Modern synthetic fly line has come a long way over the last 75 years or so, but it’s easy to take the low-maintenance, high-performing line we use today for granted.
Before the 1950s, silk was the only option for fly anglers, and it required tedious applications of dressing to ensure buoyancy and lengthy drying out periods to prevent rot. Silk lines, as the old folks around my neck of the woods say, was fussy. But that was before synthetic lines hit the shelves.
Michigan-based Scientific Anglers was founded in 1945, and although they aren’t the only name in the business, SA has become a global leader in fly-line production, but their story follows a winding route.
Since space is limited for this column, here’s a Cliff’s Notes version of the story, a portion of which appeared previously in the pages of Trout Unlimited:
It’s a saga that began back in 1952, when SA developed a prototype PVC-coated fly line. A few years later, they introduced Air Cel, which is still recognized across the industry as the first modern floating fly line. A sinking line known as Wet Cel followed shortly thereafter, and there were other notable touchstones along the way.
For starters, silicone was integrated as a line lubricant, and AST (advanced shooting technology) was added to some models, enhancing slickness and durability. Intense research and development later led to AST+, an additive that’s impregnated into the line, instead of simply adhered to the coating, which further improved performance.
Today, Scientific Anglers employs a team of 36 employees at their Midland facility. It’s a diverse group, too, with women comprising half the workforce. A friendly, knowledgeable customer service team is available for in-person or online discussions about fly lines for every angling adventure.
Joe Wolthuis holds the title of marketing manager.
“Scientific Anglers is big business within the world of fly fishing, but in a global manufacturing sense, we’re relatively modest,” he explained. “Being a smaller company also allows us to focus some of our efforts on education and conservation through programs like the Trout Unlimited youth camps and Fish for Change. Our goal is to help sustain fisheries wherever and however we can.”
Erick “Moose” Johnson is the customer-experience supervisor, and he’s seen plenty of changes over his tenure.
“Prior to polymer lines, options were limited,” Moose said. “But now there are many taper profiles to choose from, mostly because modern streamers are larger and heavier than they were before.”
Currently, SA offers 70 different models of lines with a wide range of species-specific options, such as “Striper,” “Bass Bug,” and “Anadro.” That’s not just creative marketing. The intention is to simplify the selection process by grouping variables such as seasons, fishery-types, and expected temperature ranges.
Take striped bass for instance. Water temperature, casting range, fly type, and wind resistance were taken into consideration during the development process, and the outcome was Amplitude Smooth Striper; a line created specifically for fishing the Upper Atlantic environment. It has AST+ for longer casts, and it’s two times heavier than standard line, with a powerful head for turning over large flies.
“Our cold-water coatings and cores are suppler for species like striped bass and steelhead, whereas our tropical coatings and cores are stiffer and better suited for warmer fisheries like the bonefish flats,” Moose further explained. “Then there are hybrid Bass-Bug tapers with a cold-water core and a warm-water coating designed to perform across a wide range of temperatures.
When it comes down to it, quality fly line is an investment, plain and simple. You get what you pay for, but if you’ve ever wondered why a certain brand or model costs more than another, you’re not alone.
“The short answer is that there’s less tech incorporated into economy lines,” Moose explained. “For instance, our Air Cell series has a basic five-foot front taper, 30 feet of belly, and a five-foot rear taper. The coating doesn’t have any slickness or durability additives.”
The Mastery Series is double the cost, but there’s noticeably more options incorporated into the materials, like AST for enhanced slickness and shootability. In addition, the line ID is conveniently printed on the front taper, and the head and running sections are contrasting colors, allowing for easier pickup and mending. Our textured Amplitude series with AST+ floats, shoots and mends better than the other models, plus it’s highly durable.”
The average angler takes five to seven day-long fishing trips per year, but time on the water isn’t the only factor at play when it comes to longevity. Variables like water quality and maintenance matter, too. Then there’s the type of fish being sought …
“A musky angler won’t get as much life out of a line as the average trout fisherman because they’re basically casting a wet sock full of pennies,” Moose said.
In 2022, SA switched from plastic to cardboard line spools after discovering that 80-90% of them wound up in the trash at sports stores and fly shops. Traditional fly-line spools contain as much plastic as a pair of five-weight lines. Since moving to cardboard, SA has saved over 27 tons of single-use plastic. Read that again. Not pounds, tons.
In addition, Absolute leaders are packaged in paper with a cellulose-based window and soy-based ink.
“At first, that didn’t seem like a big deal,” Wolthuis said, “but over several years, it’s made a huge difference. We’re always looking to improve our internal impact in shipping and production chains and always trying to reduce and re-use. An advantage we didn’t necessarily anticipate is that our competitors evolved along with us, which means the industry is improving, overall.”
At its core, fly fishing is about connection — to the outdoors, with family and friends, and sometimes, on the luckiest days, even with a memorable fish. Scientific Anglers has been at the forefront of fly-line innovation since the beginning, and today they continue pushing creative boundaries to ensure their lines are the strongest and most durable in the business.
Practical tips to prolong
your fly line 1. Avoid products like Armor All. Additives in these products fill in the line’s textured dimples (imagine a golf ball), essentially increasing friction, which defeats the purpose. 2. Different fly lines require different care. With the Amplitude series, remove a micro layer from the coating using a mild abrasive pad to expose the AST+, which lubricates the line. You can overdue a good thing if you’re not careful, however. Sandpaper and Brillo pads aren’t suitable, so stick with products intended for fly line. 3. DEET-based insect repellent, sunscreen, and gasoline degrade plastic lines. These chemicals are commonplace in boats and fishing vests, so keep the away from fly line whenever possible. 4. Take care around boat props. Even electric motors can shred fly line. 5. Casting on a lawn or in a parking lot picks up abrasion and grit, damaging line. Casting without a leader isn’t recommended, either. The end of the line attains incredible velocity (like a bullwhip), and the welded loop absorbs all the abuse, leading to cracking and fraying. 6. Avoid storing lines in direct sunlight. UV exposure reduces longevity. {related_content_uuid}20550a8c-1092-4541-a1cf-f7ebba9498ac{/related_content_uuid}