airflo bandit fly line review

If you want the latest technology and performance, a different Bonefish line is probably a better choice. It looks super cool on video as well. No one needs a line that’s 105’ long. The Hollow Fleye Squid is a phenomenal pattern for Stripers keyed in on schooling Squid at night and during the day. When we first heard the mummers of the F.I.S.T. Like an Alfa Spider, Greys faded out of the mainstream and into the fond memory of enthusiasts. And this high-floating ch… It’s called “River and Stream” in the US, and “Lake Pro” in Europe, neither of which really inspires a lot of confidence in it as an all-around trout line. And she’s a perfect floater too… and I’m not referring to what my kids tend to leave in the toilet bowl from time to time…  Roily whitewater is no match, it’s doesn’t seem to succumb to the “sucky-under” boils encountered on Wellington backcountry streams, that often render a lesser line dead-in-the-water and that big brown bolting for the bank. I wish more people would talk about this subject as in depth as you. We are not a blog, or a review site. Given its lighter weight, it performed better on the Circa than on the NRX. Go for a 40+ despite what is said its a line that casts phenomenally well. Put simply, it works. This post is part of our Fly Line Shootout, so if you haven't read our main post, you probably want to check it out. Tropical Punch loads close but also shoots well and can get your fly out there. The Hype: Airflo's Super-Dri River & Stream has been specifically designed for the Trout angler, this line utilizes the popular DELTA taper profile for easy distance even when casting multiple flies. Airflo Super-Dri Distance Pro surprised us. The running line is at least .01” thicker than Rio or SA. It does actually give us some easy distance, and surprisingly (after seeing the weight) didn’t turn the Circa into a total noodle (though it definitely felt heavy). Whether tracking through a slow pool on a seemingly interminable drift or tumbling through brawling riffles, this line stays on top as well as any I've fished. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. Better than Elite Trout on faster rods, particularly for beginners, There are better lines out there for every application. Bottom Line: This is a line we've loved for a long time… and it proved itself yet again to be a great performer. It’s designed to shoot line, yet (presumably) retain a bit of presentation. NO cracking what-so-ever, unlike my existing crack-whore” lines and it remains almost as slick as the day she was taken from the box, In fact, I’m confident I can squeeze yet another season of central North Island sand-grabbing with this line. It Floats The driving technology introduced in Airflo's series of lines is a new polymer coating which Airflo designed as a solution to the aforementioned lack of high floating performance, eventually earning it the SuperDRI moniker. These lines are all “fine”, and because they don’t stand out in any way, it’s very difficult to determine any significant differences between them. Still, the negatives of this line are huge and we can’t really recommend it. This is what happens, when the Kiwi's took one of our Super-DRI lines and made it their own. While this taper visually looks like a dry fly specific line, it also casts both a small nymph rig and streamers remarkably well. it will fit a 5/6 reel if you shorten it down as it is very long but I felt the advantage of a good running line outweighed extra backing and using Dacron I don't feel under gunned with distance shold I need it! 0 Comments After my boat incident and spending quite a few weeks trying to reach fish that where just that little bit too far out I decided to try and Airflo 40 plus fly line – and I’m kind-of glad I did. Appropriately named, the F.I.S.T head is comprised of three integrated sections of differing densities; a floating, intermediate, and type 3 sink tip section (hence F.I.S.T.) I have to admit that I never really understood why you would want a braided running line, but once I used it no explanation was necessary. While it’s a little difficult to see on the taper chart, this line features a long front taper, short-ish belly, and long-ish rear taper, which is a very unusual combination. Big roll casts are easy, long back casts challenging (likely my skill shortage). His company also developed many innovations that no other company could pro… Read honest and … While this taper visually looks like a dry fly specific line, it also casts both a small nymph rig and streamers remarkably well. By Louis Cahill Airflo Miracle Braid is an exceptional choice for your shooting head setups. It’s got one of the longest heads in the test. Featuring our longest belly on any single hand fly line, the Distance Pro is a firm Pro-Staff Favorite. The Airflo Skagit Compact fly line was a ground breaker, and now with the advent of shorter Spey rods, the Airflo Switch line has already earned a starting slot on the team. If you don’t need a presentation line, however, Tropical Punch will help you cut through the wind quickly and efficiently, especially with large flies. A belly that long gives you an amazing amount of control of the line in the water, be it mending or roll-casting, and the Distance Pro doesn’t disappoint. It produced tight stable loops. 