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Scientific Anglers
Mastery Series Fly Lines


Name: Charles Pollard
E-mail: copollard@tds.net
Experience:
Fly fishing for almost 45 years, mostly trout fishing. Graduated to nearshore saltwater fly fishing about 20 years ago (mostly in Florida and the Louisiana delta, but also Belize and the Bahamas).
Product Being Tested:
Scientific Anglers Mastery Series AST Saltwater WF-8-F fly line. Represented as experimental version, but the packaging indicated it was off the shelf. The color is given as 'Horizon,' which looks like light gray in the air.
Snapshot of your experience with products of this sort:
I have bought and used earlier versions of the SA Mastery lines in WF8F and WF10F and WF12F weights, as well as Cortland's competing lines in the same weights. The Mastery lines are presently my top choices. I have also bought and decided against other lines by Orvis, Fenwick, Airflo, and others, not necessarily in those same weights.
Date of Test:
28 and 29 October 2005
Place of Test:
Freshwater lake inside Big Canoe, a gated community in North Georgia. The lake is stocked during Fall and Winter and early Spring with medium- to large-sized rainbow trout. Every once in a while, a medium-sized largemouth bass bites the same lures. The largest trout so far from my canoe is a five-pound trout.
Test Condition:
Moderate wind, cool, clear
Relevant related equipment or products:
Loomis 8'9" blank for 7 & 8 weight lines, from Cabelas.
Your experience with the product:
While casting a heavy cone-head wooly bugger (the required lure), the fly line performed well. It transmitted the effort of casting all the way to the heavy lure, without the leader collapsing onto itself. The lake water was already cool enough to bring the trout to the surface, but the line did not stiffen up and retain coils like so many competitors. The finish on the line is slick enough to reduce friction in the guides. I prefer a darker finish on fly lines, but this one is no worse than competitors.
Qualities you liked about the product:
Finish, the way it 'turns over' during the cast, lack of coiling when it is cool or cold.
Qualities you didn't liked about the product:
The color needs to be darker.
Summary Comments
I would have prefered to test this line in salt water, for which it was designed. Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma (as well as some family demands) conspired to make that impossible. The only way I can see that the line might have been affected differently than during my actual test is that it would have been subjected to higher temperatures (when some lines collapse like a noodle). I can not comment about that tendency here because I could not test for it. If my limited testing is any indication, I give this line a 'thumbs up.'


Name: Cary Asper
E-mail: Flytime801@comcast.net
Experience:
Fly fishing for 20 yrs. Extensive flats, offshore, Stillwater and rocky mountain streams and rivers.
Product Being Tested:
Scientific Anglers new Trout specialty taper fly line with their new "versatile taper" in a WF-6-F.
Snapshot of your experience with products of this sort:
Fished similar lines, typically prefer Scientific anglers lines. Pet peeve on most lines is the coating doesn’t seem to last for more that a few days on the water.
Date of Test:
August & September, 2005
Place of Test:
Provo River, Green river, various Stillwaters
Test Condition:
Typical summer conditions, some windy days.
Relevant related equipment or products:
Sage 690-4 XP
Your experience with the product:
Overall, the line performed well in all conditions. I typically fish a 7 wt line with the rod I used, however, this line performed well, in the close-in fishing done on the Provo, as well as tossing streamers from a drift boat on the Green. Long casts were easily executed when fishing adult damsels on some private still waters. When fishing large dries on the Green, the line mended well, and pick-up with a lot of line on the water was not a problem. The coating on the line seems to last longer than similar lines, its still pretty slick with minimal cleaning effort. I would rather fish a line that is more neutral in color, but I cannot say that the color hindered catching fish.
Qualities you liked about the product:
long lasting slickness, still going strong
Qualities you didn't liked about the product:
bright color. If available in neutral colors, I’d be all over it.
Summary Comments
It’s a good line, and performed well under a variety of conditions. Mends well, retains coating, and shoots nicely


Name: Michael Delaney
E-mail: michael.delaney@colorado.edu
Experience:
Flyfishing the West, most often in my home state of Colorado, for nearly 50 years. I remember when flylines came designated HCH, took weeks to straighten, and by then were cracked and didn’t float. The advances in the technology for products in our sport, if one thinks about them, are genuinely astounding.
Product Being Tested:
Scientific Anglers Mastery Series Trout Taper floating fly line, weight forward, four weight.
Snapshot of your experience with products of this sort:
I have fished with this line for 18 days on nine different waters. The line is supple, has no memory, and is easy to cast, to shoot, and to mend; it has excellent flotation, and it is tough.
