I had one of those “D'oh!” moments the other day. I was testing a new #8 rod, and the only lines in the car were a long belly #7 and a WF8 with a fairly short head. The #7 worked fine, I was throwing a long line. Then I switched lines and suddenly remembered why I liked that line: less line in the air, easier handling in gusting wind and the ‘doh’ moment – faster.

I can cast longer – farther – with a long belly line or a DT line in decent conditions but the point of WF lines waaaay back was speed not distance! I can deliver a fly faster with fewer false casts and the fly is fishing.