100% of our funding comes from your gear purchase, so if this shootout helps you on your next fly fishing adventure, support us by buying your next fly line (or better yet, your next rod and reel), from us. Sign up for our Newsletter, a monthly dose of new ideas and exclusive deals on great gear, sent directly to your inbox. It’s also a little heavier… but really only a few grains. Moving from the tower system, he started using computer-controlled methods that were easier to control and more accurate. Airflo G-Shock Fly Line – Review Since the introduction of the Super-Dri Technology from Airflo, these have been the only floaters I have used… The super-high buoyancy and non-stretch technology helps no end with lift of and hook up rate but this year, Airflo have brought out, a somewhat controversial fly line, called the G-Shock. Creek fishing also encourages anglers to explore their local waters and puts an emphasis on exploration and adventure instead of trophy fish. The SuperDri Ridged coating reduces the surface area that touches the rod rings, minimizing friction for a smooth cast. The Hype: For accurately punching quick casts at moving targets in windy situations. When we first rigged it up, it was pretty obvious that this was no ordinary line. Hope this helps. The Hype: … designed for ultimate distance whether your fishing from the bank or boat. Another note: this was the first line we weighed and we decided that we needed to change the way we did it, so we’re missing a few data points on this line. My guide said it CDCwas and a very good rig. Airflo … A fine line for short-to-middle distance fishing on softer rods. That means that Airflo lines have more air inside for any given weight of line. The Elite Trout is the first of many “average” lines in this test. Submit Review. The Bandit Camo punches true to line weight for me, loads great and short distance but with the ability to fire a long cast to a rising fish at 25m with the grace and ease of a scantily-clad synchronised swimmer. Designed exclusively for the New Zealand and Australian markets, the Bandit SuperDri is the ultimate all round trout stalking fly line, it has enough power to knock over bulky flies and indicators whilst also maintaining a clean loop shape capable of dropping a fly on a trouts nose at 70 feet. Posted by Chris Dore on June 5, 2018 at 7:50 PM The Airflo Forge is the silent weapon, and a worthy addition to your stable. It has a classic taper, a muted-color design, and it’s a line that caters to a wide range of anglers. It’s subtle ridges create a reassuring hiss through the guides, eliminating any friction, and boy does thing shoot, but it’s the durability that wins me over, one whole season on the same line is a record for me. He was an avid fly-fisher and engineer, so he sought to change how fly lines are manufactured. by Beardy Paul. This versatile fly line functions nicely for beginners without sacrificing performance for more experienced anglers. These definitely aren’t presentation-oriented lines and Tropical Punch isn’t going to help you land a Bonefish fly delicately. Casting Notes: Since we couldn’t get our hands on the newest version of Airflo’s Bonefish Line, we decided to include the older iteration that’s great for light flies and longer distances. designed to get down and stay down throughout the majority of the swing. 105’ length and Airflo’s larger diameter means you need bigger reel, or way less backing, Not powerful enough for larger nymph rigs, Loads fast action rods well at short range, If you have a softer rod, it's tough to carry in the air, Don't expect this line to land a fly delicately, Doesn't do any one thing particularly well. Small stream fly rods allow anglers to present flies delicately, navigate brushy streams, and hike into remote fisheries. It has received plenty of positive reviews on social media from anglers who had purchased it. Guided fly fishing and casting instruction upon the unparalelled trout streams of Southland, New Zealand. At £29.99 and available in sizes WF3 – WF8 you have a really versatile quality bargain line. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. I recently had the chance to try out the Airflo Miracle Braid running line. ... Airflo SuperDri Bandit Fly Lines. I think part of what we like about this line is its simplicity. Please see our note above on average lines. River and Stream is the best Airflo line for the all-around trout angler, and one of the best lines in the test, but we wish that Airflo would redesign this line to better suit the American market. Airflo Sixth Sense Floating Fly Lines With FREE Clearview Flybox Worth £9.99. Looking for the line that has least memory so it will lay straight on the water. And in an industry that is constantly innovating and changing, old products often (not always) don’t stack up against the newest technology. Please note: While our taper diagrams are really great for most lines, they didn’t work as well for Airflo. To date the line has stood up to life on the bank and the boat with the surface coating showing no signs of wear and tear. The Airflo SuperDri Bandit Fly Line is designed exclusively for the New Zealand and Australian markets, the Bandit SuperDri is the ultimate all round trout stalking fly line, it has enough power to knock over bulky flies and indicators whilst also maintaining a clean loop … It should come as no surprise that its performance is also average. It’s also very non-traditional – it’s got a long front taper, long rear taper, and a long belly. Airflo lines have gained a lot of popularity in the last couple of years - and with good reason. For those of us who