Introduced as part of their 2008 product mix, Rio's Gold fly line has quickly become a favorite. When paired with the right rod action, it is one of the best shooting lines in the "standard" weight-forward category of fly lines. However, the company's description of it as "The Ultimate Fly Line" is questionable; particularly if one's definition of ultimate is confused with all-purpose. Yes, it is very useful for certain applications and is well worth the $65 price tag within those parameters. Alternatively, there are 'better' alternatives if the bulk of your fishing does not fall within the caveats we're about to explore.
The Context Of Weight-Forward
Generally speaking, in a very oversimplified sense, there are two categories of floating fly line - Double Taper (DT) and Weight-Forward (WF). The DT is literally two lines in one. When one end wears out, you can reverse the line on the reel and have a brand new end to play with (most trout are caught with less than half the total 90 - 100 feet of most standard fly lines). In essence and in fact, a double taper fly line has exactly the same weight and taper on both ends.
By comparison, a weight-forward fly line has an exaggerated weight and taper on one end and a 'running line,' or smaller diameter, for the remainder of its length. All line weights are actually a range measured by the grain weight of the first 30 feet of line. Line weight for line weight, 'standard' double taper lines will come in right at the middle of that range while a weight-forward will weigh in at the upper limit of that range. For example, a 5 weight line has an AFTMA range of 134 - 146 grains for the first 30' of line. A standard floating line available in both configurations, such as the Cortland 444 Peach (see The Cortland 444 Classic: It's A Peach), will have a DT at 140 and a WF measuring 146.
Some will argue that the WF design is better for distance casting. This is true, but only to a point. It is not all in the WF designation, but in the design of the taper/body of the line itself. Also, in my experience, the WF design is good for casting to a specific range; i.e., about 40'-60'. (If you consistently want MORE distance, then I strongly suggest a shooting head fly line; which is, essentially, a specialized WF design.) Now, this is precisely where the Rio Gold shines; and well it should since this line is only available in the WF configuration.
The taper of the Rio Gold is somewhat exaggerated. While the first 30' falls right at a standard WF grain weight, the next 17' of line, the remainder of the fly line "head," adds a significant amount of 'weight forward' before dropping to the running line. As a point of reference, let's go back to the 5 weight. The first 30' of the Rio Gold comes in right at 146 grains. However, the total head weight, or first 47' weighs a whopping 228 grains. This puts the Rio Gold between the Rio Classic (almost identical to the iconic 444 Peach) and the ultra heavy Rio Grand (see Maybe Not "Grand," But "Good" - The RIO Grand Fly Line). What this means is that this line readily loads medium-fast tapered rods and absolutely shoots line with ease out to 60' distances.
While this is considered "normal" trout fishing distances, what if, as often happens, you need to cast shorter? Again, line taper will have much to do with it, but since the WF and the DT weigh nearly the same for the first 30' of fly line, there will have to be a significant difference in the taper to make a significant difference in the cast at ranges shorter than 40 feet. Now, bear in mind that a typical leader/tippet combination will run 9' - 12', that means the actual amount of fly line beyond the top guide is usually right around the 30' mark. Thus, if the majority of your casting is within 20' - 50', which happens to be where the vast majority of TROUT fishing occurs, my personal opinion is that the economic benefits of a DT outweigh the marginal benefits of the WF design. Though you'll find many who disagree, there are just as many who will concur. Frankly, the decision between DT and WF stems more from personal style and the specific rod.
Applications
Which brings us to the context in which the Rio Gold shines. I have used this line on Scott SAS (A2), Sage SP, Winston WT (see A Tradition That's Slowly Disappearing), and Winston LTX rods; mostly in 4 wt. and 5 wt. Both the Scott and Sage rods are rated medium-fast. Now, while the 8 1/2' 4 wt. Winston WT is rated medium and the 8 1/2' 5 wt. Winston WT is rated medium-fast by their manufacturer, both are closer to traditional, medium action rods; however, both are forgiving enough to work with a variety of lines, including heavier tapered/weighted rods. Meanwhile, the Winston LTX is rated as fast actioned. Though it is probably closer to medium-fast by today's rather loose standards ('standard' being a bit of a misnomer in that there is no industry 'standard' for rod actions), it does have a low forgiveness when it comes to the proper casting stroke. Find that stroke and it is a wonderful rod. Don't find that stroke or can't find it consistently and you'll dump it on eBay quickly (at least that's what seemed to happen during its short market life). By contrast, the Rio Gold is the first line I've found for the 4 and 5 wt. Scotts to truly bring out the qualities of those rods.
I do find that the line is just a bit heavy on the Winston WT 8 1/2' 5 wt. It works well enough; making 50' + casts. But, I think there are better alternatives for most of the situations I use it in. I find the Rio Gold a trifle overpowering for the WT 8 1/2' 4 wt. It is nearly perfect for the Winston LTX 5 wt. Thus, in a generalized sense, the Rio Gold is probably not the best match for medium action rods, is a solid selection for medium-fast actions, and will be a good choice for a number of fast action rods (note caveat below).
