Best Fly Lines

The Scientific Anglers Amplitude Smooth Trout GP is a premium weight-forward floater, with AST Plus built into the coating to make it slicker and more durable. It's built on a braided multifilament core, every line is 90ft long, and it comes in 3, 5, 6 and 7 weights.

The Trout GP taper pairs an Infinity-style belly with longer front and rear tapers, a quarter-size-heavy profile and a 49.5ft to 52ft head that's made for mending and accurate casting at range. Three colours mark the line's sections, and welded loops make rigging quick.

It suits trout anglers who want one premium floater for rivers and stillwaters. Next to the Scientific Anglers Mastery Trout GP, it shares the same taper and head lengths, with AST Plus in place of standard AST. The Guideline Fario CDC, by contrast, is more of a small-river dry-fly specialist.

To be fair, it's one of the dearer lines you can buy. For a floater that covers pretty much all your trout fishing, though, I think it's the best floating fly line in this guide.

The Scientific Anglers Mastery Trout GP is a floating weight-forward line built on a braided multifilament core, with Scientific Anglers' AST additive in the coating to keep it slick and hard-wearing. It comes in WF-3 to WF-7, and every line is 90ft long.

Its Infinity-style belly has longer front and rear tapers and a quarter-size-heavy profile, with heads from 49.5ft to 52ft. The first 30ft weighs 105 to 195 grains, SA Line ID helps you tell your lines apart, and welded loops handle leaders and backing.

It suits trout anglers fishing dries, nymphs and smaller streamers on rivers and stillwaters. Next to the Amplitude Smooth Trout GP, it has the same taper with standard AST rather than AST Plus, and compared with the Guideline Fario CDC, it's the more all-round line.

To be fair, the Amplitude Smooth's coating is slicker. For a finesse-leaning trout floater at a sensible price, though, I think it's very hard to fault.

The Guideline Fario CDC is a weight-forward floater for shy trout on light gear, made in WF #4, #5 and #6. It has a 12lb braided multifilament core and a dense, slick coating that keeps the diameter and wind resistance low.

Its short front taper is built to straighten long leaders with control, and the long belly and back tapers keep the loop parallel so you can correct it in the air. The head is 12m or 12.5m, it's looped at both ends, and the spring green grey head sits on a bone white running line.

It's a river dry-fly line first, for clear water and long leaders, though it also suits lakes. Next to the Mastery Trout GP, it's the more specialised choice, while the Airflo Superflo Mini Tip is built for stillwater buzzer fishing.

To be fair, it only covers #4 to #6. For dries and long leaders on small, clear rivers, though, I think it's an excellent specialist.

The Airflo Superflo Mini Tip is a floater with a short sinking front section, built for buzzer, nymph and washing-line fishing on stillwaters. It comes in WF6, WF7 and WF8, with tips of 3ft, 6ft or 12ft.

Fast intermediate tips sink at 1.5 to 2ips, Slow Tips at 0.5ips, the 12ft Mid Tip at 1ips and the 3ft Anchor Tip at 7ips. The 3ft Fast Tip drops vertically, like an ascending or descending midge pupa, and the Anchor Tip holds flies deep and static.

It suits reservoir and small stillwater anglers fishing from the bank or a boat. Next to the Guideline Fario CDC, a river dry-fly line, it's built for a different job, and compared with the Snowbee XS-Plus Twin Colour, it gets your flies under the surface.

To be fair, you may end up wanting more than one tip. For buzzers and the washing line on stillwaters, though, I think it's a really versatile choice.

The Snowbee XS-Plus Twin Colour is a weight-forward floating line split into ivory and blue sections, which makes your loop and the loading point easy to read. It's a line casting instructors and coaches use to show technique.

The line is soft and supple with no memory to speak of, and its ultra-low-friction coating should help it shoot. A welded front loop speeds up leader changes, and Snowbee line care and two loop connectors come with each #5 or #7 line.

Anglers learning to cast or tidying up their loops will get the most from it, on rivers and stillwaters alike. Next to the Airflo Superflo Mini Tip, it's a straight floater for dries, nymphs and buzzers and costs less, while the Greys Platinum X Float is cheaper still.

To be fair, it's made in #5 and #7 only, where the Greys covers WF5 to WF8. For newer fly anglers and anyone working on their technique, though, I think it's a really useful floater.

Developed in the UK with modern fast-action rods in mind, the Greys Platinum X Float is a 105ft weight-forward floater. Its medium-length head and full-size heavy design should load a fast rod quickly, yet it's still built for delicate presentation.

A slick, low-memory coating should keep it easy to handle, while the thin running line is there for extra distance. You get welded loops and a tri-colour format, in WF5, WF6, WF7 and WF8.

Budget-minded anglers, newer fly fishers with a fast rod and anyone setting up a spare outfit should all get on with it. Next to the Snowbee XS-Plus Twin Colour, it's cheaper with two more sizes, while the Scientific Anglers Amplitude Smooth Trout GP adds AST Plus slickness at a much higher price.

To be fair, the heavier taper won't suit every soft, slower rod. For trout anglers on a fast rod who want a tidy floater without spending much, though, I think it's the best value pick in the guide.

The Airflo Sixth Sense 2 Fast Intermediate is a 1.5ips stillwater line for fishing flies a little way down, out of the surface chop. A long front taper is there for teams of two or three flies, balancing a delicate turnover with distance.

