mjkirshner
Well-known member
I am switching some lines and reels around to accommodate a new rod, and now have two spare lines and only one spare reel. The lines are only going to be used on a backup rod and are similar enough that I don't think I need them both. I don't see a good reason to get another reel, but the reel is an older model, and I can't get a second spool. So I need to decide which line to spool up and which to pack away.
The lines in question are Rio Bonefish Quickshooter and Airflo Tropical Punch, both in 9-weight. The rod is a Sage Motive #9 that I use mainly for surf with a Nautilus reel and intermediate line. I'm getting a Scott Meridian #8 for flats, but I want to have the 9-wt Sage available as a backup if the wind is too strong for an 8-wt. I really don't expect to use the Sage for this very often, but I have an older Sage 1880 reel not doing anything and these two lines, so I may as well set up the Motive/1880 and a line as a backup outfit.
I have cast both lines on the rod, and cannot discern enough difference to make one an obvious choice over the other, so I am hoping that someone with more experience can give a reason that one is better. The Rio has a shorter and heavier head, so it may be a little better for a quick, short cast, but the Airflo seems a little better for presentation. The Rio is a few years old but still in excellent condition, and the Ariflo is newer and has barely been used. I understand that the Airflo is designed to function well in heavier wind, which is probably the main condition in which this rod/line combination will be used. If it is better in wind and may present a bonefish fly better, then the Airflo seems like the best choice. But many people swear by the Rio-BF-QS, so I don't want to discard it out of hand.
The lines in question are Rio Bonefish Quickshooter and Airflo Tropical Punch, both in 9-weight. The rod is a Sage Motive #9 that I use mainly for surf with a Nautilus reel and intermediate line. I'm getting a Scott Meridian #8 for flats, but I want to have the 9-wt Sage available as a backup if the wind is too strong for an 8-wt. I really don't expect to use the Sage for this very often, but I have an older Sage 1880 reel not doing anything and these two lines, so I may as well set up the Motive/1880 and a line as a backup outfit.
I have cast both lines on the rod, and cannot discern enough difference to make one an obvious choice over the other, so I am hoping that someone with more experience can give a reason that one is better. The Rio has a shorter and heavier head, so it may be a little better for a quick, short cast, but the Airflo seems a little better for presentation. The Rio is a few years old but still in excellent condition, and the Ariflo is newer and has barely been used. I understand that the Airflo is designed to function well in heavier wind, which is probably the main condition in which this rod/line combination will be used. If it is better in wind and may present a bonefish fly better, then the Airflo seems like the best choice. But many people swear by the Rio-BF-QS, so I don't want to discard it out of hand.