Date of Test:
18 days, mid-July to end of September
Place of Test:
Various, both stillwater from a belly boat, and moving water of various sizes, from the Yellowstone River to my home water of a small (45 cfs) spring creek.
Test Condition:
Relevant related equipment or products:
I fished this SA Mastery Series Trout WF-4-F with a properly matched Loomis Trilogy nine foot rod and an Abel large-arbor Creek AC-2 reel. I used a variety of leader lengths, and tippet from 3X to 7X, and flies as large as a 3 layered foam hopper tied on a 3x long shank hook to a size 22 midge larva.
Your experience with the product:
On one of my days, floating the Yellowstone, my guide had me fishing an ugly combination of two big dry flies separated by 30 inches of 3X tippet. I discover that the line has enough backbone to cast this ungainly set-up without tangling, despite the ever-present breezes in Paradise Valley. I just have to keep my loops wide. The other thing I learn is that the covering on the line is tough!— I’m in the back of the drift-boat, and there isn’t a casting basket. So the line is often under my feet, being ground into the dirt that inevitably enters the boat from getting in and out. At the end of the day, I can’t find any cracks or wear despite this abuse. On another day, fishing the Conejos River, there is lots of structure in the river — rocks, fallen timber, tricky current requiring medium casts but long mends. Because of the excellent bouyancy and the slickness of the coating, I find that the line is very easy to mend accurately and at long distance. Finally, a day of belly-boating on a five-acre lake in South Park reveals that the line is very easy to shoot. Though I am not experienced in still water and feel uncomfortable being so close to the water's level, I'm still able to make accurate casts of up to 60 feet without much effort.
Qualities you liked about the product:
If it were 1970 and I were fishing a MasterLine, or an early AirCel from Scientific Anglers, after 18 days on the water it would be worn, the coating cracked, and the core waterlogged. One expects a great deal more than that from any modern line, and appreciates the advances in technology. I am impressed by this particular line’s suppleness, its toughness, and its buoyancy. On the stream or on still water, it floated very well, was easy to see, easy to cast, remarkably easy to mend and control. It accommodated a variety of leader lengths and tippet diameters. I’ve only cleaned it three times, once just before writing this in order to inspect it closely. And, after 18 sometimes abused days, it is just about as worn as when I removed it from the package in July. There isn’t even any cracking at the line-leader nail knot, always a problem area. I don’t know how long it will last, but so far it seems indestructible.
Qualities you didn't liked about the product:
I’m still prejudiced about the blaze orange color. It certainly is easy to see, and I proved to myself that it doesn’t spook fish. But were I buying this line, I’d buy it in grey.
Summary Comments
I recommend strongly the Mastery Series Trout lines from Scientific Anglers.


Name: Don Peters
E-mail: flyman333@hotmail.com
Experience:
I've fished for 55 years. Done it all, but main love is fly-fishing, fresh water and salt. Traveled much of the Americas plus a few other spots. Fly-tying, rod building, outdoors photography, speaking engagements, and magazine article writing have been part of my principle hobby. Maryland and Florida are my home States.
Product Being Tested:
Scientific Anglers Mastery Series WF-10-F, Saltwater, Specialty Taper Fly Line. Horizon color (pale blue/green), 100 feet.
Snapshot of your experience with products of this sort:
Difficult to find a conventional fly line I haven't used, including floating lines of various tapers, intermediates, deep-sinkers, multi-heads, shooting heads and running lines. Always searching for the ultimate line for casting very large floating and sinking flies. Have made some fly lines by combining miscellaneous pieces of other lines.
Date of Test:
Saturday, August 20 to Saturday, August 27, 2005
Place of Test:
Camp Ekaluk, Victoria Island, Nunavut, Canada. Large, fresh-water river discharging from Lake Ferguson to Wellington Sound, Arctic Ocean. Target was large, returning sea-run Arctic Char on the fly.
Test Condition:
Mostly windy, some days 30 mph, temperatures high-30's to low 60's, with wind direction frequently in your face, fishing from the north shore of the Ekaluk River.
Relevant related equipment or products:
Used the fly line on a TFO TiCr #9 weight, 4- piece 9' fly rod, initially. Then I switched to a TFO TiCrX #8 weight, 4 piece 9' and finally a TFO TiCr #8 weight, 4 piece 9'. The test fly line was used on a Ross Gunnison G5 fly reel containing 325 yards of 30 lb. Fire Line backing. Flies were heavily weighted streamers measuring 3 to 4 inches. Leaders were 3' of 30 lb. fluorocarbon looped to 3' of 15 lb. fluorocarbon. Note: My traveling and bunking companion was Ken Whellams, owner of Spingbrook Manufacturers, the Canadian producer of TFO fly rods and other sporting equipment. Ken had brought a number of TFO single and spey fly rods with him.
