I need a decent 8 or 9 wt line. I just got a deal on a TFO Pro 8wt I’d been wanting. Any recommendations under $35? I’m not a big believer in high priced lines. I see Rio’s “Mainstream” is in my wheelhouse as well as the Orvis Wonderline G3’s are $24.99 right now (That’s a DT line but that’s what I prefer usually as distance is never my problem).
I’ll mostly be river fishing for LMB’s, Spots, Stripers, Black Drum, etc. and sometimes on the lake for Hybrid and White Bass.
Any advice appreciated.
I have that rod and the Cortland 333+ casts pretty well on it. The Cortland 555 whatever it’s called with the 2 colors also casts well and could recently be had at a discount. Is it the Dynatip? … i can’t remember.
I’ve got a TFO with WF8F MainStream Bas-Pike-Panfish on it. It’s very slick stuff. This line is “front loaded” so it casts very well with bass bugs. I get good distance with it. It’s also a bit longer, at 90ft, than the others, I like getting more for my money. I have not tried the rest but this one works for me.
Joe
Thanks for the specific info on the Rio. I’ve got my eye on that exact line. And it can be had for about $25-30 if you look in the right place it seems.
I’ve got a Cortland 333 HT 9wt BBT new on the spool. $20.00 includes postage.
Dave
What’s “BBT”. I once had a 333HT 7wt but never even took it out of the box. Traded it for books recently. Is it WF? Is that “Rocket Taper”. I can’t seem to find any solid info on it.
If I was in the market for a 9 wt, I would probably buy this TODAY :
http://www.bobmarriottsflyfishingstore.com/detail.aspx?ID=45989
Tomorrow, something else might be on sale and I might buy that. I like to buy last year’s lines or close outs. It was $75 last week, now it’s $35, did the line change that much? Official “cheap bastid” here, so I will let other’s be the early adopters and buy things at list. I have no problem with others spending list price, it’s just not for me. 
Sounds like a deal. Anyone else know anything about a Rio 3D Outbound? I have very little experience with different lines. Like Clay, I’m trying my best to make $35 go a long way…pun intended.
I actually saw a sharkskin WF8F go for $55 on ebay yesterday but couldn’t bring myself to spend that kind of money on a line (especially since I only know it by reputation). $35 is about my max.
BBT - Bass Bug Taper. It is a wf line. Cortland stopped making the HT line last year.
Still trying to make up my mind.
I cast a Sharkskin this afternoon. Man, those things are SICK! I just wish I could afford them.
The Outbound lines are integrated lines - integrating what is essentially a shooting head with a shooting line. These lines are intended for distance casting with a quick delivery - just pick up and shoot. The Outbound lines have longer heads of around 37 feet I think. You need to cast with the entire head out to get the best out of these lines and some anglers have difficulty with that. The Outbound Short lines have 30 foot heads which many find easier to use. The Outbound Short lines excel at making long casts with big flies. Either model would be great if you have a need for a lot of long distance casting. With the thin running line it is not a great roll casting line for distances beyond the length of the head and it is more difficult to pick up for a standard overhead cast if you have more then a few feet beyond the head outside the rod tip.
I really like the Rio Mainstream lines for the price and have been using a Mainstream Saltwater line for freshwater bass angling as well as salty stuff for 5 years.
I like the idea of easy casting for heavy bass flies but what about big dry flies?? Does this “integrated” approach make presentation difficult? I will even be fishing some small dries if I target Black Drum.
Outbound and other integrated lines are not ideal for delicate presentations in my experience. These are essential shooting heads joined to a shooting line by the manufacturer and are intended generally for long distance presentations. Just about any cast longer the the length of the head has to be accomplished by shooting line and the head does not come down softly. You can still make accurate casts to targets with practice but this is not a line I would use if I was concerned about spooking fish with a hard presentation. A line in a more standard WF or WF distance taper, or even a bass bug or saltwater taper would be a better option I think.
From Rio’s website
“They are ideal for wading anglers or for coping with tough winds and big flies when a short head is necessary. The head is only 30 ft long and ensures fast, one-shot casts for maximum distance.”
Sounds like the outbound is not really what I want unless I put it on a spare spool for really windy days. I really have little trouble with distance, especially with WF lines. I have been using a 9’ 6wt to throw bass bugs with little trouble. I’m just going to pick up an H&H WF Hi-float probably
I think that would be a good choice. I think of the Outbound as a great complimentary line I only use for tossing big flies at long distances.
Check the clearance lines at MRFC. There are Cortland 555s for less than $30.
http://www.mrfc.com/MadisonRiverShopping/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=4
that’s what I call a tip! It’s funny how search engines and the likes of Amazon don’t find many of these deals unless you dig 50 pages in. Thanks. Something else to consider. I particularly like the dyna tip
I have a Rio Saltwater Taper WF9F line. It is the 2008 model, Coral color line with the Agent X treatment.
In the box with original spool. Only test cast.
Shipped to Your Door for $25.00.
I was dealing privately and there’s a Rio line on its way to me already. I’m going to give it a try and go from there.