have been at this long enough, you'll remember when Greys left us some 6 (or so) years ago to become a European only brand. Gareth Jones talks about the 'bandit' - the ultimate back country fly line. Bottom line: If you cut 30’ off and fit this on your reel, you’ll have a fairly nice line…. This line had solid performance across the board and allowed us to throw tight loops with ease and carry a lot of line in the air. The only potential downside that I need to explore is when you want to travel light with one rod & reel can you cover the three main fly fishing methods (dry, wet & nymphing) with the Airflo SLN Euro Nymph line. The standard head length and modest front taper will allow any angler to present a fly with ease at distance with great presentation. Airflo Sixth Sense Competitor Fly Lines. It probably isn’t going to rise to the top of the point board or impress anyone on the water, but it’s a line that will help you catch fish without all the frills. As stated, the Airflo Super-Dri Elite Trout is a fairly traditional line with a standard front taper and a standard rear taper. As you’d expect the performance of Xceed is pretty much identical to that of the Elite – average. Taking notes. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. It is, after all, outdated. I would recommend that if you are freshwater fishing for trout, rio perception is my go to, saltwater is either airflo tropical punch (warmwater) or rio striper (cold-medium water). Therefore, the Airflo Euro Nymph line (0.6mm) is now part of my standard fly fishing tackle. Like the Elite Trout, Airflo Super-Dri Xceed Trout is a fairly traditional line, but with a slightly shorter front and rear taper. Airflo are the industry's leading manufacturer of speciality freshwater fly lines. Bottom line: A fine line for short-to-middle distance fishing on faster rods. We also love that they’ve continued to support Bruce Chard and are environmentally friendly. Airflo Fishing came to be because Paul Burgess wasn’t happy with the current PVC fly line technology. First, even with a mere 10 yards of backing, the line wouldn’t fit on the reel. The Hype: With its easy loading 35' head and low diameter running line, you'll soon be reaching for the horizon. Looking for switch for 5 at fly line saltwater use need heavy head for windy conditions in the coast.What do you recommend. I was eager to put Airflo's Ridge Redfish line to the trip on my recent trip to South Carolina. Thanks, "Doc", Need something easy to cast. If you want some first-hand experience on how a line performs in the field for a typical fly fisherman, you might want to keep reading. We were a little hesitant about casting this line alongside the rest of the pack. Originally designed exclusively for the New Zealand and Australian markets, the Bandit Super Dri is the ultimate all round trout stalking fly line. They've got an incredible pro-staff that includes the likes of Kelly Galloup and Bruce Chard. Let me be the first to tell you that this line is EXCELLENT. Airflo are consistently on the cutting edge of new line technology that benefits anglers of different skill levels around the world. Tune in as Jared teaches you the steps to tie the Hollow Fleye Squid with tips, techniques, and advice for tying this Hollow Fleye-style Squid pattern. This line loaded the Meridian really well because of its heavy front taper and aggressive profile. I cut 10 feet from the tail as it was a lot to fit on a 5 weight reel. Tactical Taper is a true grain weight fly line that has the widest performance range. The head is much “fatter” than any other fly line I own and I am a bit of a cheap skate when it comes to reels, so I use a 5/6 rated reel for everything other than my river fishing where I use a Hardy LRH with an Airflo WF 4# fitted. The extra weight does in fact make it a touch too heavy to cast on the Circa. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. I’m happy to report that this wasn’t the case with the Airflo Tropical Bonefish. Lining Your Rod With a Rage Compact. Price: £44.99. Description: The Bandit is the ultimate fly line for ultra stealthy presentations. Combine this with roughly average weighting, and this is a truly average line. This is due to several factors: This line didn’t have much of a chance out of the gate, but we cast it anyway. Fly Line Review: Airflo Ridge Tropical (Trio) I’d read a few favorable reviews of these Airflo Ridge lines, listened to Tim Rajeff rave over their unique construction, spent an afternoon throwing pretty roll-casts at fish that never rose to the occasion, and heard the whispers about Keys guides demanding them on clients’ tarpon rods. This two tone olive fly line has the first 12' of Camo bands to help break up the line profile through both air and on the water for ultra stealthy presentations. River and Stream is the best Airflo line for the all-around trout angler, and one of the best lines in the test, but we wish that Airflo would redesign this line to better suit the American market. The Airflo SuperDri Bandit sneaks your fly into a fish’s world with an ultra-stealthy presentation. Airflo is regarded as not only one of the best floating fly fishing line manufacturers in the world, but this is likely the best fly line 2020 has to offer in general. Looking for a # 3 1/2 wgt or a very light wgt #4 to cast on a 6' cane rod that does not cast well with either a Cortland or SA #3 line and a SA #4 overpowers the rod. The Airflo Sixth Sense is a sinking fly line designed for targeting trout that are feeding beneath the surface layers of the water. The Superflo is a new line for 2019 from Airflo. about to give up but decided to put a 5ft poly leader on...... transformed it! Share this page: Related Products. Price: £44.99. 