Fly-line Systems
If you're like most anglers, you've acquired many lines. With each new season there's a "hot" new line--guaranteeing you'll cast farther than you ever dreamed and "catch more fish than a stick of dynamite." Unless you have a great loyalty to one company, you probably own a selection of lines from several manufacturers. Terms like "super ultra sink II", "windcheater bonefish stealth taper" or "magnum kersplash deepwater special" may help sell fly lines, but do little when you're trying to decide which line best suits the prevailing conditions. Even standard labels such as "WF8 S-III" are at best ambiguous. Does one manufacturer's "Type III" sink faster or slower than another's "Extra Fast Sinking"?

What's important is to label your fly line selection with information that will enable you to adapt quickly and efficiently to a range of conditions. The optimal selection will vary from angler to angler depending on fishing preferences, the species pursued, locale or region, techniques employed, personal style, and a variety of factors unique to each angelr. Line labels allow you to include the information needed to quickly match a line to the fishing situation at hand.

Before labeling your fly lines, consider what information to include on the labels. You could simply copy the manufacturers' designation off the spool or box top--if you own few lines this may be all you need. However, if you own many lines it may be helpful to think in terms of a fly line system.

Suppose, for instance, you own several brands of weight-forward sinking lines. Instead of the manufacturer's line designations, you might find it more useful to indicate their sink rates in inches per second--i.e. "WF7 S 3.5-5.0" could denote a weight-forward 7-weight sinking line with a sink rate of 3.5 to 5 inches per second. Lines from other companies might be labeled WF7 S 4.5-6.0" or WF6 S 1.8-2.5". Sink rates are usually provided with the fly line or in the manufacturer's catalog and allow a meaningful basis for comparison between brands. The above lines would cover a wide range of depths and together form the basis of a simple sinking-line system. Labeled in this manner, you can easily choose a sink rate and (by counting the seconds as each line sinks) determine your approximate fishing depth.

Few of us can remember the sink rates of more than a few lines--line labels provide useful information. With a little thought and planning, you should be able to organize your existing lines and future purchases into a selection capable of tackling any situation you encounter--be creative!