Your experience with the product:
I liked the feel of this fly line. Long line shoots were easily made when balanced on the correct rod, which in this case was the TFO TiCr 4 piece #8 weight. Long casts were rather easily accomplished, except when the wind was strong and right in my face. Roll casting and line mending were also good. Even though the temperatures were as low as 38 degrees F while fishing, the fly line did not get stiff and was never a problem in that regard.
Qualities you liked about the product:
When using this fly line on the TiCr #8, casts of 75 feet of line were easily accomplished, even though the Char move closer to waters edge, and that distance was not regularly required. With less windy conditions from a boat, 100' would be reachable by a good fly caster. Scientific Anglers has produced a fly line with the characteristics I have been asking for, for many years. A thinner running line than previously conventional, facilitates long line shoots and more backing capacity on the reel. Even the head portion of this floating line seems of lesser diameter, even though the 30' head weight was right in the middle of the #10 weight spec. This also allows for more backing which is more important on the newer, large-arbor, fly reels, where total reel capacity is less than small arbor reels of the same diameter and thickness. The line always felt supple even in the icy waters of the Ekaluk River and had no tendency to twist. It felt good in the fingers. I noticed no differece in the roll casting or mending feel of this line compared to older floating lines.
Qualities you didn't liked about the product:
There is only one negative feature I see with this fly line. On the newer, stiffer, fly rods of today - which tend to be under-rated as to line weight designations - this SA WF-10-F matched best to the TFO TiCr #8 weight. It was too light and would not load the TFO TiCr #9 optimally, and on the TiCrX #8(a real gun and in my opinion more like a true #9 or even a #10 )it was very marginal in loading the rod.
Summary Comments
Since I weigh the 30' head sections of all fly lines I use on an accurate laboratory scale, I compare the actual weights to the AFTMA spec line ranges. There is a trend by some line manufacturers to supply lines heavier than their stated line weight. Two recent examples in a stated #10 WF floating line measured an 11 on one and a low end 12 on the other. Since I can only comment on the SA WF-10-F Saltwater Specialty Taper line in the Mastery series I tested, I observed that this line doesn't work well on several # 10 rods I tried it on (a Redington Wayfarer, 5 piece and a Loomis GLX, 2 piece) in addition to the Ekaluk River tests with the TFO rods. On an older Sage SP+ #8, 3 piece as well as the TFO TiCr #8 discussed above, the test fly line was a dream doing all things well. SA may have a marketing decision to face if this condition exists on the other line weights in this series. Don Peters.


Name: Larry Ydens
E-mail: larry@ydens.com
Experience:
I am an avid small creek fisherman. Although I travel to many large rivers around the Western USA and Canada, I promarily enjoy creek fishing. I spend about 40 days on the water a year.
Product Being Tested:
Scientific Anglers TROUT fly line, 5 weight
Snapshot of your experience with products of this sort:
I have been searching for a better performing line for the new fast action rods (Sage XP and TCR). I have tried many lines including the Wulff TT, Sage performance taper, Rio and SA lines.
Date of Test:
20 August 2005
Place of Test:
The high mountains outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico. I fished a small creek holding many rainbows up to 12", and also a larger river with mix of rainbows and browns.
Test Condition:
Overcast, with a very brief light rain. There were no hatches on, so I used a large attractors, all on the surface.
Relevant related equipment or products:
Winston IM-6 (8' 5 wt.) Sage XP (9' 4 wt.)
Your experience with the product:
I am a creek fisherman... how on earth am I gonna test a 5 weight line? Well, I do have an 8' 5wt. rod, so I tried it. The line fished extremely well. It is deadly accurate roll casting, and has no trouble loading the rod with very little line out. On the way home, I tested it on a larger river, and used a very fast 9' 4wt. rod. It worked beautifully. The line casts very smoothly, and loads the rod very quickly. I am VERY impressed, and was wondering... do you have a 2 wt. for me to test?
Qualities you liked about the product:
The line is smooth while casting, and will load quickly. The line works well with just a few yards out, as well as with 40 yards out. It is exteremly accurate using a roll cast.
Qualities you didn't liked about the product:
NONE. I have not tried throwing heavy nymphs yet.
