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2. Fly Fishing Gear
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3. Fly line recommendation for bamboo rod

I fish a wonderful 8' 5wt. made from a Leonard blank and it's time to replace my line (it's ten years old at this point.) Wondering if anyone has any thoughts about which modern lines might work best with the slow and soft action of a bamboo rod. It's not a period piece- I use modern equipment in every other respect. Almost all catskill dry fly fishing.

Try an Airflo tactical trout line if you're able to locate one. I use that on my Orvis Battenkill 8ft 5wt and it's a dream. A Wulff TT5 might do the trick too.

I've never fished the airflo tactical trout on bamboo. I had issues with that line not floating well (read sinking) so I never went back. Smuggler's advice on the Wulff TT is solid, many people like them a lot for their bamboo rods. Many people also fish the Cortland peach on their catskill tapers. I do not have any Leonard rods but I can say that I really like the Rio LTWF lines on all of the Payne tapers that I have as well as my Dickerson 8013. I have a Rio LTDT5 line as well and it performs well at distances of greater than 30' for me but I like the WF lines better. Sometimes even the Rio Gold WF 5 if I know most of my fishing will be less than 40'. But if I had to pick an all around line for the rods that I own it would be the Rio LT WF. I'd like to throw the Wulff Bamboo special but have not had a chance to do so yet. There are several choices out there so I hope my experiences help. Really I suppose a good direction to go would be to look for a line that has a long belly. And I think you will find something that works for you.

Eric

The cortland mentioned above. I've been testing a couple of my own rods with Orvis floating WF5, not too supple but it's ok. Fish on.

When I owned two Leonard Baby Catskill rods (7' #4) I always used the Cortland 444 in peach and it performed well.

I agree with WBranch; the cortland 444 dt Peach is the bamboo standard. Ask John Gierach and AK Best. It's super supple, durable, casts wonderfully.

Check out 406 flylines, made for fiberglass and grass rods.