what is the better fly line….?

which is the better fly line. RIO Gold Trout Line(Floating). or Scientific Anglers Mastery GPX Taper Weight Forward Floating Fly Line?

Tough question. Might as well ask which is better — Catholics or Lutherans? Personally, I gravitate toward Scientific Anglers. I have been using their products for a while and have watched their product lines evolve. However, there is a fellow here on Y!A whose handle is “RIO.”

RIO, Scientific Anglers, and a few other companies are really duking it out for supremacy in the world of fly lines. Both of the lines you mention are at the same price point and they target anglers purchasing the high-middle (?) range of fly fishing products. They claim some of the same features — welded loops, improved buoyancy, heavy forward weighting for more aggressive casting, etc. Both also come in a “neon” and “natural” color.

If you’re planning to buy your line from a fly shop, you might ask the personnel there if any of them have these fly lines reeled up so you can try them. A few years ago I went to my fly shop to get some new fly line and one of the younger clerks was trying to up-sell me from the Scientific Anglers’ “Professional” line to the “Mastery” line (same one that you’re looking at). I didn’t go for it until he pulled out a rod that had that very line on it. I was impressed enough with it to pay the extra $20 it cost me. Like I said, I have some brand loyalty to Scientific Anglers, but I’m pretty sure that if I bought a fly line at the same price point from a different company, it would get the job done. I don’t want to tell you that your choice doesn’t matter at all, but this will probably come down to personal preference…

Switch Rod Overview

MASTERY TEXTURED TROUT STALKER WF-4-F #4 WT. FORWARD FLY LINE SCIENTIFIC ANGLERS $79.95

MASTERY TEXTURED TROUT STALKER WF-5-F #5 WT. FORWARD FLY LINE SCIENTIFIC ANGLERS $79.95

MASTERY TEXTURED TROUT STALKER WF-6-F #6 WT. FORWARD FLY LINE SCIENTIFIC ANGLERS $79.95

SCIENTIFIC ANGLERS SA MASTERY BONEFISH WF-9-F #9 WT FORWARD FLOATING FLY LINE $69.95

SCIENTIFIC ANGLERS SA MASTERY BONEFISH WF-8-F #8 WT FORWARD FLOATING FLY LINE $69.95

SCIENTIFIC ANGLERS SA MASTERY BONEFISH WF-7-F #7 WT FORWARD FLOATING FLY LINE $69.95

SCIENTIFIC ANGLERS SA MASTERY BONEFISH WF-5-F #5 WT. FORWARD FLOATING FLY LINE $69.95

SCIENTIFIC ANGLER MASTERY BONEFISH WF-9-S #9 CLEAR INTERMEDIATE SINKING FLY LINE $69.95

NEW Scientific Anglers Mastery GPX Fly Line WF4F Willow – Free Shipping! $69.95

NEW Scientific Anglers Mastery Streamer Express Clear Tip 350 gr- Free Shipping! $69.95