Summary Comments
This is a wonderful line that can handle many different situations. It can be used on at least 5 different rods I own. It is by far the best all around line I have used


Name: Stephen Outerbridge
E-mail: souter@harveystravel-cwt.com
Experience:
As I am fortunate enough to live in Newfoundland and Labrador I have opportunities to fish for Atlantic Salmon, Brook, Rainbow, and Brown trout(both freshwater and searun)on a regular basis. Four years ago I began taking flats fishing trips to Cuba and Central America.I plan to visit Belize this fall.
Product Being Tested:
Scientific Anglers ,Mastery Series, freshwater, weight forward trout flyline, 4 weight,colour orange.
Snapshot of your experience with products of this sort:
I have used a variety of flylines for both fresh and saltwater,4 to 11 weight,floating, sinking and sinktip, in conditions ranging from tropical to below freezing.Brands experienced include Scientific Anglers (have used Mastery series for flats fishing), Rio, Cortland and Wulff.
Date of Test:
August 8-14 2005
Place of Test:
Small to medium size stillwater ponds located in the Eastern Avalon area of Newfoundland.Species sought were brown and rainbow trout.
Test Condition:
Temperature ranged from 60-78 degrees F.Winds ranged from light to 30 MPH.Water temperature was approximately 65 degrees F.
Relevant related equipment or products:
Paired the line with a Sage XP 9 ft. 4 weight rod and a Hardy LRH (lightweight)reel.Scientific Anglers tapered leader with 3 lb. tippet was used.
Your experience with the product:
I liked this line.It took a nailknot very well and showed little memory when loaded on the reel. The initial positive impression was borne out during the fishing sessions.The line cast well over various distances and provided a good balance of sensitivity and distance as required. The line finish provided minimal friction without being too slick and was pleasing on the retrieve. Performance held up well during the two quite windy sessions and one very calm session. Several trout up to 1.5 lbs. were played and released with the line handling well during the hookups.
Qualities you liked about the product:
Very little memory.Excellent castability and shootability.Good floatation and suppleness. I can't really comment at present on the long term durability of the line, but note there was no deterioration in performance during the test period.
Qualities you didn't liked about the product:
Since I use a nailknot to attach my leader I would prefer the front section of the flyline be longer to prolong the integrity of the line's balance over time.Another 6 inches would be perfect.
Summary Comments
A fine, high quality flyline that delivered excellent performance.


Name: Ken MacKay
E-mail: kenmackay@earthlink.net
Experience:
I take at least two bonefishing trips per year of a week a piece. I have fished the flats at The Bahamas, the Yucatan, Belize, Seychelles, Los Roques, Australia, and Xmas Island.
Product Being Tested:
A floating nine weight Scientific Anglers Mastery Series Salt Water fly line.
Snapshot of your experience with products of this sort:
I usually fish SA Mastery Bonefish and Tarpon lines on the flats. I have not fished Cortland lines for years. I have frieds who fish Rio lines on the flats and I would like to try one. My comparison here is between SA Mastery Bonefish and SA Mastery Salt Water lines.
Date of Test:
July 25-30
Place of Test:
Los Roques in Venezuela was where I tested the line. I fished very shallow flats for bonefish exclusively.
Test Condition:
The weather in Los Roques was perfect. Bright, sunny, 85-90 degree days with very low humidity and winds of 15-20 knots. We typically wade down wind in Los Roques. The boat man drops off two anglers and their guide on the lee side of the flat and picks us up after we have waded to the windward side.
Relevant related equipment or products:
I fished the line on a Tibor Everglades reel and a Sage RPLXi nine foot eight weight rod. Although the line was nine weight, I typically over weight my rod in order to load it faster.
Your experience with the product:
Before writing this, I looked up SA's web site to compare the specs on the Saltwater and Bonefish tapers. Unless I'm nutier than my wife occasionally accuses, the web site shows the details of the tapers to be identical. In fact, I don't think that is true. I wished I had saved the packaging, because I believed that described the line differently. In any case, the line handled well. I was able to cast 60 or 70 feet with a minumum of false casts (2 or 3). Of course, long casts are not essential to catch these fish. A delicate delivery to spooky fish either at 25 feet or 75 feet is a must. I believe that there is more variability in my casts than differences in fly lines can explain. When I am calm, confident, and have that elusive perfect tempo, I cast any line well. However, the Saltwater Taper didn't load as easily as the Bonefish Taper. On one day, my partner and I probably caught over 40 bones. On another day, we both were skunked in spite of having many, many shots. Different flats, but still hard to explain.
