I really like the newfangled fly lines, slick and high floating, but not the memory. I have Cortland 555, but the memory drives me nuts. The new 555 with Dyna tip supposedly has no memory. Any thoughts on this line or one of its competitors? I searched FAOL and didn’t see anything on the Dyna Tip.
To remove memory from a fly line is easy, any line stored tightly on a reel will retain a coil. Simple strip off the line and give it a little stretch, the line will now be straight and remain straight all day.
Ray,
It is my recollection that I have read on FAOL that others have experienced that 555 is particularly difficult on memory. I do stretch it out, but it has more memory than my 333 or the Wonderline I used.
Ray’s right, it works like a charm. Same with your thread when tying fly’s. Anyone have any experience with SA’s XPS floating line? I’m thinking about WF-3W-F in XPS.
Best to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
Something I seldom remember to do.
I searched FAOL–there is disagreement on the topic, but several folks experienced excessive coiling with 555 that wasn’t solved by stretching.
Sure. I’m not trying to jump all over 555. I bought some here on “for sale” board last summer. Fellow used it a few times and didn’t like it. I started using it, and I haven’t liked it too much either. I can stretch it out and within a few minutes it is coiling enough to tie into multiple loop knots–drives me crazy. I bought the 555 because the wonderline I was using was suffering from the first generation wonderline sinking tip.
I saw an ad for the new 555 dyna tip and it says “no memory.” I am curious if it is better.
I use fly line in two kinds of situations: warmwater for gills/bass on ponds or from a canoe/kayak on lakes, and on a coldwater stream for trout–weather usually warm but the water in the 50’s.
DD and JC, I’m one of the others who had the same problem with the 555 clear floater wf5. I fish mostly stillwater “kettle hole” trout ponds on Cape Cod. I thought that it would be nice to have the cutting edge tech flyline when I bought my 5wt outfit, especially for fishing trout sippng midges… The line has been a nightmare. I stretch it first and it makes little difference. A cortland rep warned me not to stretch it too hard or the hollow chambers would collapse. As bad as it is,I finally replaced it with a 444 classic peach. When I tried to purchase the 444 at my local fly shop, the owner tried to convince me to try the new Selective trout line just introduced. I told him I’d let someone else try the latest and greatest, just give me something that I know will work. I’m still a Cortland fan, I think their 444 clear intermediate and classics are great. I also like the CL series of rods and STH cassette reels; but that 555 is a stinker…Another floater I’d reccommend is the Wulff triangle taper.
I’ve started having the same problems with the 555. I have a 6wt and it was great the first season but I have not been able to use it at all this year due to the coiling. I really liked the line during the first season though. I guess I will have to hit the local fly shop in search of an Orvis Wonderline (which I have in other weights and like a lot) or an SA Mastery line which I haven’t tried yet but seems to come highly recommended by the folks here on the board.
Fish more, work less!
On the 555 dyna-tip line: It is different from the rest of the 555 series in that it does not have that extruded hollow core construction that tends to have high memory. It is built on a braided core like the more typical lines on the market. Here is a review of the line: [url=http://www.theflyfishingforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=250&highlight=dyna-tip:ca724]http://www.theflyfishingforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=250&highlight=dyna-tip[/url:ca724]
On the XPS line, I do have the WF3F and like it very well. I think it is one of the more delicate-presenting lines out there. The line will feel light in comparison to an XPS. The long front taper helps present flies softly onto the water, but will not give a lot of force. If you want the line for delicate presentations with small/light flies, its outstanding. If you want it to kick over hoppers, nymphs with shot, and poppers, you’ll likely be frustrated with it. I like it as a specialized tool on my 3wt, but I will stick with something a little more powerful on my 4wt, which I force to be more of a “utility player”.
Oh yeah, distance casting really isn’t a problem with the XPS. I can throw 70’ with my 7’ 3wt just fine with it. You’ll find that the short belly on the line helps it shoot fairly well.