i am looking for an 8 wt line mainly for bass fishing. i want something that will turn over big flies easily. i keep reading on mfg's websites things like "short front taper allows you to turn over large flies with ease". ive been comparing bass lines to pike/muskie lines since pike flies are huge. is there a point where a short front taper on a bass line can get to be too short? does a short front taper inhibit accuracy or casting distance? i guess im really asking what the trade off is on one of these lines that can turn over palm size flies.

cortland precision big fly-bass (2 taper design)
front taper-6'
body-7'
back taper-28'

cortland precision big fly-pike (2 taper design)
front taper-3'
body-7'
back taper-31'

scientific angler sharkskin or mastery textured magnum (2 taper design)
front taper-5'
belly 1-15'
belly 2-14'
rear taper-7'

scientific angler mastery bass bug
front taper-5.5'
belly-26.5'
rear taper-10'

scientific angler master pike/muskie
front taper-4.5
belly-27
rear taper-3.5

Just get the SA bass line, and remember if your throwing super huge bugs just keep your leader short, like 4 or 5 feet short.

It doesn't answer your exact question, but here's a pretty good article that explains fly line tapers.

http://flaflyfish.com/rods-reels-a-etc/364-fly-line-tapers-a-review.html

Rex

I havent been happy with my SA Bass taper.

I dont think it helps with heavier flies like you might expect and the distance sucks.

If I wanted to throw heavier flies, I'd stick with a classic WF taper and go up in line wt.

Just an FYI: the SA pike/muskie line is made for cooler waters then the bass bug line. I have used the SA bass bug line for redfish, with no complaints. I haven't found distance to be an issue. As with any short taper fly line, it can be difficult to carry a lot of line while false casting. Water load the rod, throw in a double haul and shoot that puppy with minimal false cast and you will be fine. Derik D nailed it, keep your leaders short and stout with big bugs.

The only main disadvantage of a short taper is the fact that it'll plop hard on the water. That would put down a trout sipping on midges, so those kinda fly fishers wouldn't like it. The long tapers tend to be more "delicate."

Give me a short fat taper every day

sorry i didn't mention this in the original post but im not considering getting a pike/muskie line, ive just been looking at their tapers for comparison since theyre designed to throw massive flies.

im using a loomis crosscurrent so i think i could go up a line weight. has anyone used cortlands bass line? seems like that or SA's bass bug in a 9 wt would suit me well

The pike line is more suited for colder water so it may get sticky on you.

i looked at their outbound short and pike line late last night

rio outbound short
front-5.9'
body 1-6.9'
body 2-12.2'
body 3-4'
rear-1'

rio pike line
front-3.3'
body 1-9.5'
body 2-21'
rear-6'

ive read a couple good things about their outbound short. ive never used rio line before though. they advertise their outbound short as being great for tube fishing. this caught my eye because i fish from a kayak a lot and im thinking about getting a tube this spring. anyone use that line before?

I throw a 10wt Rio Saltwater Clouser on my 8-10 Mini Mag and have really liked the line. I've used that line to get some really big, ugly poppers out there and it's worked well for me. Be advised that the coating on this line makes it turn into something slightly less flexible than a 5/8" steel cable at temperatures lower than about 75 degrees. I've stepped on it, kinked it, hardly ever cleaned it, and abused it in all the ways you're not supposed to in the last two years. I'm sure it's gotten coated with sunscreen and evil DEET, but it just keeps working. Your mileage may, of course, vary.

I also use a furled leader made out of 15lb Spiderwire braid and that seems to help turn those big and uglies over as well.

Since you spend some time in Houston, have you called over to the Angler's Edge to ask if they have any of those lines spooled up that you could try before you buy?

Good luck in your search.

You could affect your best Australian accent and tell other fly anglers, "that's not a furled leader, THIS is a furled leader"

ya'll done put more thought into this than did the first 5-6 lines I bought, soooo....wilst yall was a thinkin, i wuz fishin'

Jefe: You wanna die fish with a man's gun leader. Not a little sissy gun leader like that.



I drove over 1,100 miles this week and crossed every major river system in our great state with the exceptions of the Red, Sabine, and Rio Grande. I looked longingly at every stock tank, lake, and mud puddle I saw but had no time to stop. That being said, I had plenty of time for thinking.

No fitting emoticon for that. Hope it was productive!

Just about as productive as I ever am, I suppose.