I’m focusing almost all of my fly fishing now on smallmouth bass and I find that much more of my casting is now roll casting. I read somewhere’s that double taper line is substantially better that WF for roll casting. Is this true? If so, is the DT line correspondingly worse than WF for “regular” casting? (I use a 9ft 6 wt and furled leader)
Well, this one, should lead to about 109 posts!! ha!
Anyhoo… “DTs”, (not the kind you get from cheap gin), fly lines GENERALLY, have a lighter, less tapered, front end so they’re easier to pick up off the water when making a roll cast.
WFs., area more or less just that… the line’s taper is all built “forward” on the line, backed by a level “running line”. So, that heavier “front section” is often harder to pick up, off the water when attempting a smooth roll cast.
WFs are USUALLY, (not always), better for windy conditions and/or, longer casts than a DT can make.
If roll casting is the thing you’re currently doing the most of, you might consider a DT, just to make it a hair easier.
You might also look at the Wulff “Triangle Taper”, fly lines. They have a unique taper that allows for very easy roll casting and yet also have enough “meat” up front to use in the wind, as well as, for some decent distance casting when/if it’s needed.
I don’t find a significant distance between DT and WF lines when roll casting until I start making roll casts longer than the head length of the WF line. Once you get into the back taper and then running line porting of a WF line it becomes a bit more difficult to make the roll cast due to the transition from a thinner running line to the thicker front taper. Depending on the specific WF line under consideration, this is usually somewhere between about 30 and 45 feet. At distances less than that the tapers on WF and DT lines is similar and the two line will behave similarly.
Beyond this distance, most anglers find it easier to make a roll cast with a DT line and often even easier with a triangle taper line due to its continuous taper.
If you look up the line specs from the line makers, you can see just how close WF and DT lines are for the first 28-25 of the lines for basic DT and WF lines.
Good casters can make long roll casts with a WF line and I have seen some exceptional casters roll cast an entire WF line.
I often use 6 through 10 wt wf lines for bass fishing and commonly make 40 - 50 foot roll casts with these lines.
I have used both WF and DT lines and have not found DT lines to be significantly worse or better than WF lines for regular casting. It is easier to shoot longer amounts of line with a WF than a DT line because the running line of a WF is thinner. On the other hand, because of the thicker level mid section, some anglers will find it easier to aerialize long amount of a DT line if they need to do that sort of thing.
Unless you are roll casting over ~40 ft (typical length of the head of a WF line) you will see practically no difference. In fact, there is practically no difference in any performance metric (roll casting, mending, casting into the wind, etc) between a DT an WF line from the same model of line from a given manufacturer within ~40ft.
A slightly longer taper that is typical of a DT line, gives it a more delicate presentation, but doesn’t really affect roll casting.
mAngler
(tailingloop beat me to it, by 1 min… ;))
pdowney:
Even though I use DT’s exclusively for trout; I wouldn’t be caught dead with one fishing smallies because I have a tendency to fish heavier or more wind resistant stuff and a WF just seems to do a better job with the big stuff IMHO.
I guess what I’m saying is, don’t get caught up in the hype about what taper does what best. If you fish a lot of larger flies or think you may, you may find the WF more to your liking and definitely capable of roll casting adequately.
I like the double tapers as better presentation lines. They seem to mend better and roll and spey cast better at longer distances than the weight forwards do.
As already mentioned within the first 30 feet or so of line there really is no difference between the two in terms of mending and roll casting as the energy transfer is pretty good.
The dt’s are better at carrying more line in the air they just don’t shoot as well as the wf’s.
Also I like the double tapers because they are cheaper. It seems that are not as hot an item to be selling for 60 bucks. I can usually find them for less than 20 bucks.
The only problem is trying to find a double taper over a 6 weight. It is usually difficult and almost impossible over a 9 wt.
Sounds like 1) a WF will do just fine most of the time and besides, and 2) my casting is likely limited more by lack of skill than by my equipment.
I found that the right leader tippet helps me most when it comes to roll castng. I don’t do it often but those furled leaders are easy to turn over. I use DT’s mostly for everything now.
Above 6wt is harder to find on the cheap. I end up with air cels and 333 for under $20 mostly and they suit me fine. Use a DT7 on a few rods… that can fill a reel quick!
I use DT all the time, since most of my fishing is on the river for trout, just seems to cast better + the added bonus of presentation. Our rivers are not as big as America’s, so distance isn’t really an issue.
