Gear Buzz: Feedback on Scientific Anglers’ New Clear Lines

By Kirk Deeter:

Some follow-up feedback on Scientific Anglers’ new clear lines–we reviewed the Magnitude Textured Infinity Clear Tip Floating Fly Line this summer.

I actually like SA’s new clear floating lines and have said so in some reviews I wrote for Flylab. I’m mostly sticking by what I said, but as I’ve fished the lines more, and more importantly, shared some with other anglers, I’ve gotten some feedback that’s probably worth sharing.

Basically, some of my friends think I’m full of crap, and the lines themselves aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. The basic complaint I heard most often involved freshwater/trout fishing scenarios, where it is difficult to tell where the line ends and the leader begins, especially in moving, choppy water. This affects things like your ability to mend, make good drifts and such. In other words, what good is a clear tip if your fly drags? And the answer for some of my friends has been “not at all.”

My first reaction was, “Well, you’re obviously not as good a fisherman as I am, because I have no problems at all.” But that’s not really the truth. The truth is, for many trout anglers, the full floating clear tip might be overcooking things. I do think these lines skew toward expert anglers (SA even markets some as such). I still fish mine and like it. I figure, even sometimes when the tip appears to me to be white as much as it is clear, the little stealth advantage is worth it. Still, line control is a factor that matters in trout fishing, as much or more than any stealth factor a clear tip might provide.

In saltwater, when you’re making straight casts and connections, I don’t think it’s nearly as big a deal, and I like fishing the clear. 

So, I consider myself standing semi-corrected and felt obliged to offer a bit of follow-up clarity.