Schematic of a typical weight forward fly line.
Fly line cross-section
| Component | Definition | Importance? | |
| ? | the center or mid-section of a fly line; usually the majority of the total line length | longer bellys promote longer casts; shorter bellies mean more upfront taper & quicker loading for fewer false casts | |
| ? | the "back end" of the fly line; in all but the double taper, this section is without any taper | this is the end of the fly line that is attached to the backing or to the fly reel | |
| ? | the "last" or "front end" taper of the line just behind the tip; varies with the style & weight of the line | has a tremendous impact on how the line loads a rod; very "front heavy" tapers load rods quickly with few false casts at the expense of delicacy of presentation; generally, the longer the taper, the more subtle the cast | |
| ? | that portion of a weight forward line that includes all of the tapering; excluding the running line and tip segments | the length of the head affects casting range and intensity of presentation; longer heads usually mean softer casts & less disturbance on the water; short heads are quicker casting, larger flies, less subtle | |
| ? | the substance used to cover the line core; most are various types of "pvc" plastic; lubricants are used to reduce friction with rod guides; some are "impregnated" with silicone, "hollow glass microspheres" or other chemicals to promote buoyancy and make them float, or substances causing the line to sink ("density compensation additives", such as powdered tungsten) | the "slicker" the line surface, the less friction there is with the rod guides resulting in longer casts; buoyancy "stimulants" or hydrophobic agents improve the floatability & ease with which the line can be picked up off the water; "harder" coatings mean more rigidity for longer, less "delicate-needy" casts; ultraviolet ray inhibitors protect coatings from the sun | |
| ? | the interior of the fly line; materials used include braided nylon, braided monofilament, dacron, lead and a few solid strand materials | qualities of both stiffness & stretch are preferred; stiff lines work best in hot fishing conditions (in the cold they may have too much "memory" & coil); stretch allows the line to straighten (but not so much the line becomes "mushy") | |
| ? | the "back end" of the taper where it begins from rear to front/tip | the longer the taper, the more "gentle" the line; also promote mending & roll casting; abrupt tapers are designed for quick casts to sighted fish | |
| ? | the section of the line that has no taper | serving as the portion of the line that "shoots" out as the forward cast is made | |
| ? | the front end of the fly line forward of any taper; usually 6" to 12" in length | the longer the tip, the more delicate the line presents itself on the water |
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categorized, let's move on to Fly Line Classification:
