The SK3 is the sister of the SK4 line which I reviewed in these pages some time ago. The key difference between the SK4 and SK3 is head length. Where the SK4 has a 49ft head, the SK3 head is 39ft.

In the hand and on the rod, the characteristics of the SK3 are very similar to the SK4; both are supple and smooth. Front and rear tapers are both 1ft shorter than the SK4 and that seemed to make very little difference to turnover and presentation. Where this did differ from the SK4 was speed and carry, speed because the head was in the air and outside the tip ring sooner and faster. Assuming both lines are delivering a fly to the same target, at close range there is no difference at all. At medium range, when I need to shoot a little line the SK3 gets the fly to the target slightly sooner. And for long range, the SK4 allows me to carry, or false cast, more line and reach out just that bit farther.

That middle ground, or rather, that middle water, is where most of us fish most of the time, so the SK3 really shows what weight forward lines were originally designed for. The idea was to false cast enough line to load the rod and then shoot to reach the target – to get the fly on the water more quickly. Long belly WF lines allow us to carry more line which is the best way to gain distance with a floating line. (I would not necessarily make the same claims with sinking lines.)

As I see it, the SK3 is a good general purpose line at a very attractive price. It’s easy to get up in the air ready to shoot. On the other hand, the SK4 takes a little longer to aerialise and suits anglers with more casting skill and/or longer rods!