Fly Line?

define "decent" and how much you want to spend

I just tried the cortland western drifter... i like it... about $65
i have the SA mastery textured.. really nice... about $80

there are cheaper and more expensive
also application specific lines... nymph... streamer... sink

cortland 333 or SI lefty kreh fly lines are good inexpensive lines.
i like DT lines for small to med. size trout streams as others like WF.
DT lines you can turn around and use it when one side starts cracking.
i would only go one line over if you got a fast action or stiff rod so you can feel it load better. imo

I've heard nothing but good things about the H&H Hi-Floaters. For the price (around $35 iirc), if they're any good, they'd be hard to top in terms of bang-for-buck. That said, I can't personally recommend them, having never used one.

Nowadays - when you pick up a catalog or go to any website in search of a line - so many choices and it's easy for someone to get confused - wondering which to get. When you say decent and not wanting to spend the $ for a high end line - the one line that comes to my mind is the one Mika and DT reccomended - 333. Heck - the line has been around since 1957 when Cortland marketed it as the first "non-sinkable fly line" And it's still being sold today!!! It was the first line I bought and used it for years......before I realized I could turn the DT around and rewind it with the other end out..... and have a new line. I wasn't too bright back then........ Anyway - it's a good line and one I'd probably go for. Just my two cents.  Either way - casting a new fly line is a good thing - one of those little pleasures in life. Best of luck to ya. 

ORIGINAL: BehrendFisher

Thanks for the replies guys. I have a little trip planned to fish the Yakima river in washington state this september and wanted to upgrade my cheap cabelas combo a bit.

Smallmouth fishing that river? Some of the best in the country, I've heard.

Ahh, sweet. Have fun.

Right now I just have a cheap cabelas 5wt rod. I will more than likely purchase a better one before my trip. If overlining is a bad idea maybe the cortland 333 weight forward 5 is the way to go? I still have lots of time to decide

Just to give you another option, check out Cabelas Prestige fly line. Its the same price as 333, but it comes with a welded loop. Correct me if Im wrong, but I dont believe the 333 comes with a loop.

a welded loop is definately not a deal breaker for me.  from what I've heard is many become undone any way.  i frefer to tie line to leader.

ORIGINAL: D-nymph

Just curious, why the Yakima? I've been to South Central and Eastern Washington before. That's getting to be steelhead season out there. Is it just a fishing trip, or are you also visiting someone/something in the area. Because if I'm going to travel to Washington to fish (it's a cool weird environment in that part of the state, desert canyons), I'd be steelhead fishing, and not there. Just wondering how you chose the Yakima. Not saying it's not a great place to go, I'm just curious.

The time and region are due to a Dave Matthews Band concert at the Gorge Amphitheatre near seattle. My brother and I are fishing while his gf and another friend attend the concert. I havent really looked but I believe the steelhead stream was another 3 hours from where we were gonna be at. Also I was under the impression that western steelhead fishing was pretty low in catch rates. I am by no means a veteran with a fly rod so that may mean I catch a few fish in a day? The Yakima is supposed to make a transition from high to low water shortly before september giving us more opportunity at some bigger native fish and better numbers than the spring. Im sure there's not much comparison but I would rather not fly across the country right before steelhead season in erie to catch a half dozen steelhead on the west coast. I also didn't plan the trip, I am just along for the adventure.

I could be completely wrong in all aspects of my reasoning but whats done is done. I'm sure it will be a fun time regardless.

ORIGINAL: BehrendFisher

... Dave Matthews Band concert at the Gorge Amphitheatre... n

... I would rather not fly across the country right before steelhead season in erie to catch a half dozen steelhead on the west coast.

ive been in that area a few times.. i'd look to washington fly fishing forum... they will steer you in a good direction
if you can, drive over on rt2 through stevens pass
its a bit longer than 90... but much better views
with your view/expectations on steelhead... youre better off trout fishing

ORIGINAL: JT83


...Ive never heard of a welded loop coming undone...

yeah its happened to me a few times
line companies are getting better, but still make sure you check them every time youre out

Okay I got another question for you guys. I just purchased a 9' 4wt st croix imperial rod. I decided I wanted to go with 4wt instead of 5wt because I would get more use out of it around here after my trip. Anyways, I had been thinking that the fly logic reel I have is 4-6wt but it is really 5-7. Would it be so terrible if I were to put 4wt line on it? The reel itself is fairly light weight so I dont think it would throw the rods balance off too much. Im more concerned about how well 4wt line and backing would fill it up. The reel is a FlyLogic FLP567 and the rod is a I909.4.