I have to smile a little when I see some of the comments about lines and Airflo in particular. I normally don't have much to say, but just keep an eye on what's going on. Having said that, I can tell you that I use and like Airflo lines. Flyfishing Technology, the maker of Airflo lines looked at the technology involved in coating electrical wiring and developed it into making computer designed tapered fly lines using non-stretch cores and a polymer coating instead of PVC which tends to crack and harden as it ages. Unfortunately, Airflo rushed to the market before the product had been fully developed. The first and second generation lines had a lot of "memory" and were stiffer than most people were used to and had no stretch. Now, several years later, the technology has improved and memory is less of a problem. I like the direct contact and lack of stretch, especially with a sinking line. I use an Airflo DI 7 (DI stands for Density Intensified) in saltwater when fishing for coho and spring (king) salmon because it sinks like a rock (and casts like a cable). Airflo do not make sink tips but they do make Polyleaders which are like a sink tip which is attached by a loop to loop connection to the fly line. These polyleaders come in floating, intermediate, and various rates of sinking in both 5 and 10 foot lengths. All you do is add a tippet. As a matter of fact, Rio sells them under their own brand. Last time I was in Britain, I purchased 4 Airflow lines - a WF5 River & Stream floater, a WF6 10" clear tip, a WF5/6 Clear fast Intermediate, and a WF5 DI 3 sinking. I have never had an Airflo line break on me, and I have caught steelhead in tight places on them. I have a friend who snapped a new Mastery clear intermediate. Sure, he blamed the line, but in reality it was his casting that destroyed the line.
The truth of the matter is that there are lots of choices of good lines out there, which is beneficial to us. A line that has a particular application in BC may not be suitable on the White River. We fish with what we can afford and what we are comfortable with. If you would like to know more about Airflo, follow this URL http://www.tightlines.co.uk/ I have no financial interest in this at all. Best wishes...............Neville Gosling, Surrey, BC