While using these rod/line combinations on small - medium sized lakes, the shooting characteristics of the Rio Gold absolutely stunned me. I am not a distance caster. I can manage 90' - 100' with the right rod/line combination; but, I usually have to work up to it and doing so consistently requires the right breakfast have been eaten and I have found the correct way to hold my mouth. (Every fisherman knows exactly what I mean.) When I first broke in the Rio Gold on the 8 1/2' 4 wt. Scott SAS, I had on a size 16 nymph and went for a series of trout working about 50' off the bank of a small lake.
One false cast, let a little line out. Second false cast, let a little more line out. Third stroke... BOOOOMMMMMMM. The line just shot out and for once, I realized I hadn't stripped enough running line off the reel. Making a long story short, 60' + casts are now a regular concept on a normal fishing day with anything from a size 18 dry to a size 6 bugger depending on line weight and leader/tippet combination. It's almost, though not quite, like casting a shooting line.
On the flip side, close in work just doesn't seem to be the forte' of the Rio Gold. There is a decided tendency for the line to land a bit "heavy" if you're not paying attention. It will make delicate casts, but you have to be aware. Okay. Maybe you wouldn't make such a tyro mistake. But, I do find myself being somewhat indelicate a little more often than I ever do with a more 'classic' line. (Such is not unusual with heavily tapered WF lines. Similar issues can arise with both the Rio Grand and Scientific Anglers GPX.)
Roll casting is so-so; i.e., it gets it done, but is nothing to brag about. Alright. I may have been a bit spoiled by the simply fabulous roll casting properties of the Wulff Triangle Tapers I've been experimenting with for the last year or so. But, I just don't see that the Rio Gold roll casts notably better than, say, the Rio Selective Trout (see A Fly Line for Trout and for Selective Fly Fishers). Likewise, line mending is good, but not significantly better than others. Now, my observations on the mending abilities could be partly biased by the fact that I haven't yet had the opportunity to use this line on some of the truly fast action rods such as the Sage Z-Axis (see The Sage Z-Axis - It Might Get Your Mojo Workin').
A Couple Of Technical Details
As previously stated, the Rio Gold is available only in weight-forward configuration. Line weights 3 - 5 are 90' in total length, while weights 6 - 8 come in at 100' in length. The head of each line is a "moss" colored (on the light end of medium olive) while the running line is "gold" (something actually closer to an "off" yellow than 'gold'). Basically, the idea is to have a dull-ish color toward the fish with a brighter color that helps one judge how much line is out and, to some degree, help one see their line on the water.
The Rio Gold has what the company refers to as the Extreme Slickness Technology (XS). The key components of this are their Agent X, Super Floatation Technology (SFT), and Welded Loops. Short version? SFT indicates that the line is infused with a chemical that gives a floating fly line a low specific gravity, resulting in higher buoyancy. A welded loop is simply an unique loop created by RIO that, purportedly, "stops water wicking up the core" of the line; thereby, producing a line with a tip that should never sink. This loop allows you to attach leaders more easily (many packaged leaders such as Rio and Umpqua's Trout leaders now come with perfection loops) and, in theory, allows the leader/fly line connection to more smoothly pass through the guides. (I am not sold on the idea that this is actually the case, but others are. I will stipulate that I have yet to pop a weld, despite having had some rather powerful 20" - 22" steelhead strain fish put it to the test.)
According to Rio, "AgentX is a manufacturing process in which two coatings are applied to the fly line at the same time. As a result of these coatings being produced simultaneously, they fuse together in what RIO calls 'Fusion Technology,' forming a seamless single coating that will never separate or break down." The new XS coatings used in the Agent X process are, according to Rio, a proprietary "little of this and a little less of that" formula. In the end, they have produced a line that is purported to be slicker, more stable, and less likely to attract dirt.
Slicker means better 'shootability' - i.e., it passes through the guides with less friction to hold it back. Well, I can definitively state that it does do that. More stable means less memory and sag. Let's just say we're good on that score. Less likely to attract dirt? Uh... Not exactly. Well, sorta. Uh... If the water's relatively clean and you don't drop the line in the dirt, it stays pretty clean. If not, it does clean easier and more thoroughly than many other lines I've tried.
Final Thoughts
I have to admit that the Rio Gold is quickly becoming my 'goto' line for small - medium sized lakes. (Well, there is this one, rather large lake I spend some time on...) It's become a standard for some of my big river fishing where you have to reach out and touch 'em if you want to hook 'em. However, this line has not won a place in my heart for small streams or other places where short casts are the rule rather than the exception. It's kind of a toss-up when it comes to locations where delicate presentations are pretty much a given - the toss-up being whether I happen to have a different line with me and/or the mood I'm in that day (i.e., do I really have my mind on the fishing or do I want to be able to become a little more lost in my thoughts?).
In the end, at least for me, the Rio Gold will never go platinum and it won't be setting the 'standard' for my working definition of the "Ultimate Fly Line," but it does have a certain intrinsic value.
