I’m currently looking at floating line options for my Shakespeare Wonderglass FY-200. I primarily use this rod stream fishing for spotted and smallmouth bass. Right now I’m using a 7wt (185 grain) AirCel line and am looking at the 210 grain Scientific Angler Bass Bug line and a 185 grain Cortland Hi-Vis Flip. I mostly throw poppers and Game Changers and the longest cast I usually have is less than 50 with most of my casting being less than 40. I also may add a longer 6wt to the quiver for fishing out of my canoe in the future and this line will be used on this rod also. Does anyone have any experience with these lines or have another suggestion?


[I edited out the inaccurate line weights. A 6 weight line weighs between 152 and 168 grains. It doesn't matter what the manufacturer states on the box. A 210 grain line is an 8 weight. A 185 grain line is a 7 weight. Please, if the manufacturer mislabeled the line, just list the grain weight. Tom]

I have an SA Mastery bass bug 6wt and like it. Really, the only drawback I’d mention is that on flowing water, when I might want to let the fly go downstream, I seem to get behind the taper quicker than expected and loose mend control. Casts, 40-50 ft, it handles poppers well, and responds nicely to aerial mends.
Mostly wading, for whatever that’s worth.

Here lately the fly line alphabet soup has been hard to decipher. A bass bug line is one of the main lines in my kit. I have been using the Rio Smallmouth bass fly line, and have been very happy with it. It is a half line size heavier but seems to have a lively feel to it. I tend to favor SA lines, but after looking at a number of SA lines that are rated for bass bug or payload style fishing I realized, many of them are almost two lines sizes heavier in grain weight than the weight class printed on the box. This tends to dissuade me from purchasing. I am aware that most folks are not fishing glass and rods that require the line weight designated on the rod, but a 6wt line with the grain weight of an 8wt is a bit extreme for me. Isn't that just an 8wt?

I use a Cortland 333 for Bass/warmwater.
Woks fine, tapered/weighted "traditionally", and isnt very expensive.

Matt:

I have NO experience with either line you mentioned however…

…my favorite “bass bug” line of all time is the long discontinued Cortland 333 Bass Line. I still have one that I use occasionally. That being said you might want to look at the new Cortland “Bass” line.

Another option is the Rio “Smallmouth” line. I use it on my primary 6wt smallmouth rod that isn’t glass or slow. I chose it after long discussions with the folks at Rio & Sci Anglers about how I planned to fish with it and the size flies I use for smallmouth (smaller poppers and not heavily weighted streamers).

I absolutely love it!!

Both of these line choices are two toned, not something I wasn't particularly fond of at first, but it really helps me to dial in the loading point for certain flies so it is just pick-up, load and let it fly.

Another option if you don’t want something overly aggressive is a Rio Gold.

Good luck!

I use the bass bug line on my glass 6,7, and 8wts. But I also have a few other 6wts that prefer the mpx taper. And normally I'm throwing hairbugs or craws.

Level lines work best for me, #6 is most often used. but uplining is always an option, Any front taper seems to me to defeat the need for force at the fly, as do tapered leaders or long leaders. I have used rocket tapers and have an old #9 "Gary Borger Bass" line that that I've used on a dozen different rods, about twice that many times in 30? years, it works fine but I don't need it and the added mass is just added work.

How does the reduction in mass (taper) near the tip help with that, Ron? I've always thought reducing the mass through taper dissipated the energy/line speed/force available at the leader and was used to accomplish soft landings for dry flies? Wouldn't increasing the mass of the line in use near the leader work better in the kayak scenario?
Or do I misunderstand your post/

I fish a lot for smallies and largemouth and really like SA Frequency lines, a good value for the dollar. Both the Frequency Magnum and Boost lines are sized one half step up and will toss any of my poppers or articulated streamers with no problem.

you're right, it doesn't link through their website any more.

One option that seemed to pair well with my Barclay 777 was the SA Mastery Grand Slam 7wt, is not way over-weighted and the Tropi-Core gives the line a little extra stiffness that really turns the flies over well. It also helps with the Texas heat during the summer. This line is becoming my favorite Bass Bug line.

Thanks for that explanation, Ron.
My reading is getting bad with age. I guess I thought the question was about lines used for stream smallmouth at less than 40', kinda what I do a lot. I should have said that no WF, BB, or Rocket line has ever made that as easy for me as a level line.
You are right though, I never thought about shooting line at that distance.
@Matt, just disregard anything I've said here, sorry for jacking your thread.

Take a look at the Cortland 444 Tropical in 6WT , loads my FF856 nicely and has handled size 4 poppers well. Good price also usually you can find it around $40.