bonefishing.
• Premier Tier Value — RIO's mid-price saltwater tier, priced below the Elite series.
• Welded Loops, Front and Rear — Fast, secure connections to backing and leader.
Rod Pairing
| Rod Action | Pairing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Medium-Fast Action | Ideal | The short, quick-loading head matches a medium-fast blank for easy, accurate casts at close range. |
| Fast Action | Works Well | Loads a touch faster than ideal; still turns over cleanly at short-to-medium range. |
| Slow / Full-Flex Action | Not Recommended | The short head doesn't carry enough mass to fully load a slow, deep-flexing blank. |
Size Guide
| Line Weight | Head Length | Total Length | Head Weight | 30' Head Wt | Species / Technique |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WF6F | 34.5' / 10.5M | 90' / 27.4M | 210gr / 13.6g | 200gr / 13.0g | Ultra light bonefish |
| WF7F | 35.5' / 10.8M | 90' / 27.4M | 240gr / 15.6g | 215gr / 13.9g | Light bonefish |
| WF8F | 35.5' / 10.8M | 100' / 30.5M | 290gr / 18.8g | 260gr / 16.8g | All-around bonefish, redfish |
| WF9F | 35.5' / 10.8M | 100' / 30.5M | 330gr / 21.4g | 300gr / 19.4g | Bonefish, permit |
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; the high-floating coating here keeps it riding on the surface rather than sinking and dragging on the pickup. Rear Taper: A short transition from running line to belly, part of what lets this taper load so quickly. Belly (Head): The thickest section and the shortest head in RIO's bonefish lineup, built to load a rod fast on a short casting stroke. Front Taper: A mid-length taper that turns over typical bonefish flies with clean presentation. Tip: The final section where the leader connects, finished with a welded loop for a fast, secure connection.
How does the Quickshooter compare to the standard Premier Bonefish and Elite Bonefish?
RIO's bonefish lineup spans three tapers built for different situations: Premier Bonefish Quickshooter (reviewed here): A short 34.5-35.5 foot head that loads the rod fast for close-range, low-light shots, as well as the optimal choice for novice anglers. Premier Bonefish: A longer 46.5-49.5 foot head and rear taper built to smooth out the loop on longer, more deliberate casts to cruising fish at standard bonefish range. Elite Bonefish: RIO's higher tier, with a long 46.5-49.5 foot head similar to the standard Premier Bonefish plus a SureFire tricolored measuring system for judging distance at a glance. Choose the Quickshooter for close, fast shots or for novice anglers. Choose the standard Premier Bonefish or Elite Bonefish when most shots come at a longer, more standard range.
What is DirectCore and how does it affect hook-ups?
DirectCore is RIO's low-stretch core built for tropical conditions, engineered to stretch less than typical tropical cores while still retaining the stiffness needed to cast in hot climates. On a bonefish line, that low-stretch build matters most on the hookset -- a fast strip-set converts directly into pressure on the fish rather than getting absorbed by a stretchier core, which matters when a spooked bonefish is already moving.
What is SlickCast and why does it matter in hot, tropical conditions?
SlickCast is RIO's proprietary coating technology, built to reduce friction and resist wear in hot, tropical conditions where coatings tend to soften and get sticky. In practice, that means less resistance through the guides for a clean, quiet pickup and cast -- useful on a line built around quick, repeated shots rather than one long cast per outing.
Why does a short head load a rod faster, and what's the tradeoff?
A shorter head concentrates the line's castable weight closer to the rod tip, so it takes less line out of the guides -- and less time -- to fully load the rod. On the Quickshooter, that means a caster can pick up, load, and deliver an accurate shot in one or two false casts instead of the extended stroke a longer head requires, which is the difference between connecting and spooking a bonefish that only gives a few seconds' notice. It also gives novice anglers a leg up, with the short, heavy head allowing for shooting line with less false casts. The tradeoff is loop control at longer range: a shorter head doesn't carry the same smooth, extended loop as the longer-headed standard Premier Bonefish or Elite Bonefish once the cast stretches past 60-70 feet.