Qualities you liked about the product:
The line was very limp and held no memory. I was able to quickly strip off line and begin my cast without the line knotting up at my feet.
Qualities you didn't liked about the product:
As I said earlier, the line doesn't load as easily as the Bonefish Taper. It is also difficult for me to find the end of the line. There is no way I can see my fly at 50 feet, so I look for the end of the line and guess that my fly is 10-12 feet behind. The end of this line tends to sink and the color doesn't provide very good contrast.
Summary Comments
If one were to buy one fly line for both tropical flats and other salt water applications, this might be a good line to have. However, the Bonefish Taper is a better flats line.


Name: Peter Fink
E-mail: petefink@aol.com
Experience:
25-35 yrs flyfishing for western trout, midwest bass and panfish, 10-20 saltwater trips for bonefish, small tarpon, stripers, snook and redfish. Spinfishing too. Fish maybe 20-25 times/year. Mostly 4wt and 9 wt. flyrod and almost all with floating lines. I really like fishing but I am not a "nut " about it. I use my gear until it wears out rather than switching to the latest stuff (e.g., I still like my bootfoot waders)
Product Being Tested:
Scientific Anglers "Mastery Series" Trout WF-4-F flyline. I used 7 1/2'Orvis tapered leader.
Snapshot of your experience with products of this sort:
I have used this setup with Orvis Wonderline WF4F for years for western trout and midwest bass and panfish. I think my last 3 lines were all Orvis (but, as I said, I use my stuff until it wears out, so that could be some time ago).
Date of Test:
July 18 and July 25, 2005
Place of Test:
15 acre SE Michigan lake. Most of the fishing was done tight to lily pads in 2-4' of water. Some in 6-8 feet. After large mouth bass and bluegills.
Test Condition:
This test was all from a johnboat in a small midwestern lake for bass and panfish - maybe 3 hrs total time fishing. Hot (75-85 F) and humid (85%+). Light wind <5mph but enough to test with and against wind.
Relevant related equipment or products:
Used #12 floating rubber spiders and a #10 (ish) bass bug - both top water. Rod was Winston 2-pc 4wt. I tested side-by-side with a 2-3year old Orvis WF4F line and similar leader and exactly same flies.
Your experience with the product:
I really wanted to like this line because it was a new thing (and it was a great color - orange), but it just wasn't anything special. It took a bit more work to get the line out (but not too much work) and I just couldn't get the "zing" the Orvis had - an extra false cast here and there. I even dressed the line after a few casts and not much change. It did land more gently than the Orvis (the tradeoff?), however don't need a real subtle approach with bass and bluegills. I kept getting annoying little recoils in the line as it laid on the water - see below. Turned the flys over pretty well - even the bass bug - but I just couldn't help constantly comparing it to the Wonderline. Hey, though, it DID catch a few fish on a slow day and I missed a few too (I think the missed ones were HUGE!). Did fine into the slight wind too.
Qualities you liked about the product:
The color -very high visibility in the water compare to the "blah" green Orvis. Very gentle delivery. Line did not tend to tangle when stripped into a pile on the bottom of the boat. It really worked pretty well, I was just hoping for something special and it didn't happen. Didn't seem to need cleaning during the 2-3 hrs of use even though the lake is pretty cloudy with vegetation.
Qualities you didn't liked about the product:
The annoying semi-memory half coils that appeared after a cast or a sharp strip (using poppers). The line would go out straight but get small bends after it hit water. This left 1-2' (on a 30'cast)of slack in the line at all times. Constantly worried that I couldn't set a hook due to this slack. Probably making more of this than it was, but it was a steady distraction. Line seemed to come off the water for a backcast a bit harder than Wonderline but not a major problem.
Summary Comments
Again, I really wanted to like this but I just couldn't find a reason to switch from the Wonderline. If I had been somewhere I really had to have a delicate delivery (calm water trout?),it may have made the difference. That said, it did catch fish and it certainly wasn't bad at all - I'll sure use it again. Thanks for the opportunity to take a look at it.


Name: Jim Morgan
E-mail: jam@morganresources.com
Experience:
I have been fly fishing for 24 years. My initial angling experience was on the brookie and freestone streams of upstate PA. I do most of my fishing these days on the mountain streams and tail waters of East TN and NC. I travel to fly fish both for pleasure and as occasional co-host of PAX TV’s Flyfishing the Northeast. I make periodic trips out West to Montana and Idaho for trout. I have fished the flats of Belize and several Bahamas destinations for bonefish and, theoretically, permit. Served some hard-time casting big stuff on heavy rods with sinking lines for rooster fish, jacks and mackerel out of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Bass fished with poppers in the canals of Florida’s alligator alley.