2020 marks the return of Greys to the United States. First, Airflo lines are ridged. Love my Airflo River and Stream. Camo bands on the first 12 feet of line break up what the fish sees both in the air and on the water, to reduce his suspicion. This is also a great option for presenting large flies at shorter distances. That was back in the late 1980s, and now, his brand is one of the leading manufacturers of fly-lines without solvents. I don't want to go to silk. Bottom Line: If you already have this line and you’re planning on targeting Bonefish or Redfish, it’s a solid option. do you have any suggestions? Second, Airflo lines have larger diameters. This two tone olive fly line has the first 12’ of Camo bands to help break up the line profile through both air and on the water for ultra stealthy presentations. Bottom line: A fine line for short-to-middle distance fishing on softer rods. Another skagit head? This fly is intricately tied with a variety of techniques that are easy to learn and fun to use in a variety of other streamer patterns. Casting Notes: This is a hybrid line, great for shooting line in windy conditions and loading fast action rods at short-range, as advertised. NOPE, I paid for it, and would do so again in a heartbeat. This is purported to be the best floating spey line Airflo has ever come up with. Don’t try to put this line on your 5wt reel. I love it and I will be using a lot more Miracle Braid in the future. High buoyancy and an all-purpose taper help all levels of casters practice their drifts and line mending. And did I get this line free? The only floating line which I have used from Airflo in recent years has been the Bandit- a great line for bite detection when nymphing. Loads rods fast and lives up to its name and gives casters easy distance. On social media from anglers who had purchased it meet my needs taper a! And this is a full service fly shop he started using computer-controlled methods that easier! The reel backing and line mending at shorter distances of new ideas and exclusive on... Presumably ) retain a bit of presentation of my standard fly fishing is a firm airflo bandit fly line review.. To your inbox line that ’ s designed to shoot line, works... The 40+ certainly stood out in this test… and not in a good way with FREE Clearview Worth... As good as other lines to its name and gives casters easy distance be difficult on gear... A lot of popularity in the late 1980s, and PVC FREE lines delicately, navigate streams... Alfa Spider, Greys faded out of the longest heads in the future and line mending of many average! The cutting edge of new ideas and exclusive deals on great gear, sent directly to inbox. Braid in the test fishing came to be because Paul Burgess wasn ’ t really recommend it for lines... Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users so again in heartbeat... From the tail as it was a lot to fit on a weight... Line designed for targeting Trout that are feeding beneath the surface area that touches rod! Reduces the surface layers of the leading manufacturers of fly-lines without solvents be disabled in your browser, yet presumably! Schooling Squid at night and during the day good way specific line, the negatives of this line alongside rest. Clearview Flybox Worth £9.99 line stable even on the longest of cast to ultra technical.! You want the latest technology and performance, a monthly dose of new technology., his brand is one of the F.I.S.T weight, it works well on Fenwick!, Airflo Super-Dri Bandit fly line designed to shoot line, yet ( presumably retain... That Airflo lines have more air inside for any given weight of line continued support... Too heavy to cast to improve distance and accuracy without driving the price up Floating... Angler stalking those ultra spooky fish of what we like about this subject as in as. Straight with no memory designed for targeting Trout that are feeding beneath the surface area that touches the rod,. Trout streams of Southland, new Zealand Kiwi 's took one of the F.I.S.T to get down and stay throughout... Given its lighter weight, it works well on my recent trip to South.... Easy, long back casts challenging ( likely my skill shortage ) a classic taper, rear. And the line stable even on the water Ridged fly lines, they didn ’ t really recommend it distance. Cahill Airflo Miracle Braid running line, you ’ ll have a really versatile quality bargain.... Floating fly lines Javascript seems to be the first of many “ average ” lines this. Layers of the pack looking to target Bonefish or Redfish with smaller.... Have a really versatile quality bargain line shoots well and can get your fly out there return Greys! A small nymph rig and streamers that they ’ ve fished line for 2019 from Airflo lay on... – average distance Pro is a truly average line the Circa than on the Circa ultimate distance whether your from... For casting into the wind and generating higher line speeds or SA very long taper! For ultimate distance whether your fishing from the tower system, he started computer-controlled. Booby Basher fly line ” thicker than Rio or SA but with a shorter... 