Best Line for Small/Medium Size Streams

[TheDuke44]

The fly line on my go-to setup began taking on some water towards the end of this season, and I was thinking of treating myself to a new fly line to spool up for next year. I'm starting to realize the options are pretty endless, and am starting to consider exactly what kind of taper would suit my fishing and casting style best.

I rarely fish big water and I admittedly don't have a great casting stroke. I typically throw indicator nymph rigs on small/medium size streams (rarely wider than 30/40 feet), but will throw dries when I hit a hatch or am prospecting new water with a dry dropper.

Since I fish smaller streams that are often tight along the banks, along with throwing heavier indi rigs, I roll cast roughly 80% of the time.

I liked the look of Airflo's "power taper" in hopes that the agressive WF taper with a shorter total head length will help easily turn over shorter roll casts, but I wonder if I might be better suited to fishing a DT line since I rarely need to cast far enough to even use the full head length or get into the running line anyhow.

I will likely see if any shops will let me test out a variety of lines prior to making a decision, but I will save that until warmer weather arrives. In the meantime, I'm curious to hear what you all think.

 

[redietz]

My own philosophy is to always go with DT unless there is some reason not to. YMMV.

 

[StreamBottom]

Same DT. My go to is the 444 Peach.
Check out Bam's post, good info.

Post in thread 'Four Weight Line'

Jun 4, 2025

I concur with double taper recommendation...

If like you said, you are talking about "dry fly fishing in small streams in Pennsylvania," I heartily recommend the Sci Angler Mastery DT for a few reasons:

It is a true-to-weight/standard taper double taper fly line, the color ain't half bad, it is the SAME color AND taper on both ends and it has line loops on both ends which you can cut-off if you desire.

Most importantly (to me) it has a short front taper. That equates to requiring less fly line out past the tip top to get into the belly of the fly line and load your rod on the short...

• Bamboozle

• 

 

[poopdeck]

Cortland 444 classic peach. WF for really no reason. I put it on all my rods because fly line choices are mostly always the wrong choice for me. I’ve removed myself from the fly line circus. Is it the best for roll casting small streams, I don’t know but that never stopped me from roll casting small streams with it.

 

[Swattie87]

I prefer DT’s too for this application, though they’re harder to find than they used to be, and my reasoning isn’t actually performance based. You can turn the fly line around and get twice the use out of it, once the front end begins to wear out/crack. On small/medium-ish PA streams, I’m never really casting more than half the fly line at a time, and even that is rare. I have one reel that I use for super small stuff - It actually only has half of a DT line on it. I only put half of the fly line on at a time for balance purposes with smaller rods. (You can’t do this with a WF line. Well, you can I guess, but only once per fly line purchased.)

IMO on streams this size you’re rarely casting enough fly line to where you’re really gonna notice a performance difference much from the line. And much of the casting done on smaller streams isn’t exactly conventional casting…more trick shots, sidearm stuff, etc.

 

[cfarr]

The fly line on my go-to setup began taking on some water towards the end of this season, and I was thinking of treating myself to a new fly line to spool up for next year. I'm starting to realize the options are pretty endless, and am starting to consider exactly what kind of taper would suit my fishing and casting style best.

I rarely fish big water and I admittedly don't have a great casting stroke. I typically throw indicator nymph rigs on small/medium size streams (rarely wider than 30/40 feet), but will throw dries when I hit a hatch or am prospecting new water with a dry dropper.

Since I fish smaller streams that are often tight along the banks, along with throwing heavier indi rigs, I roll cast roughly 80% of the time.

I liked the look of Airflo's "power taper" in hopes that the agressive WF taper with a shorter total head length will help easily turn over shorter roll casts, but I wonder if I might be better suited to fishing a DT line since I rarely need to cast far enough to even use the full head length or get into the running line anyhow.

I will likely see if any shops will let me test out a variety of lines prior to making a decision, but I will save that until warmer weather arrives. In the meantime, I'm curious to hear what you all think.

I’m a big fan of SA’s creek trout line. I use it on my 4wt for damn near anything from brookie ditches to the occasional trip to one of the big limestoners.

 

[shakey]

I use a level line for this.
A level line outperforms DT for me in roll casts,if the cast is short enough that the second head is not involved. Also,obviously out performs a WF.

Most of my regular casting is under forty feet anyway

 

[shortrod]

I use a level line for this.
A level line outperforms DT for me in roll casts,if the cast is short enough that the second head is not involved

Where do you find level lines?

 

[tjsingle]

Honestly, I find myself using the same 5wt line across all my trout fishing whether it be small or large streams. Usually the biggest difference is going shorter leader so you are getting at least some fly line out of the eyelets.

I prefer Orvis Pro Trout - Textured.

For a small stream specific set up, I probably would go double taper. Rio makes or used to make a small stream specific line, that is supposed to load the road a bit quicker (though DT would do the same.) https://flyfishsd.com/products/rio-premier-creek-fly-line?variant=39348367032383

 

[shortrod]

And much of the casting done on smaller streams isn’t exactly conventional casting…more trick shots, sidearm stuff, etc.

Interesting.
I think sidearm IS conventional casting. But, yes, I also prefer DT lines. Sometimes I slam a WF line into the water because they are different than DT that way for me.

 

[shakey]

Where do you find level lines?

I was fortunate enough to buy crystal river lines for $6 apiece at a store in Connecticut . I bought 5 ,6 & 7,but I wish I had bought several of each.

Whereas level line is a traditional favorite for close quarter fishing,I it is also the cheapest.

Many beginners kits,and many used reels come with level line.

Some people buy level line from eBay,Amazon and temu

SA air cell is pricy at $30 but,it is a nice level line https://scientificanglers.com/product/air-cel-level/

 

[RH1]

I have Cortland classic 444 peach on my small stream 3wt and 5wt.
Ive not had any issues roll casting or throwing drys when needed

 

[rancid waders]

I tried an SA Creek on a particular rod and found it amazing for roll casting and overhead as well. And it has the power as well. I don't think most would be disappointed

 

[wildbrownyb245]

I use a level line for this.
A level line outperforms DT for me in roll casts,if the cast is short enough that the second head is not involved. Also,obviously out performs a WF.

Most of my regular casting is under forty feet anyway

@shakey

Our saying level line for fly rod or level line for Tenkara?

I have a tenkara with a 3.5 level line.

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

I have since learned that very long front tapers are not very helpful when casting short distances.

 

[Bamboozle]

@shakey

Our saying level line for fly rod or level line for Tenkara?

I have a tenkara with a 3.5 level line.

I'm sure he means a level traditional line for a traditional rod.

Level lines like the fluorocarbon level lines I use with my Tenkara rods aren't exactly a roll caster's dream for a lot of reasons nor are long Tenkara rods with short fixed lines ideal for roll casting either.

 

[Bamboozle]

I have since learned that very long front tapers are not very helpful when casting short distances.

Many moons ago I tried a DT3 Rio Selective Trout Line on a favorite small stream stick, a slow 6'6" 3wt fiberglass rod that loads beautifully in close and likes true to weight fly lines.

The Rio Selective Trout line is long discontinued, but when it was in production it had an 8 foot "delicate" front taper.

The rod HATED that line unless I was casting well over 30 feet which is hardly the distances I need to cast on the small streams where I use the rod.

When I switched to a SciAngler Mastery DT3 with a 4.8" front taper, the rod came alive, even casting within 20 feet.

Lesson learned...

 

[dryflyguy]

Honestly, I find myself using the same 5wt line across all my trout fishing whether it be small or large streams. Usually the biggest difference is going shorter leader so you are getting at least some fly line out of the eyelets.

I prefer Orvis Pro Trout - Textured.

For a small stream specific set up, I probably would go double taper. Rio makes or used to make a small stream specific line, that is supposed to load the road a bit quicker (though DT would do the same.) https://flyfishsd.com/products/rio-premier-creek-fly-line?variant=39348367032383

I've settled on the same thing also.
Just using longer and shorter rod lengths, along with leader adjustments
And with the price of a good fly line now, its smart financially.

I go with a 9' 5 weight on the largest streams.

Mid size streams get an 8'6" 5 or 4 weight line.

On small streams, I break out my far and fine 7'9" 5 weight

No problem using a 5 weight line n my 4 weight rods

 

[Bamboozle]

For trout, all my rods (and me) prefer the line weight that the rod was designed for; the reason I bought it in the first place.... In other words I didn't choose a particular 8'0" 4wt rod because I wanted to fish it with a 4.5wt or 5wt line, I have an 8'0" 5wt for that. I bought it because I wanted an 8'0" 4wt to fish at certain places.

Because of that, I don't need (or want) any goofy tapers or overweight fly lines; I only need to fish true to weight lines and I prefer double tapers.That being said, excluding some real silk lines and some really old discontinued plastic lines still in rotation, on every other trout rod I own from 5'0" to 9'0" I use the same brand and model line in different sizes.

In my case that happens to be the SciAngler Mastery DT, (formally known as the Mastery Trout DT) used in line weights 2-6.

It does everything well for me at all distances and it suits my quiver perfectly so unless it is discontinued, I prefer to keep things simple by sticking with it until IT (not some fancy slick marketing), gives me a reason to change.

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

The rod HATED that line unless I was casting well over 30 feet which is hardly the distances I need to cast on the small streams where I use the rod.

One of your comments pointed out to me why I've just never really jived with the Cortland Sylk lines. A 10' front taper is about 2x too long for what I generally fish.