My first fly rod was a 4-weight. A 7 ½ foot 4 weight to be exact.
I love that rod. And still, fish it.
The 4-weight fly line is on the lighter side
We’ll cover what a 4-weight fly line is suitable for and how to select the best 4-weight fly line to suit your needs.
Let’s go!
When to Use a 4-weight Fly Line (or 4 wt)
My favorite use case of the 4 weight fly line is nymph fishing for cold and warm water fish.
The line is light enough to feel the current and make mends. And big enough to cast small streamers so you match the “hatch.”
A 4-weight fly line gives you more flexibility than a 1-weight, 2-weight, or 3-weight fly line. And if you need a little more power, check out a 5-weight fly line or 6-weight fly line.
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Why would a fly fisherman use a 4-weight fly line when fly fishing
A 4-weight fly line is ideal for fly fishing in small streams, where the line needs to make delicate presentations to selective trout. The lighter line also allows for more accurate casting, which is important in small streams, where overhanging branches and other obstacles can make conventional cast difficult.
What fish species are good to catch on a 4-weight fly line
Four-weight fly lines are great for catching trout, panfish, and even bass. Some anglers also use 4-weight lines for larger saltwater species, like bonefish, permit, and redfish.
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 throughout 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 in 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 well 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 lines much easier. Shooting a line with a 4-weight fly line is not common. It’s doable with a weight-forward fly line. Shooting tapers are more common and useful in heavier fly line weights like an 8-weight fly line and higher.
Features of the best 8-weight fly fishing lines
Floating, sinking, or sink tip
While this seems straightforward, 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 4-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 4-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 remember: your ability to see the line in the water and the fish being above to see your line.
Most of your fishing with a 4-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 to both. Heavier line weights often are less mendable because they are thicker lines made for longer casts and casting heavier flies.
Most 4-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
Piscifun
Founded in 2013 by two close friends have always had a passion for fishing and family. This passion lead to the company slogan: “Fish with Family”. As a fishing brand dedicated to offering high-quality, affordable fishing gear, Piscifun strives to cut down circulation costs.
Scientific Anglers
Founded in 1945, Scientific Anglers is a leader in fly fishing innovation and has since revolutionized the sport. The company was the first to introduce a sinking fly line, the first to introduce modern-day floating lines and the first to introduce a tapered leader system. The company prides itself on creating high-quality products designed to help anglers find success, like the Mastery Series of fly lines and the Frequency Magnum fly line. Scientific Anglers is based in Midland, Michigan, and offers a wide selection of tackle, apparel, and accessories to fit any angler’s needs.
RIO
RIO fly fishing company is a manufacturer of premium fly lines, leaders, tippets, and accessories for fly fishing. Founded in 1990, RIO has become a major powerhouse in the industry, credited for innovations such as their patented InTouch and Grand lines. RIO continues to push innovation by continuously developing and introducing new products, materials, and designs that improve performance and line control. Their products are designed and tested by a staff of professional anglers, who use the products themselves in their own fishing expeditions worldwide. Aside from the many products, RIO also provides educational seminars and tutorials to share the knowledge and love of fly fishing.
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The Best 4-weight Fly Lines on the Market
Rio Elite
The Rio Elite Rio Gold Slick Cast Fly Line is a popular fly line designed for anglers who prefer a smoother cast and more consistent performance. This line is manufactured with premium quality components and offers anglers a flotation and a slick-casting finish that is unparalleled in the fly fishing industry. This line has low memory and is incredibly distance-friendly. It is also specifically designed to be durable, making it well-suited for intensive use. The Slick Cast technology this line uses makes it incredibly responsive, and stable, and casts with less drag and friction.
Features:
- Length: 90 feet
- Color: Moss, Gold, Gray
Specs:
- Tip: 47 feet
- Total length: 90 feet
Scientific Anglers Buckskin Frequency
Scientific Anglers Buckskin Frequency fly line is a high-performance line designed for anglers who prefer a delicate, stealthy presentation. It is a versatile, all-around line suitable for dry fly, nymph, and streamer fishing. Its low stretch core makes it a great line for delicate presentations, while its unique frequency saltwater taper offers a smooth, accurate casting experience. The line also features Welded Loop technology for easy rigging and a slick, durable coating for enhanced casting and shooting.
RIO Avid
The RIO Avid fly line is an all-purpose weight-forward fly line designed for maximum versatility. It has a long head and an extended rear taper to allow for increased line control and accuracy, while still providing plenty of power to cast far distances. The Avid features a low friction coating, allowing it to float high and slide through the guides effortlessly. The Amped welded loop makes it easy to attach your leader, and the slick durable surface ensures that the line won’t start to accumulate dirt and grime. Bright color helps the caster to track the line easier when in the air, and the versatile design makes this line suitable for most freshwater and saltwater fly fishing applications.
Features:
- Length: 90 feet
- Color: Yellow
Specs:
- Tip: 38 feet
- Total length: 90 feet
RIO Mainstream Trout
RIO Mainstream Trout Tippet is a copolymer nylon monofilament fishing line specifically designed for the demands of trout fishing. The tippet is extremely strong for its diameter and is available in sizes ranging from 0X to 6X. It is highly abrasion and knot-resistant, making it ideal for high-stress scenarios. The material also features low-stretch, which helps to increase sensitivity and accuracy when casting. The tippet also features a high-visibility green color to help anglers identify the line in all light conditions. This tippet is perfect for anglers who need a reliable, tangle-free, and low-stretch line to target trout in freshwater and stillwater settings.
Features:
- Length: 80 feet
- Color: Green
Scientific Anglers Air Cel
Scientific Anglers Air Cel is a type of fly line designed for anglers who want maximum accuracy and presentation for their flies when casting. It is constructed with a textured surface and a low diameter profile which provides greater floatation and less drag in the water. The Air Cel also has a slickness agent that improves the casting distance and accuracy. The line is incredibly lightweight, allowing it to load quickly and allowing the angler to make more accurate casts. The line is also very durable and maintains its shape after long casts. Additionally, the Air Cel has a coating that helps it float on the water. Overall, the Scientific Anglers Air Cel fly line is a great option for anglers who want maximum accuracy and presentation during their casts.
Features:
- Length: 80 feet
- Color: Yellow
Specs:
- Tip: 40 feet
- Total length: 80 feet
Piscifun Sword
The Piscifun Sword fly line is a great choice for the experienced fly fisherman. This fly line is constructed with a unique X-Flex core and outer coating, making it extremely durable and able to withstand the toughest conditions. The X-Flex core is designed to hold on to the line and fight against tangles, as well as provide superior strength and power for casting. In addition, the Sword fly line also features a double welded loop connection and a specialized heat-welded slickness additive to enable smoother casts and improved line performance. All in all, the Piscifun Sword fly line is an excellent choice for the fly fisherman looking for a dependable and high-performing line.
Features:
- Length: 90 feet
- Color: Organe, Blue
Specs:
- Tip: 47 feet
- Total length: 90 feet
Wrapping up: Best 4 weight fly line
In conclusion, the best 4-weight fly lines include Rio Elite, Scientific Anglers Buckskin Frequency, RIO Avid, RIO Mainstream Trout, Scientific Anglers Air Cel, and Piscifun Sword.
Each line provides great performance and features a high-quality design for superior casting and durability. Different anglers have different preferences when it comes to fly lines, so make sure to select the line that best suits your individual needs and preferences.
Tight lines!
