I need help with smallmouth fly line..

[Redfin]

I have everything going for smallmouth this year except the line.. I have been watching a lot of videos and reading whatever i can find.

Fishing a 7wt on a medium fast action rod.
Be throwing topwater balsa and foam flys, and streamers like clouser varieties, large wooly buggers, crayfish patterns. Nothing im planning of throwing with be huge. most everything i have tied up so far is 2 1/4- 3 1/2 inches. And have either bead, cone or med size dumbbell eyes. on size 6 and 4 hooks mostly.

All the looking i have done i need about 35ft WF head give or take a few. Only thing i have seen negative about that is the ability to not cast very gently. I have never done it so what i read is the line lands hard. That means i would have trouble casting to carp if i wanted to try those i see. Or possibly spooking fish in low clear water. which i run into a lot on the Juniata river in late summer.

The some guys dislike the heavier bass line cause they are very “ heavy” to cast the bigger flys. And they do good at that. But i don't know that what im fishing is considered heavy? or is it?
I was looking at the warm water bass type fly lines. Like rio smallmouth. or any bass variety.
I have never used a warm water line before. Every thing i have ever used was trout stuff. on smaller streams.
Read that if some lines are not for warmer water can get strange or like sticky? In the heat. I have no clue if thats true or not. All my fishing is done wet wading.
Basically looking for a line that i can cast what i stated above without difficulty and also want a line that can present flys without to much disturbance i guess. I had a guy at a fly shop recommend Scientific Anglers MPX line. its only a 1/2 size over rated. He cautioned me on the bass specialty lines cause they are very heavy and really load a rod and my rod being a st croix med fast. Im also not a professional fly faster either. So keep that in mind.
First line i want is a floating line.

Any suggestions on a line for me?

 

[sandflyx]

just get a weight forward line in 7 wt. its that easy

 

[6xAdams(Jones)]

just get a weight forward line in 7 wt. its that easy

Yes, do this. The line won't land as hard as the heavy balsa poppers or big soggy streamers you plan on using, and you'll likely be using a pretty long leader anyway.

 

[McSneek]

Yeah - you are over complicating it. A 7wt wf floating line will be just fine.

 

[falcon]

Most lines will work from 1/2wt over standard Scientific Angler Infinity to any Standard weight line (185grains). But some line configurations work better. I would avoid lines with a longer front taper such as Rio Tech Trout or SA Trout. These are presentation type lines with a 10ft front taper that wont turn over a leader and larger wind resistant fly as well as a line with a shorter front taper. A line like Rio Gold with a 6.5ft front taper would be good compromise for good turnover and delicate presentation. There are other lines as well (Cortland, Airflow). I would even check out Cortland 444 DT as I believe the front taper is not very long. The less expensive Cortand 444 lines are another option. If only using large bass type poppers, the overweighted front weight loaded lines with short front tapers work as designed. Just look at the line diagram and grain weight. The myriad of line choices can be confusing but if you understand the nuances it is to your advantage.

SA MPX would certainly work as it is designed as a general purpose line to turn over indicator rigs, large nymphs and dries. I tend to like SA Infinity better in that regard as it has a longer head and is a little less aggresive for better presentation as with carp fishing.

 

[poopdeck]

You are way overthinking the simplicity of fly fishing. I catch plenty of SMB without knowing how many grams my fly lines are. Don’t go down the fly line rabbit hole. Get Cortland 444 WFF7, go fish it and have fun.

 

[falcon]

Yes but some lines work better.

 

[Redfin]

Im am trying to learn, i enjoy the learning process as well. I have nothing but time as im not planning on hitting the river with fly rod till beginning of June. I have other species to chase right now.
The one line i was looking at was the Rio smallmouth line. Now its $100. I want to spend my money wisely and be informed on my choices. Match what im doing to the best of my knowledge.
Having never fished these type of patterns or fly fished for smallies i just have to go off what i read and what you guys tell me.