I didn’t want to jump a thread so I’ll start another. Besides the obvious, is there any difference between fishing a DT as opposed to a WF? I know DT is tapered on both ends thus the name, but how is a WF different? Both can be used for nymphing and fishing dry flies, right? All these years of fishing and I’ve never understood this. I fished dry flies with my WF and really didn’t notice a difference.
Thanks
lastchance, if you go to the front page of the site, on the menu at the left side click on fly fishing basics, then click on fly fishing lol, then click on DT vs WF, it might help a little bit with your question. The reason I requested a DT line, is because I am experimenting with a very small reel that will not hold a whole line. I figured if I got a DT and cut it in half it would be short enough for the reel and I would also end up with 2 WF lines and not be wasting half a WF line but cutting it in half.
I have cast both WF and DT lines on my rods, and with the average distance I cast I find the WF cast better for me and easier to control. But that is just me. I can’t cast a real long distance. So when I cast I usually do not get into the second taper on a DT line. John
I would suggest you go to one of the line company’s web site…e.g. …Cortland …and look at their pictures of the different lines …it will show you their different configurations/anatomy…that should help you understand.
Lastchance,
I use a double taper for my dry fly rod. It does make a better presentation of the fly as compared to using a weight forward line.
I use a weight forward line on my nymphing/streamer rod. It carries more weight right up front which allows me to make a better short cast while nymphing and a better longer cast while fishing streamers. It also helps fight the wind better because I can put more punch into it when necessary. When fishing nymphs and streamers, presentation of the fly isn?t a high priority to me, just getting it to the target area so I can start my drift or retrieve it my priority.
Bassman is right, by cutting a double taper in half, and then tying on a thin running line, you end up with two lines and what you have is the original shooting head line. People fishing the flats used to do that and tie on a really thin slick running line, like amnesia for making long casts. I suppose some still do it but now the fly line manufacturers have started producing some great shooting head lines.
Larry 
—sagefisher—
I use a DT line on both my 2wt and 4wt primarily for when I want to make a very delicate presentation of a dry fly. The DT line rolls over so nice and gently compared to a WF which I find rolls over much faster. You can still get a delicate presentation, it’s just much easier with a DT…my humble opinion of course,
TT.
Bassman:
Have you seen the Cortland 10 Meter Double taper fly lines yet? It’s basically a short DT just made for small reels and shorter distances.
Last:
Without arguing the merits of either taper let it suffice to say you can fish wet or dry with either.
Most DT and WF lines are, for all practical puropses, identical for the first 30 feet. Some have a slightly different front taper but it is usually not significant for the average caster. WF lines are for shooting line on longer casts. The lighter and thinner running line will add ten or fifteen feet to your cast out at 60 feet or so. DT lines roll cast and mend better in the 30 - 50 foot range so if you are doing some long line nymph swinging, they might be better. No need to cut your DT in half unless you are going to use it on another reel or you want more backing on the one you have. Just turn it around after a couple of years for a new line.
Godspeed,
Bob
Contact Bruce Richards at SA if you want to know more. He knows just about everything there is to know about line. But then, so does JC. He was at SA in the beginning.
No debate with what’s already been said. I just wanted to add that one advantage to DTs is that they roll cast better.
I also think DTs mend better. I just got a Sage Performance Taper II for my 4 wt this year and a Steelhead Taper for the 8 weight, both in WF. But they both have reeaally long rear tapers, giving some benefit of both the WF and the DT. Both mend well and the Sage at least roll casts nicely.
One last note, a casting instructor also told me he likes DT better for floating smallies on the river. Since you only strip the fly about 10 ft, then cast again he liked it better because he didn’t have to strip all the way back to get the head to the rod tip. Cast, strip 10 ft, cast again, etc.