People have a truck gun. I have a truck fly rod and it’s my 5-weight. The 5-weight fly line is a middle-of-the-road fly line, not just because it’s the middle between 1 and 10.
The 5-weight line is enough to lob large flies out into the water and fight strong fish. You can then turn around and cast a size 22 midge to a rising trout delicate enough to incite the bite.
This is why it’s my truck fly rod. Let’s dig into the best 5-weight fly line on the market.
When to Use a 5-weight Fly Line (or 5 wt)
The 5-weight is the middle of the road fly line. Small flies can be presented delicately. And small streamers can be chucked. The fly line is too small to carry large 1/0’s safely (you might hook yourself).
I find myself turning to my 5-weight when there’s no hatch on the river and I might need to prospect with a wooly bugger. Or when I’m visiting a farm pond or warm water creek in search of bluegill and bass.
The fly line is strong enough to fight a large fish but not too big to make the little guys feel like you’ve hooked a stick.
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Understanding fly line tapers
Weight Forward Taper (WF)
Weight Forward Tapers are when the front or head section (approximately 35-40 feet) is much thicker than the running section. This additional line weight and diameter makes it easier to load the rod and cast your flies further.
The Weight Forward Taper helps generate energy on the forward and back casts to help you shoot line out especially during a double haul.
Double Taper (DT)
The Double Taper is when there is a taper similar to the Weight Forward at the front and end of the line. The purpose of this is to create open loops useful when performing roll casts (and especially long ones with spey hybrid rods).
How are Weight Forward and Double Tapers different
Weight Forward and Double Tapers are similar – they help you generate more energy for longer and effortless casts. Try both of them on the water. It’s up to personal opinion. The Fishing with a Fly office is team Weight Forward but a couple of our fishing buddies are on the Double Taper team.
Level Taper (LT)
A Level Taper fly line is the same diameter through the entire fly line. The taper makes long casts harder as it’s more difficult to load the rod. However, the line has a small profile on the water and displaces less when the line is laid down or taken up. If you’re fishing shallow, clear water it may be a good choice. But in our experience, a weight forward or double taper with a longer than normal leader (say 15 feet or more) does just as good and you can cast it further easily.
Shooting Taper (ST)
A Shooting Taper is a length of approximately 30 feet on the front end of the fly line that is heavier than the rest of the fly line. The Shooting Taper helps load the road to make double hauls and shooting line much easier.
Features of the best 5-weight fly fishing lines
Floating, sinking, or sink tip
While this seems straight forward, we’ll briefly explain what each are before sharing what to look for:
- Floating: the line floats on or at the surface of the water
- Sinking: the line sinks below the water
- Sink tip: the first several feet are a heavy line or cord that sinks. Often it attaches to a floating line to make the line more adaptable to fishing situations.
A 5-weight fly line will almost always be a floating line. Most of your fishing will be shallow or at the water’s surface with a dry fly or emerger. Sometimes you can get away with fishing a small streamer such as a wooly bugger with a 5-weight fly line and rod.
If streamer fishing is your strategy, you’d be better served with a heavier rod and line.
Fly line color
Fly line color is highly debated. There are two things to keep in mind: your ability to see the line in the water and the fish being above to see your line.
Most of your fishing with a 5-weight line will be in clear water conditions and shallow. While a bright colored line will be easy for you to see, so will it be for fish.
We recommend a bland color like white, brown, blue, or dark green.
Mendability
Mendability is measured by the line’s flexibility and memory. The more mendable the more flexible and less memory it has. There are pros for both. Heavier line weights often are less mendable because they are thicker lines made for longer casts and casting heavier flies.
Most 5-weight fly lines are mendable as the line is thin and highly flexible. Mendable line makes fishing in streams easier as your line falls where it is instead of remaining looped up.
The best fly line brands
Rio
RIO is a premium fly fishing gear manufacturer with a reputation for innovation and reliability. For almost 35 years, they have been producing top-of-the-line fly lines, spey lines, leaders, tippet, and accessories, designed to enhance the fly fishing experience. With their special DualTone technology, WarmCore coating, and extended head designs, RIO’s lines are designed for maximum performance and comfort in all types of fly fishing conditions. Their commitment to quality and performance is what sets them apart from other manufacturers, and is why they are trusted by anglers all around the world.
Orvis
Orvis is a world-renowned outdoor lifestyle company, located in rural Vermont, devoted to helping people connect with nature. They offer an extensive selection of fly fishing gear, clothing, and accessories to help anglers of all skill levels reel in their catch. Founded in 1856, they are a legacy brand and have been helping outdoor enthusiasts pursue their passions for over 150 years. From their pioneered fly-fishing tackle to their innovative outdoor clothing, Orvis is a trusted authority in outdoor exploration and education. With their commitment to conservation, they have dedicated themselves to helping people explore and discover the outdoors, from the banks of a river to the top of a mountain peak.
