How important is a good fly line?
I would argue that the fly line is the most important piece of equipment you use to "fly fish". The line carries the fly to the fish. Even the best fly rod will not perform properly with the wrong fly line.
Eventually, even a quality properly matched fly line will get dirty and wear out. Dirty and or cracked lines are sticky. They don’t shoot well, don’t feed slack well and don’t float well. These are problems that will reduce your casting efficiency, increase your casting effort and reduce your ability to fish properly.
As I’m writing this, Ben comes in and tells me he thinks he needs a new fly line based on everything I’ve just written in paragraph one. Yes, Ben, you need a new fly line. I think it’s abundantly clear that a correctly matched, clean, slick, crack free and high floating line is a key element to fly fishing.
A new premium fly line is like a fresh pair of lenses, providing the angler with clear vision or in the fly fishing sense, perfect casting and presentation abilities.
Introducing the Scientific Anglers Amplitude Fly Line
Enter the Scientific Anglers Amplitude. At $130 bucks a line, it’s no surprise some anglers are shocked at the cost in comparison to a standard $75 line that’s by no means considered cheap. How can this thing be worth it?
Without going into all the technical specs of the fly line that brings up the cost, let’s first look at what this line can do in real world fly fishing conditions.
I set up a reel with the 5 wt. Amplitude MPX last October. Since then, I have fished the line with nymphs, streamers and dry flies on numerous fly rods. It has received some heavy use and abuse. I’ve dropped coils in the mud, in bankside vegetation and on the sandy bottoms of boats. I have fished it hard with only the fish on my mind. I have given the line no cleaning or any special love or respect.
In short, the Amplitude MPX has worked like a champ. It still shoots like a new line. It has developed zero cracks and the welded loop on the tip is in perfect shape. The line still slips smoothly when extending drifts, stacking slack mends or working slack line casts. I’ve used it on fly rods of varying price points and regardless of the rod, the line excels at performance.
I will argue, based on my experience with this line, that it will improve your angling performance and actually lead you toward more fish when compared to most other lines. Almost any line is good when new, but after even a day or two of use, the coatings on conventional lines get covered by a film of dust, dirt and algae. The textured surface of the Amplitude seems to ignore these elements.
The Technical Angles of Scientific Anglers Amplitude Fly Line
AST+ Coating
Scientific Anglers claim that their AST+ coating is the slickest on the market. What does that translate to for the angler? A slick fly line results in longer casts with less angler effort and is easier to manipulate when on the water. The AST+ also increases the line’s durability.
Floating Texture
What does that mean? Unlike a smooth surfaced fly line, the microtextured surface traps air which naturally increases flotation. Increased flotation means the line sits higher in the water producing less drag and easier mending, roll casts and pickups. The texture also provides the added benefit of decreased line flash (it’s not shiny) in the air, resulting in less fish spooking from above.
Shooting Texture
The shooting texture contains tiny curved divots like those found on a golf ball. There is very little texture on the surface so the line feels similar to a traditional line, but the benefits are the added slickness, higher floatation and increased durability.
So in the end, what really matters when you are on the water?
- Added Slickness: Increased casting distance, less casting effort and it’s easier to feed slack
- Higher Flotation: Less drag, easier roll casts, mends and pickups for casting.
- Increased Durability: Performance at a higher level for a longer period of time.
- Less fuss: There is no need for constant cleaning and dressing and it’s easy to put all ones focus on the fishing and the techniques without fighting inadequacies of the fly line.
I guess you could say that after full review and consideration, I’m a fan of the SA Amplitude MPX Fly Line. Is it worth the price tag? I guess that depends on the angler, your budget and how much you fly fish. If you fly fish a lot like I do, you will definitely value the performance attributes and the durability of this fly line.