Monday, May 14, 2012

Fly Line Marketing

I constantly look at fly fishing related topics and gear.  A trend that I have found becoming more common is species specific fly lines.  Rio seems to be at the head of the pack with this.  The manufacturer has 9 different trout lines alone.  To me it seems like a smart marketing ploy but what I don't like is some of the descriptions.  I recently looked at the carp line.
Here is the description from Rio's website.

"Combines a medium length head with a smooth front taper for a subtle presentation. Wary carp will not be spooked by either the presentation, or the camo olive color."

Talk about bold advertising claims.  I really doubt Rio would take your line back and refund your money after you claim every carp you cast at still spooked.  Even with my skepticism I still wonder if these fly lines give you an advantage fishing for certain species.  The bass, pike & panfish line description offers a little more realistic description.
Short front taper to easily load the rod and turn over big flies
Warm water coating holds up in high heat conditions
Slightly heavier belly for easy casting

This is definitely a more practical and realistic description.  Although is this just a selling tactic?  Of course "Bass Line" sounds more attractive than 8wt floating line.  Is there really a difference?  Rio isn't the only one to put fancy names on their lines.  Other manufacturers are doing it as well.   Usually when fishing for stripers you use sinking line.  Line manufactures know this.  What would catch your eye more a generic sinking line logo or this?

 Again I have no problem with this.  I just wonder if there really is a difference between one line over another.  I personally have never bought a fly line to target a specific species.  I use floating line 90% of the time.  Exploring some more I also found that line manufacturers not only sell species specific lines but also fly specific lines.

It's really amazing how much marketing there is out there for fly fisherman.  The selling tactic is have the right gear for the right situation.  I even fall for it myself from time to time.  If you get too carried away you can have a rod and line for any situation.  Which is great but how many rods can you carry with you at one time on a stream?  I would hate to get to a point where I start saying dumb things like "Sorry, I can't go fishing with you tomorrow I don't have any trout line."

12 comments:

  1. Kevin
    I knew there were fly lines out there for different species, but I had no idea there were that many. I use the Bass Bug line because I am casting large poppers and I can't get the distance without it. It is much harder to cast a larger popper with the traditonal 5/6 wt. line. Thanks for sharing

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  2. I'm OK with all of that. I'm also a RIO fan and find that their lines preform as they say and if you have a problem they address it pronto. The new technologies of slickness, floatability, etc., also add to a warm water fishermans advantage, picking uo less algae, pollen, dust and debris and cleaning easier than years past. Experience with lines of all types and time using many of course helps.

    Gregg

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  3. Bill, Does the bass line really feel different than your other fly lines?

    Gregg, I'm happy to hear from someone that actually has experience with the different lines. Thanks for the info. I might have to try the carp or bass line.

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  4. Kevin
    The Bass Bug line does make a big difference in casting the bigger poppers. I just don't have to work as hard to cast the bigger poppers with the Bass Bug line.

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  5. Pretty sure last I knew they had canceled the Carp line last year. Would be interested to know if that got reversed. Not sure I remember the details but I think they said it was a concession to the fact that it was pretty much an exact duplicate of one of their "trout" tapers coming out that year - which pretty much answers your questions on the carp line at least :)

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  6. We are our own worst enemy - because we buy this crap. Some marketing guy is sitting back laughing his balls off, because he knows that someone actually bought a "Carp" line to fish for carp.

    And it probably WAS just a trout line stuck in a different box. And bass bug lines, streamer lines, etc are nothing terribly new or different. They're just short, fat shooting heads when it comes down to it. But if you package something as "different" - you'll sell more of them, probably to the same people. It's quite possible that there's guys out there with exactly the same lines on more than one rod, but each line came in a box with a different fish on the front. It might be a different color - but the coating, taper, and manufacturing process are the same. And that's if the color really is different...

    Rod makers have already started down that route of hawking fish-specific rods. Sage even made a high dollar panfish rod. Because someone out there had waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much money and wanted a pimped out 6 weight to catch 4 inch bluegill with ;)

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  7. Trevor, I kind of figured the lines were something like that.

    Mark, Thank you for the comment. I guess if you have the money and want to spend it there's nothing wrong with having a bunch of different lines and rods. Unfortunately I don't so I have to fish for carp, bass, and other species with the same fly line. I do have different rods for what I call different classes of fish. I can only relate all the fly fishing marketing ploys to golf clubs. I don't play golf much but there was a time I got into it. It's amazing how many clubs are made for specific shots. There's clubs made for shots you might do once every 5 rounds of playing. Same thing with fly rods. You can get a 1-2wt rod but how often is the average fisherman really going to use that?

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  8. I actually do like all the different lines. I would much rather buy a new line than a new rod. I believe that having a better line is much more important than having a better rod or reel (all the reel does most of the time is just hold line). I love the bass bug line for warmwater. It has a taper that makes it easy to cast bigger flies. I also like the SA GPX textured lines. They are a half weight heavy which is great for my 5 weight because it allows me to cast #2 poppers and big rabbit fur flies. I haven't tried the carp line, but I think I am going to get one soon.

    Trevor, they are still producing the carp line and are going to keep doing so because it is quite popular.

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  9. Kev...I love this post. Fly fishing gear is marketed to catch fly fishers not fish, but listen to me. I have more gear than a fly fisher probably needs. I'm really jonesing for that Carp fly line. Now I wonder when Rio will have one specific to Roanoke Bass?

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  10. Kev...great post. It's often said that fly fishing gear is marketed to catch fly fishers not fish, but listen to me. I have more gear than a fly fisher should. I mean to have a rod for fly fishing local ponds on Tuesdays with months that only have 31 days is a bit much, but what can I say. I'm really jonesing for that carp line. I just wonder when Rio will add a specific Roanoke Bass taper?

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  11. There IS a difference in how lines perform, casting, floating (if they are floating types,) and durability. Some of the water I fish is of the supreme crud on the surface type. I clean all my gear after every trip. Even though I wipe my lines several times during a trip with a rag I carry for that, when I come home and clean them for real I find out quickly what is hype and what is not. The newer coatings and proprietary construction of the ones I own and like best have FAR less dust, pollen, algae, debris of a wide assortment, etc., on them. The inexpensive lines can be fine casting lines but pick up a lot of cud and sink far sooner than a better line. It's up to each fly fisher to decide what he or she wants in a line and develope the experience to choose one and use it well. And, fly line makers will take unsatisfactory lines back, too gummy, casts poorly, etc. An anecdote: I seriously overshot a snag casting to carp under it with a new RIO Clouser several years ago. To my horror it wrapped around the butt section of the leader. To this day I am flabergasted that the welded loop held, I REALLY reefed on that thing, stretching the line a distance I thought not possible. Finally a guy cut it out for me. RIO said they test for that and it should be fine, and was. One can joke all you desire about a line for this and that, but if you are somehat experienced, know enough, read enough, to make good choices, the line will perform. If it does not the maker will help you in my experience. We could be still casting silk and old nylon that tested 2lb. at OX. If that is your desire so be it, but in the warm water environs a good line helps.

    Gregg

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  12. Thank you for the input Gregg. It seems the people who have bought the specialty lines are happy with them.

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