Scientific Anglers
Scientific Anglers is a leading manufacturer of premium fly fishing gear and accessories. Their products are designed to provide anglers with the highest quality fly fishing experience by utilizing cutting-edge materials and technologies to ensure long-lasting performance. They have a wide range of products including lines, reels, clothing, and more. Their fly lines feature DualTone technology, Warm Core coating, and more, while their reels offer a smooth drag system and other features to enhance your fishing experience. Whether you are an experienced fly fisher or just starting out, Scientific Anglers has the products to help you enjoy your time on the water.
PISCIFUN
Piscifun is a leading outdoor sporting goods brand specializing in premium fishing gear. Established in 2015, Piscifun is dedicated to bringing anglers the highest quality fishing equipment at an affordable price. They focus on innovation and strive to provide anglers with products that help enhance their fishing experience. Their product range includes rods, reels, lines, tackle, clothing, and more. Piscifun prides itself in offering quality products that are built to last, backed by their customer satisfaction guarantee, so anglers can fish without worry.
The Best # weight Fly Lines on the Market
Rio Gold
Rio Elite Rio Gold is a line of fly fishing lines produced by RIO, an industry-leading manufacturer of fly fishing gear. This line is a weight-forward, floating fly line made with innovative DualTone technology which combines two distinct colors (golden olive and taper olive). This technology gives the line a two-tone look, with the color transitions (from taper to head) creating a visually appealing presentation. These lines also feature a unique frontal core construction and body material that offers enhanced buoyancy and smooth casting performance front taper is designed to turn over large flies and help you make delicate presentations, while the rear core offers excellent stability and accuracy. This line is perfect for anglers who demand the highest level of performance in their fly fishing gear.
Features:
- Length: 90 feet
- Material: Nylon
- Color: Moss/Gold/Gray
Specs:
- Tip: 47 feet
- Total length: 90 feet
Rio Perception
Rio Elite Rio Perception is a premium fly fishing line produced by RIO, an industry-leading manufacturer of fly fishing gear. This line is a weight-forward, floating fly line made with a unique “Warm Core” coating that helps to reduce line tangles and thinning, as well as improve casting performance at distant ranges. Its front taper is designed to turn over large flies and help you make delicate presentations, while the rear core offers excellent stability and accuracy. The line is cold-weather treated so that it remains flexible even in low temperatures. This line is perfect for anglers who are looking for maximum performance in every situation.
Features:
- Length: 80 feet
- Material: Nylon
- Color: Blue
Specs:
- Tip: 35 feet
- Total length: 80 feet
Orvis Clearwater
Orvis’ Clearwater fly line is designed to be a weight-forward taper that provides long casts and short presentations. Orvis makes their line with a low-stretch core that makes the line sensitive which comes in handy when fishing small flies for large trout.
The line includes a matte finish that is abrasion resistant to protect it from snapping when a fish has you tangled in a submerged tree or from normal wear and tear.
The line is a breeze to cast long distances with little effort.
Features:
- Length: 80 feet
- Material: Nylon
- Color: Moss
Specs:
- Tip: 40 feet
- Total length: 80 feet
Scientific Angler
Scientific Anglers AirCel line is a weight-forward floating fly line for warm and cold water fishing. Scientific Anglers created a durable line that is also slick to make casting long distances effortless. The line rides high in the water making it easy for you to see it and know when you have a fish in the currents. The hard coating exterior protects the line from everyday wear and tear. And it will stay strong during a grueling fight with a trophy fish.
Features:
- Length: 80 feet
- Material: Synthetic
- Color: Yellow
Specs:
- Tip: 35 feet
- Total length: 80 feet
PISCIFUN Sword
This line offers the perfect combination of casting precision, knot strength and shock absorbance for all trout fishing applications. Built with a longer head and bigger diameter, it has the ability to endure tough weather conditions with low memory and a slickness additive for maximum distance and performance. The integrated loop makes leader attachment quick and easy and comes with heated wood flavor on the spool.
Features:
- Length: 100 feet
- Material: Nylon
- Color: Orange, Blue
Specs:
- Tip: 47.5 feet
- Total length: 100 feet
Sunshine Fishing
The Sunshine Fishing 5-weight fly line includes a welded loop at the front that simplifies the connection to the leader. The line is black and yellow and has a braided core that helps with memory retention and consistent line tension. It also has a smooth finish and taper that helps in accuracy, distance, and loop control. Finally, the line is made with a high-quality material that ensures long life and reliable performance.
Features:
- Length: 90 feet
- Material: Nylon
- Color: Moss green, Grass green, Orange
Specs:
- Tip: 35 feet
- Total length: 90 feet
Wrapping up: best 5-weight fly line
These are our favorite 5-weight fly fishing lines. Each line has it’s pros and cons but none will disappoint you on the water.
You want to trust a quality line so you never lose a fish of a lifetime.
And the quality fly line does not mean expensive.
Tight lines!