Product Being Tested:
Scientific Anglers Mastery Series AST fly line. WF-5-F Trout. Blaze orange.
Snapshot of your experience with products of this sort:
My first "good" fly line was a Scientific Angler double taper line which I felt took my casting and presentation to a better level. Needing the help, I decided to only purchase top-of-the-line fly lines in the future. Over the years I have tried the best lines from most of the major players including Orvis, Cortland, Rio and Wulff. All except one have been ok, but I have never found a line to set me on fire more than that first Scientific Anglers line from many years ago. So I was quite happy to volunteer when Don Causey put out the call for subscribers to review the new Scientific Anglers AST Trout fly line for The Angler Report.
Date of Test:
Product was tested during the period July 18-21, 2005
Place of Test:
Western USA in the Yellowstone area. The Madison River and the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River.
Test Condition:
The weather during the entire week of testing was unusually hot – around 90 degrees F during the day. Skies were clear and bright or partly cloudy. It did not rain the entire week!
Relevant related equipment or products:
The rod I used for the line test was a G. Loomis GLX Streamdance, High Line Speed. 9 foot, 5 wt.
Your experience with the product:
The Madison. My first testing of the SA AST Trout fly line was a float trip on the Madison River from Lyons Bridge to MacAtee Bridge, approximately 12 miles. This is a popular float stretch, part of the famous, fast moving, fifty mile riffle that is the Madison below Quake Lake. This was not a test of finesse. The rig used was a big streamer/dropper set-up with a big yarn strike indicator favored by the guides on this river. The tippet on the nine foot leader was eight lb test to the streamer and 4x on the dropper. So as not to deny my long time guide, Dave Williams, a standard ritual, I had carefully attached a perfectly constructed mono connector loop to the end of the fly line which he immediately and gleefully clipped off before attaching the leader directly to the fly line with a nail knot. Anyone watching could tell it made him feel good. I liked the way the line behaved from the first cast onward. Smooth in my hands and responsive to the many mends one must make in this type of fishing. Tournament distance casting this was not. At one point my guide tied on a HUGE sculpin pattern, heavy and about three inches long. I initially took this as a sadistic guide-type punishment for some unknown transgression on my part. Resigned to my penance, I reluctantly chucked the monster repeatedly for forty-five minutes before BAM! Shortly, the biggest fish of the day, a heavy twenty two inch brown was brought to the net and with it Dave was exonerated from charges of client abuse. Henry’s Fork, Box Canyon. Floating this stretch was not significantly different in approach from the Madison test and my comments from the Madison apply to my experience on the box. Short review…no complaints. Henry’s Fork, Harriman State Park (Railroad Ranch), Idaho. Fishing this water presented a completely different test of the line from the Madison and Box Canyon floats. This portion of the Henry’s Fork is wide, slick/smooth water characterized by complex and diabolical surface currents induced by the long thick grass patches on a fairly shallow and flat stream bed. The stretch is traditionally fished almost exclusively with dry flies on long leaders, often using a downstream drift approach to avoid lining the fish. The often sought after combination of distance, accuracy, imitation and presentation is the name of the game on the Ranch. Although you can pick them up close-in the fish will often be put down if you try to wade too close. The line handled and cast beautifully for me. My presentation preference, that is to say where I was most lucky, was for a 30 to 40 foot cast across and just slightly downstream from my position. Presented approximately 8-12 feet above the rise I could get a decent float to perhaps 4 feet below the rise point before the drift would get weird. The line popped out smoothly and turned over the long leader and then floated to my satisfaction. Distance was not a problem. What I did not like was the spray. In fishing conditions like this I like to avoid flailing the fly line back and forth over fish looking up so I try to make just one false cast after the pickup. Each time I did I was horrified at the amount of spray coming off the fly line. To be fair, the slick water surface and wind certainly made it easier to see the spray and I did not have another rod with me to make a comparison; but I do not recall fighting this issue to the same extent on past trips to this area with different fly line.
Qualities you liked about the product:
I really liked the feel of the line, specifically the smoothness and absence of memory. Some lines seem “hard” to me but the SA AST did not. The line moved through the guides well and I felt I was getting good distance from the line. The line also had good tip float, which can be a problem with many lines.
Qualities you didn't liked about the product:
Bright colored fly lines are not my favorite although I do not know of any empirical evidence proving that bright color lines spook more fish than softer colored line. As a preference I simply prefer duller colors. Fly line spray is a more important issue. To me, it seemed like a lot of water was sticking to the line. That is just my perception, which may be in error.
