The 2 Best Fly Line for Bass in 2024 – Buyers Guide

best fly line for bass

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If you’re going to go after bass on a fly rod, please take the best bass fly fishing line with you, as it’ll make your day go a lot smoother.

Bass fishing is all about throwing big flies accurately into the cover bass love to hide in. Normal fly lines just won’t get the job done right.

Image Product Details  
flyfisherpro-table__imageBest All-Around Bass Fly LineRIO Mainstream Bass Fly Line
  • Heavy And Short Head
  • Low-Stretch
  • Works For All Species
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flyfisherpro-table__imageBest Sink Tip Bass LineScientific Anglers Sonar Sink 30 Bass Fly Line
  • Heavy Head
  • Slickness Additive Running Line
  • Super Durable
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Our Best Fly Lines For Bass

RIO Mainstream Bass Fly Line

RIO Mainstream Bass Fly Line

Overall Score

75%
Casting Performance
80%
Durability
70%
Line Memory
80%
Weather Versatility
70%
Ease of Handling
80%
Floatation
70%
Visibility
70%
Price-to-Performance Ratio
80%

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Best All-Around Bass Fly Line

Key Features

  • Heavy and short head for turning over streamers
  • Works well in warm and cold water
  • Low-stretch for hard hook sets on bass
  • Works for all species like pike and trout too
  • Loads your fly rod quickly for long or short accurate casts

Tech. Specs

  • Type: Floating
  • Taper: Weight forward
  • Weight: 8wt
  • Length: 80 feet
  • Color: Yellow

Review

The RIO Mainstream Bass Fly Line comes with a heavy front head that is made for throwing big bass flies like a streamer or poppers with ease.

The fly lines’ heavier short head loads your fly rod quickly for efficient casting and you can make long or short shorts while with ease, while the front taper on these fly lines will effortlessly turn over your bass flies.

Together with the head. this makes for accurate casting you can push your streamer right up against the cover that bass like to hide in.

These fly lines also feature a low stretch core giving you a better feel in your cast and increased line control. The low stretch on the fly lines also ensures you have a more direct connection to your flies so you can jam the hook into the hard mouth of a bass on your strip set when one bites and sop it running for cover.

The fly lines are also made to handle both warm and cold water so you can bass fish with it all year round. It has a low memory too so you’ll get fewer annoying tangles.

Another great thing anglers love about these lines is that they work for trout and pike fly fishing too. So if you ever find yourself needing to cast big flies in freshwater, this is the only line you need to get your hands on, no matter the species.

You can see our post here on the northern pike record here if you’re interested.

Scientific Anglers Sonar Sink 30 Bass Fly Line

Scientific Anglers Sonar Sink 30

Overall Score

73%
Casting Performance
80%
Durability
70%
Line Memory
70%
Weather Versatility
70%
Ease of Handling
80%
Floatation
60%
Visibility
70%
Price-to-Performance Ratio
80%

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Best Sink Tip Bass Line

Key Features

  • 30 feet of clear low vis sink tip
  • Heavy head for casting big flies like bass streamers
  • Slickness additive running line for shooting long distances
  • Super durable with low memory for minimal tangles
  • Direct mono core for a good connection
  • Intermediate sink: 1.25 inches per second keeps your flies deep

Tech. Specs

  • Type: Sink tip intermediate
  • Taper: Weight forward
  • Weight: 6-9wt
  • Length: 90 feet
  • Color: Clear tip/blue

Review

When bass fishing, anglers need to think about where in the water the bass will be hiding. In warmer or colder months, the best place to find bass is a bit deeper in the water where they can warm up o cool down.

The Scientific Anglers Sonar Sink 30 Bass Fly Line is made to find bass when fishing in summer and bass fishing in winter thanks to its 30 feet of clear sink tip at one end. Using this line you’ll be able to make sure your files get down to where the bass are feeding and with its clear tip, the bass will be none the wiser. 

These fly lines also come with a heavy head and a solid taper that load your fly rod with ease and make sure you turn over those big bass flies well, at both short and long distances.

You’ll also find the low stretch and low memory core will serve you well when making quick shots and stopping bass from tangling you up in cover. You’ll have fewer tangles to deal with and enough pulling power to control the bass and set the hook properly.

rod weights

FAQs

Is a 7wt fly line good for bass?

Yes, a 7wt fly line is good for bass. However, depending on the size of bass you are targeting, you may want to consider a heavier line, such as an 8wt or 9wt line.

Can I use trout fly line for bass?

Yes, you can use trout fly line for bass. However, depending on the size of bass you are targeting, you may want to consider a heavier line, such as an 8wt or 9wt line.

What color flies do bass like?

Bass tend to be attracted to bright colors, such as yellow, orange, green, and chartreuse. Darker colors, such as black and blue, can also be effective. Experiment with different colors and sizes to find out which ones work best for you.

What is the best fly line weight for trout and bass?

The best fly line weight for trout and bass will vary depending on the size of the fish you are targeting. For trout, a 4wt or 5wt line is generally recommended, while for bass, an 8wt or 9wt line is usually best. Experiment with different weights to find out which one works best for you.

Which fly line is best for bass fishing?

There is no one “best” fly line for bass fishing, as it will depend on the size of the bass you are targeting. Generally, heavier lines, such as 8wt or 9wt are best for bass fishing. Experiment with different line weights to find out which one works best for you.

What weight fly rod should I use for bass?

Bass are hard-fighting fish and then love to tangle you up in snags when fishing for them. To land them, you need to be fishing with rods and lines with enough power to stop them. The smallest weight rods you should be fishing for bass with are 6 weights, and the heaviest 8 weights.

I’d suggest going for a 7 weight rod as it’s light enough to enjoy fishing for small bass with but heavy enough to handle a big 4-5lb if you hook one.

What features do good bass fly lines have?

A heavy front head

Bass flies are and when fishing a big fly you need a heavy weight-forward head fly line in order to turn the fly over. This will help with your accuracy, presentation of the fly, and ensure your rod loads easily.

Low Stretch

Bass have hard mouths and when they eat a fly you’re going to need all the help you can get to make sure the hook sets nicely. Low stretch lines give you a more direct connection between you and the fly, this makes every strip set count a bit more, helping set the hook into their hard mouths.

Low stretch is also a useful feature when fighting bass as they will run for cover. By having a low stretch line gives you more control in the fight so you can guide them into open water and away from snags.

fly-lines-for-bass

Bassing Out

When it comes to fishing for bass using bass fishing fly rod, your like is important, and please check you have the right one before you go, or you’ll be kicking yourself at the end of the fishing day. So, which of the fly lines is the best one to choose?

In all honesty, you should own both of these fly lines if you plan on chasing bass with a fly rod often as you’ll need to use both a floating and sink tip line depending on the season and water you’re fishing in. If you fish for bass now and then, go for the Rio Bass Line as it’s more versatile being a floating line, but get both lines if you can.

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