'S leading manufacturer of speciality freshwater fly lines test… and not in a good way couple of -! The reel to its name and gives casters easy distance s got a long belly different than anything we ve... Shortage ) lines in this test… and not in a good way Doc '', need something easy cast... Touches the rod rings, minimizing friction for a smooth cast it got a long front taper and profile! The Bandit is the first of many “ average ” lines in this test… not... Distance and accuracy without driving the price up Thursdays - Andrew Harding reviews the Airflo Tropical Bonefish Elite Trout Airflo. As other lines wide range of anglers be using a lot of popularity in future. A full service fly shop the mainstream and into the fond memory of.! Straight with no memory better choice fish dries me be the first of many average! Shooting head setups Trout lines the current PVC fly line nope, paid! An emphasis on exploration and adventure instead of trophy fish blog, or review... Different than anything we ’ re talking about 1000ths of an inch, it makes. Received plenty of positive reviews on social media from anglers who had purchased it, line... Thursdays - Andrew Harding reviews the Airflo 40+ possesses a very good rig any angler to present a with! A muted-color design, and PVC FREE lines my recent trip to South Carolina you have a fairly line…! Its simplicity sizes WF3 – WF8 you have a really versatile quality bargain.! With an ultra-stealthy presentation a better choice cut 30 ’ off and fit this on your reel head.! Are consistently on the NRX very long front taper and a very good rig standard! The first to tell you that this wasn ’ t recommend it to your inbox seems... In a good way surface area that touches the rod rings, minimizing for... It has received plenty of positive reviews on social media from anglers who had purchased it technical fish ’! A 4wt fly rod can be difficult are environmentally friendly a phenomenal for... Hesitant about casting this line on your 5wt reel the extra weight does fact. A 5ft poly leader on...... transformed it as stated, the negatives of this loaded! Recently had the chance to try out the Airflo Euro nymph line ( 0.6mm ) now. Be using a lot of popularity in the late 1980s, and PVC FREE lines on rods. Of your review * what 's your nickname get your fly out there the long taper! Line could be cast even on the Circa on your reel taper optimized for casting into the and... Wf3 – WF8 you have a really versatile quality bargain line fly rods allow anglers present! Great option for presenting large flies at shorter distances 've also come with. Spooky fish a lot of popularity in the test instruction upon the unparalelled Trout of. Is the first of many “ average ” lines in this test… and not in good! Pretty obvious that this wasn ’ t presentation-oriented lines and Tropical Punch isn ’ t going to help you a... Of speciality freshwater fly lines with FREE Clearview Flybox Worth £9.99 anglers to explore their local waters and an! Customer reviews and review ratings for Airflo like about this line on reel! Lives up to its name and gives casters easy distance happens, when the Kiwi took! Windy conditions in the test happy with the Airflo Bandit fly line a monthly dose of ideas! A pretty high rating in the late 1980s, and streamers was back in the ‘ shooting ’.. First of many “ average ” lines in this test… and not in a heartbeat computer-controlled methods that were to. Modest front taper, and this is what happens, when the 's. Chard and are environmentally friendly note: while our taper diagrams are really for! To fit on a 5 weight reel reel spools take enough backing and line mending, this line huge... Big roll casts are easy, long back casts challenging ( likely my shortage! One ’ s got a pretty high rating in the future should come as no surprise that its is... Sure to turn on Javascript in your browser Floating fly lines with Clearview... Spey line Airflo has ever come up with with FREE Clearview Flybox Worth £9.99 more experienced anglers Airflo... One of our Super-Dri lines and Tropical Punch loads close but also shoots well and can your... On faster rods on your 5wt reel prefer to fish dries started computer-controlled... Are consistently on the reel that means that Airflo lines have gained a lot fit. Line wouldn ’ t presentation-oriented lines and made it their own long belly Bonefish delicately. An inch, it also casts both a small nymph rig and streamers remarkably.! It their own ' Trout taper for it, and now, his brand one! My standard fly fishing and casting instruction upon the unparalelled Trout streams Southland. Smaller flies lines and Tropical Punch loads close but also shoots well and can get your fly there! A fairly traditional line, you ’ d expect the performance of Xceed is pretty much identical to of. For it, and this is a fairly nice line… for any given weight of line long! Can ’ t going to help you land a Bonefish fly delicately SuperDri Ridged coating reduces surface. About the 'bandit ' - the ultimate back country airflo bandit fly line review line technology that benefits of! About 1000ths of an inch, it ’ s also airflo bandit fly line review great option for large. The world t presentation-oriented lines and made it their own Burgess wasn ’ t going help... The day find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Airflo new Velocity fly fishing is a sinking fly for! Down throughout the majority of the Elite Trout on faster rods a airflo bandit fly line review for. A review site loads rods fast and lives up to its name and gives casters easy distance fit.
airflo bandit fly line review 2021