Summary Comments
I would give the SA AST Trout fly line a strong “buy” recommendation. It feels great in the hand, shoots line very nicely, exhibits good tip float and does not suffer from line memory. The question of water adherence and resulting line spray needs further input from others before concluding there is a real problem.


Name: Paul B. Holden
E-mail: pholden44@aol.com
Experience:
I have fished for most of my 61 years, flyfishing extensively the last 15 years or so in the western US, Alaska, and the last 5 years or so on the Caribbean flats in the winter. I have fly rods from 4 wt through 10 wt and have fished for trout and salmon from small native cuttrout to king salmon and have one slat water grand slam so far.
Product Being Tested:
Scientific Anglers Mastery Series Trout WF-5-F fly line, Blaze Orange in color, used on a Sage XP-590-4 rod with a Reddington CD 5/6 reel.
Snapshot of your experience with products of this sort:
I use 4 and 5 wt rods with floating line most of the time in western rivers from the San Juan, Green, Rock Creek (MT), and lesser known rivers. Also use the same equipment for dolly varden, rainbows, and grayling on Alaskan float trips. This is the number one trout setup for me. In the past few years I have used several "new" lines to find one that would stay afloat in faster water and allow for long-drag free drifts. My latest line, a Rio Nymph 5 wt has been the best I had used to date.
Date of Test:
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Place of Test:
San Juan River, NM, in the Blue Ribbon area just below Navajo Dam. Fishing for rainbow trout primarily with nymph rigs using very small flies (size 20-24). Fished a variety of runs, seams, and one riffle before the thunderstorms arrived and chased me off the river.
Test Condition:
During the first 2-3 hours, it was a beautiful, hot summer day, just right for standing in 42 degree F water. Winds were calm or light. The next 3 hours thunderstorms arrived with strong switching winds, some rain, and lightning around.
Relevant related equipment or products:
Used a brand new Sage XP-590-4, 4-peice travel rod with a Reddington reel, just arrived from Trout Unlimited. I used a 6X tapered leader and fished with a small strike indicator and a small non-lead split shot with a two fly rig.
Your experience with the product:
Using both a new rod and a new line was initially interesting but the line behaved great with my short casts. It moved though the guides easily and made it fairly easy to make the flies and strike indicator land where I wanted them to. In the calmer runs the line floated well, and mended easily, allowing for drag-free drifts. As I moved into faster water, the end of the line started to sink, the bane of all (or most) floating fly line. The one riffle I fished, which was a little deeper and much swifter than most of what I fished, tended to sink the butt end of the leader and then the end of fly line, making it difficult to mend or obtain a drag free drift. About the time the thunderstorms arrived I switched back to my Rio Nymph line, which I had purchased just this spring in my search for a floating line that would stay floating in such situations. The Rio line floated much better in the riffle, allowing for easier mending and drag-free drifts. The thunderstorm ended my fishing day prematurely but gave me enough time to compare the new Mastery Series with my new Rio line. For most fishing the Mastery Series worked well, but tended to sink in swifter and more turbulent water, much like other floating fly lines I have used in the past. For the afternoon I landed 6-8 rainbows from 10-18 inches. The next morning was even better fishing in a different run where I landed over a dozen fish to 20 inches in less than 3 hours, and lost at least that many with the small hooks used on the San Juan.
Qualities you liked about the product:
The Mastery Series Trout 5 wt was easy to cast, well balanded, and easy to see on the water.
Qualities you didn't liked about the product:
The end of the line would sink with the butt end of the leader in swifter, more turulent water.
Summary Comments
Overall I didn't see much of an improvement over older Mastery Series leaders (I have one on a Sage 4 wt). They work well on stream sections with little turbulence and smooth flow patterns, but tend to sink in more turbulent water.


Name: Frank Perkins
E-mail: fap1217@cs.com
Experience:
60 years fly fishing experience. Have fished in 23 countries around the world.
Product Being Tested:
Scientific Anglers Mastery Series Specialty Taper Fly Line, WF-8-F.
Snapshot of your experience with products of this sort:
Fished for a number of species, including (locally) saltwater speckeled trout, snook, ladyfish, tarpon, etc. plus peacock bass and bonefish.
Date of Test:
7/12/05 and 7/21/05
Place of Test:
Indian River lagoon. Flats and mangrove shorelines.
Test Condition:
Hot.
Relevant related equipment or products:
I used my Sage 8 Wt.
Your experience with the product:
Line was very smooth and shot very well.
Qualities you liked about the product:
Slick surface. I also like the fact that the taper dimensions are shown on the box. The often used description of "Tarpon line" or "Bonefish line" are not too descriptive. With the dimensions known, you can purchase another line like it, or different, for another application.
Qualities you didn't liked about the product:
The color is lighter than I would usually select, but I now believe that it is less visible to the fish than a darker color.
Summary Comments
Nice casting, good shooting line.


Name: Harold C. Karagozian
E-mail: hcksk@metrocast.net
Experience:
I have been fly fishing exclusively since 1974, fish around 100 days a year; and have caught and released sunfish through sailfish, from Alaska to Peru, and from Ireland to New Zealand
Product Being Tested:
Scientific Anglers Mastery Series Trout Specialty Taper Fly Line WF-6-F
Snapshot of your experience with products of this sort:
I own and use every line weight from #1 through #12 weight forward, double taper, shooting head and Spey lines; and I use lines from Orvis, Teeny, Scientific Anglers, Cortland, Sue Burgess and Rio
Date of Test:
Tuesday 07-12-05; 07-15-05
Place of Test:
NH: Androscoggin River; tailwater; small mouth bass, brook trout, landlock salmon
Test Condition:
Hazy, hot, humid; low 90's; moderate breeze
Relevant related equipment or products:
Orvis Trident PM-10+ 9' 2-piece #6 rod
Your experience with the product:
(Please describe in jargon-free language what it was like using the product. Make the reader see and feel what you saw and felt as you used the product. Provide as much detail as needed to tell the story of your use of this product.) I was fly fishing just below the dam, standing on greasy rocks in knee-high moderately flowing water with a breeze blowing in my face and with limited room for a backcast. I had just arrived in mid-afternoon and had not yet had a chance to so much as false cast with this new fly line. I was very pleased that the line and the rod reacted well to each other with both short and long strokes and short and long casts. As I had trouble moving about on the slippery rocks and as the wind was in my face, I made roll casts and modified one-handed Spey casts, and for added distance I would double-haul with the rod and line parallel to the flow of the river.
Qualities you liked about the product:
This line cast and mended smoothly, near and far, with minimal disturbance of the water and with a smooth transfer of power. I later tried it on still water while fishing from a kayak, and the line shot extremely well, again with minimal water disturbance on the pick-up and lay-down of the fly.
Qualities you didn't liked about the product:
The tested fly line was in "Blaze Orange" and I'm not a fan of bright lines. I prefer drab lines in gray, olive or tan.
Summary Comments
An excellent fly line, easily on a par with the Orvis "Wonderline" or the Wulff "Triangle Taper" models.


Name: Scott R. Smith
E-mail: painless@tc3net.com
Experience:
Fly fishing for 21 yrs. 15 of those years teaching fly casting. Licenesed fly fishing guide for 11 yrs. guiding steelhead, trout & salmon. Fly shop owner for 2 yrs. I currently hold 46 world records on fly fishing tackle.
Product Being Tested:
Scientific Anglers new Trout specialty taper fly line with their new "versatile taper" in a WF-6-F.
Snapshot of your experience with products of this sort:
I have fished similar WF-6-F lines by Rio, Orvis and the SA Trout line with their past technology.
Date of Test:
July 15, 2005
Place of Test:
Saugeen River, Walkerton, Ontario, Canada Moderate flow river with the primary specie at this time of year being smallmouth bass.
Test Condition:
Both days were near 90 degrees F and both days had downstream winds of 10 - 15 MPH.
Relevant related equipment or products:
Sage 690 SP
Your experience with the product:
Being as honest as possible I have to say this was the smoothest line i ever cast! I cast dry flies, wet flies, clouser weighted streamers and moderate sized bass bug poppers with it. It effortlessly cast 30 ft. without double hauling useing only rod tip flex. It was possible to shot the entire fly line with a little wind help. The line color of blaze orange was poor but that was the only down side I found.
Qualities you liked about the product:
I like the slick coating on the line that allowed it to shot smoothly. The line seemed very well balanced and almost had the feeling of being overweighted by a step. It delivered the fly, no matter what type I was casting, on target.
Qualities you didn't liked about the product:
As I said, I did'nt care for the Blaze Orange color.
Summary Comments
Though this is a Trout speciality line, I chose to put it through the test on bass. This should have been a bit tougher on it as the flies are varied. No matter what I used, it preformed well. In a sentence, I know I will be replacing many of my fly lines in the future with this new product.


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