Fly Line Review

New Airflo Polyfuse XT Fly lines:

WWW.flylines.com

Reviewer: Captain Skip Montello

Date: May-June, 2006

Introduction: The New improved Depthfinder Fly Lines now comes with a new braid power core technology for low memory and a unique sleeved welded connection at the line transition point(sink tip head to running line) for incredible strength and durability. The low memory, super high density coating reduces tangles and makes line handling easy in cold or gusty conditions.All Depthfinders have tapered head sections, density compensation and a range of grain/sink rates. Available with both floating and intermediate sink rate running lines for total control.

The Airflo lab has developed a technology that is one stage further along the evolutionary path, being the only company to add a twin coat in a single process to all their flylines, the patented PolyFuse XT process. The large inner coating controls each lines density, core adhesion and a substantial part of the lines suppleness. The slim outer coating, is harder for improved shootability and is saturated with the new PolyFuse XT lubrication system. Placed here, it is far more effective at lubricating the line and doesn’t affect the inner coatings core adhesion. Unlike competitors coating systems, PolyFuse XT has two layers fused together while both are still molten at the production stage – this eliminates any possible delamination and gives incredible durability. One reason why Airflo are the only company to offer a 5 year non crack guarantee.

First Impression

The new Airflo Depth Finder Polyfuse XT lines have incorporated significant design changes that are immediately evident right out of the box. The surface coating of the lines are noticeably “slicker”, harder and stretch little if any as compared to the previous lines. The most notable difference is in the quality of the transition point (see photo). The welded joint is larger in diameter and longer in length. The older transition technology would often wear out quickly as is evident in the photo (note: crack in the sink tip portion of the transition). That line is one season old.

On the Water

The "On the Water Testing" included the following Airflo lines; DFS 200 and 300 grain (floating running line) and the DFS 400 and 500 INT (intermediate running line). The lines were matched up to med-fast or fast action taper fly rods of line weights of 7, 8, 9 and 10. Over my years of casting weight compensated flylines, my #1 most significant complaint (and shared by other flyrodders) has been line tangles. This problem has been shown to be related to running line design, core material characteristics (elasticity and memory) and extrusion process technology. Second on my list is transition point durability. The new Airflo Polyfuse XT lines with the new power core technology were designed to greatly reduce line tangles and to increase durability to the point where they offer a 5 year guarantee against cracking and transition point wear. I have used and tested many quality fly lines from a variety of manufacturers, and none have completely overcome the problem of line tangles and transition point wear. So, needless to say, I was anxious to find out whether the new Airflo lines would live up the hype. My testing plan was designed to evaluate line handling performance (line tangles- running line memory) and casting distance (line slickness and rod loading characteristics). The testing took place over several outings and included casting from shoreline and a boat deck. Wind conditions varied considerably as did the choice of fly size. The rod and line match-up was;

7 and 8 wt rod w/ 200 grain line 8 and 9 wt rod w/ 300 grain line 9 and 10 wt rod w/ 400 grain line 10 wt rod w/ 500 grain line (note:the rods used in the evaluation were all rated "med fast to fast action tapers") The new Airflo Depth Finder Fly Lines were tested and evaluated with respect to the following characteristics;

Casting performance Line weight/rod loading Line tangles/running line memory Durability

The casting performance of all of the new lines, as compared to the older Airflo Depth Finder lines, was by far better with respect to; cast distance and stroke timing. The harder and slicker outer coating contributed significantly to the improved performance. On balance, the new lines added about 10% more distance. The line grain rating and rod loading capability of all the lines matched up almost perfectly with the rods used in the testing. I was able to make long casts with little effort and in most cases with just two false casts. All of the rods in the test loaded properly and I was able to achieve satisfactory casting performance for each line and rod match-up. All of the lines handled well even going up or down one in rod/line weighting. For me, no single fly line related problem is more frustrating than having your fly line become tangled and knotted up just when you need to make that one very important cast to a waiting game fish. I can’t tell you how many times this has happened to me (and I’m sure too you!). Fly line tangles can and do result from stripping out 60 or more feet of fly line onto a boat deck, grassy shoreline or even into a stripping basket. The amount of line and the elastic memory of the running line portion are the primary cause of this problem. Add in windy conditions, cold water (or air) temperature, line wear/age, dirt and the problem becomes exacerbated. Over the course of two weeks, wading and casting along the shoreline or casting from my boat deck, I used all of the fly lines in varied conditions; with and without much wind, warm air and cold water, big flies and small ones and so on. All of these new fly lines, without doubt, performed markedly better than all of my previous experiences with the older Depth Finder fly lines. I used these new lines in some very difficult conditions, and I also observed a few of my clients casting and retrieving without any (line induced) difficulty. The new Depth Finder fly lines most assuredly display improved properties and characteristics. For example, whenever I spooled off 60 or more feet of the older Depth Finder fly line, I would have to stretch it out quite a bit before attempting a cast. The new Depth Finder fly line appears to have little if any stretch property, therefore little or no memory is apparent. As far as I can determine at this time, the line durability at the transition point will require several months of casting and retrieving to ascertain if the new Polyfused XT construction will hold up. The older version Depth Finder lines would often show signs of wear by the end of one (my season= 120 days) season.

Airflo Depth Finder Polyfuse XT Lines
Construction-Quality	The AirFlo Depth Finder line comes from the factory as integrated one piece flyline with a new welded transition point technology, a smooth hard outer coating and a new power core material.	5.0
Performance	The new surface/ outer coating material provides reduced line friction resulting in increased cast distance. The low memory power core material provided for a significantly reduced propensity to form tangles and wind knots even in the worst conditions.	5.0
Application	The new Airflow Depth Finder lines appear to solve many of the problems associated with weight compensated distance lines. The lines handled very well in a variety of fishing conditions.	5.0
Price	MSRP $67.95	4.7
Score:1-5(5=highest)	Total Score	4.9

Conclusion

The new Depth Finder DFS series of Fly Lines are as advertised, a fly lines that deliver long casts,very fast sink rates, quick rod loading characteristics, greatly reduced problems with tangles/ knotting up and quality construction. Another high quality product from AirFlo.