Underneath, the low-stretch Power core keeps you in direct touch with the flies and stays supple when it's cold. The 105ft line carries a 46ft head in every size from WF5/6 to WF8/9, finished in translucent green and mid-green.

Reservoir and small stillwater anglers fishing buzzers, nymphs and lures from the bank or a boat will get the most from it. Next to the Scientific Anglers Wet Cel Intermediate Clear, it sinks a touch faster, and its low-stretch Power core and long front taper make it the best intermediate fly line in the guide.

To be fair, it's one of the dearer intermediates, and a slower line suits fish right in the film. For anglers who fish teams of flies just under the ripple week in, week out, though, I think it's worth every penny.

Clear from end to end, the Scientific Anglers Wet Cel Intermediate Clear is a general-purpose weight-forward line for nymphs and lures. A monofilament core and a 1.25ips sink rate keep the flies just under the surface.

There are four sizes, #5 to #8, each 24.3m long with the same head length throughout. The build is plain and no-frills, and it's designed for cold to medium water, which suits a UK season.

Stillwater anglers after wary trout in clear water will get the most from it, from the bank or a boat. Next to the Airflo Sixth Sense 2 Fast Intermediate, it sinks a little slower and costs a good deal less, while the Greys Platinum X Intermediate is cheaper again and 105ft long.

To be fair, a clear line is harder for you to follow on the water too. For anglers who want a simple, stealthy intermediate on a sensible budget, though, I think it's a very sound choice.

The Greys Platinum X Intermediate is a 105ft weight-forward line for fishing just under the surface from the boat or the bank. It comes in WF6, WF7 and WF8, with an aggressive full-size heavy distance taper on a low-diameter, intermediate-density running line.

That heavier-than-standard taper suits a fast-action rod, and the slim running line should shoot freely on long casts. A slick, low-memory coating, a twin-colour finish and welded loops at both ends round it off, and it was designed in the UK.

It suits reservoir and small-stillwater anglers who want a cheap first intermediate for buzzers, nymphs and lures. Next to the SA Wet Cel Intermediate Clear, it's cheaper but less stealthy, as the Wet Cel is clear right through. The Airflo Sixth Sense 2 Sinking that follows it fishes much deeper, at 3ips or 7ips.

To be fair, it's plainer than the Airflo Sixth Sense 2 Fast Intermediate, and the heavy taper wants a quick rod. For budget anglers with a fast rod, though, I think it's a very sensible intermediate.

The Airflo Sixth Sense 2 Sinking is a 105ft stillwater line with precision-controlled sink rates. It comes as a WF5/6 Sink 3 at 3.0ips in Dark Green/Aqua, or a WF7/8 Sink 7 at 7.0ips in Black/Grey, both on a low-stretch core.

A long front taper is built to turn over teams of flies, balancing delicacy with distance. Built-in hang markers, short at 10ft, double at 20ft and long at 40ft, show how much line is left on every retrieve, so holding the flies on the hang is simple.

It suits reservoir and stillwater anglers fishing buzzers, nymphs and lures at a known depth. Next to the Greys Platinum X Intermediate, it fishes far deeper and adds the hang markers, while the Airflo Booby Basher sinks faster still at 8ips but is a specialist long-range line.

To be fair, each sink rate is tied to one size, so match it to your rod. For stillwater trout anglers who want one sinking line that does it all, though, I think it's the best sinking line in the guide.

The Airflo Booby Basher is a Di8 line that sinks at 8 inches per second, made for long-range reservoir fishing from the bank or a boat. It's 165ft long with a 55ft grey and black head, and it drops flies to 30 feet or more.

The head is made to be cut for your rod, to about 40ft on a 7/8-weight. Its ultra-thin, ridged running line in high-vis orange reduces tangles and shows takes clearly, while a stable loop helps it carry distance on an ultra-fast tip-action rod.

It suits experienced anglers fishing boobies on big, deep concrete-bowl reservoirs. Next to the Airflo Sixth Sense 2 Sinking, it sinks faster and is built to cast further, but it covers far less general fishing. The Guideline Classic Trout Sink 3 that follows it is a simpler, cheaper 3ips line for everyday stillwater work.

To be fair, it's one of the dearer lines and it needs a skilled caster. For long-range booby fishing on deep reservoirs, though, I think it's a superb specialist line.

The Guideline Classic Trout Sink 3 is a weight-forward trout line in #5 to #8 that sinks at 3 inches per second. It's 27.5m long with a 12m head, made up of a short 2m front taper, a 6m belly and a 4m back taper.

That short front and forward weight should load the rod easily, while the belly carries enough mass to turn over a variety of flies. A 6% low-stretch core helps you feel subtle takes, and it's pre-looped at both ends with an ID tag on the front loop.

It suits stillwater anglers who want a dependable mid-depth sinker without paying for extras. Next to the Airflo Booby Basher, it's a far gentler, more general line, sinking at 3ips rather than 8ips. It's also cheaper than the Airflo Sixth Sense 2 Sinking, which matches its Sink 3 rate but adds hang markers.

To be fair, its single colour won't help you judge the hang the way the Sixth Sense 2's markers do. For everyday mid-depth stillwater fishing, though, I think it's a very sound buy.