WF are used for Salmon, but mainly used on the still waters, ie; reservoirs where distance is needed.
You get two or three seasons out of the DT’s, just turn the line around & start again, brand new.
One of the best sellers in the UK are Snowbee XS Double taper Floating Fly line, I here you say you cannot get DT in 9wt, check this link, you’ll find a 9wt there.
http://www.snowbee.co.uk/page23.html#xslines
BF.
Just to throw in a different opinion, I use WF and more WF. I have read all the statistics about the two different tapers, but you know what, I really don’t care for DT. Maybe it is the thicker line and the smaller guides, I find it more resistance.
I have tried a ST II DT and WF side by side and I can cast the WF with NO effort, the DT I do feel I have to muscle more.
Memorial weekend, I was casting 50 to 60’ roll cast (granted the wind was at my back to help:cool:). But I had a 9’ leader, two chironomids, split shot (one BB) and an indicator, and it was EASY! with the WF WINDCUTTER II
Just me, I know but I can do so much more, with accuracy with a good WF. I gave my DT to my old man, he likes it:D
Thanks Mister Bluefrog.
I was actually thinking of snobee when I mentioned getting lines over 9wt. All I can find on their website is up to a 9 wt in dt.
I really like their lines. I tried one from a friend this past winter and I am starting to transfer my lines over from Rio to Snobee.
They are very supple and easy casting even in cold conditions.
I use both DT and WF on my 5, 6 and 8 wt rods. On a good day, I have darned few of those, I can cast the entire line of either. I believe that I personally roll cast much better with the DT line. Also I think the DT line gives a more accurate and lighter presentation. Maybe I am doing something wrong but it seems that Wf lines can land a bit heavy on the water at times. Like I said that is more than likely due to my casting skills or lack thereof.
There is one thing you can do with a DT that a WF absolutely cannot do. When the front taper starts to get short or worn turn the line around. On a DT both tapers, front and rear, are the same length so when that front part of the line starts to wear just detach the line from the backing and attach the worn end to the backing. Presto, you just doubled the life of your fly line. To my knowledge you cannot do that with a WF line.
I decided to have the best of both worlds. I purchased spare spools so I could carry both DT and WF lines. Gives me more flexibility in adapting to changing conditions on the water.
Someone touched on this briefly, but the big difference in how WF vs DT handle is energy transfer. The very thing that makes a WF line easier to shoot distance wise (small diameter running line flows easier through the guides) makes roll casting and MENDING more difficult once the head of the line is past the rod tip. Most folks seem to ignore the fact that once they get those long casts out there, they still need to mend line to avoid drag, etc. While you sacrifice some ease of line shooting with a DT, it makes up for it in ease of mending at distance. A way to cheat this is to use a “long belly” WF line. The more line you have on the water, the more the current(s) will affect your drift, and the need to throw mends in needs to be thought of before the line even gets close to the water. Lots of people can cast farther than they can effectively control that line on the water! Spey casters know this all too well - they have the right tools for the job. An easy fix - move closer to your target.
Very good point.
Hi Micropteris, maybe a quick email to Snowbee concerning different weights above 9wt, you never know.
Another excellent product by them are the breathable chest waders…they make them in a fuller body size…& if your like me you’ll need it…lol
Hope you get sorted,
BF.
FWIW, I have been using Orvis Longbelly line on my 9’ 6wt for smallie fishing for the past 2 years. It has all the characteristics of a WF, but roll casts like a DT. It also does a better job mending, IMHO, when I am nymphing a deep pool.
Dave
they are found at the hardware store in the rope section 
More to the point, get a DT line and test it out under your conditions. The testing alone will be worth the while. Have fun and update us!
Rope eh???
You really learn to appreciate the heavy lines when you are throwing foot long flies…
I did manage to find an old unused Rio spey dt 10/11 at the flyfishing show this past winter. I was pretty excited when I found it even though everyone I was with thought I was crazy. I love using it with big flies for Mister stripety bass. The only problem is trying to fit it on the reel. No backing and still ten feet of line coiled around the outside of the reel.
As several people have mentioned Wulff’s triangle taper and long belly weight forward lines are great choices other than DT. Also a softer action rod makes roll casting easier. I have seen people get good distance with fast action rods but they seem to put more effort into it at distance.
I agree a softer action is easier, that is why I have to have the JWF and the glass, but when nymphin, I like a little faster rod and a 10’er is perfect. Maybe that is why I prefer WF.:lol: