“Sharkskin Fly Line - The Texture Of Progress”
By
Chris Frangiosa

Progress (prog-ress) to advance toward perfection or to a better state; improvement

Fly line has gone through many changes over the years, most of which were for the better. After all, a good fly-line is as important as any rod or reel. You can trace fly line technology throughout the years by doing extensive research in books and online or you can read the next sentence and learn all you need to know much faster. Fly lines were originally made of silk and had no taper, now they are made of PVC and have multiple taper options for easier casting and durability. That is progress, unfortunately this progress happened many years ago and since then not much has changed. That was until a year ago when Scientific Anglers launched a new type of fly line that sent Bamboo touting, silk casting anglers running for the hills. The SA Sharkskin Lines are an assault on our senses and on game fish all over the world. Want to feel the texture of progress, just touch an SA Sharkskin.

When you do interact with one of these lines you will feel that it has a ruff texture throughout the entire line that feels like (you guessed it) a shark’s skin. This consistency means that the line has less friction going through the guides. This low drag is noticeable immediately to beginners and professionals alike. There is no question that more distance is achieved with this line in all applications. Other benefits include higher floatation, easier line pickup and reduced drag on line pick-up. Like any product there are downsides as well. Most notably is the sound of the line going through the guides, which always brings me back to my last drilling experience at the dentist. Then there is the added friction that Sharkskin brings to your fingers in saltwater situations, which usually requires some anti-septic cream and a bandage. To me however these detriments are easily overlooked and avoided; you get used to the sound and a simple finger guard will protect your precious digits.

Sharkskin lines are available in many different types to fit your fishing needs. In the trout realm these lines are offered in standard Trout taper, a GPX (general presentation) and Double Taper varieties. For bigger game applications the Sharkskin comes in both a Magnum Taper (for Bigger Flies) a Saltwater Taper (Cold and Warm Water Applications) and a Steelhead Taper. All lines are priced at $99, a premium for sure but SA also states that Sharkskin has twice the durability of a standard line so perhaps the price represents a relative bargain.

At the end of the day, buy a Scientific Angler Sharkskin line because it truly represents every definition of progress. This is not a perfect item as I previously mentioned but it addresses all the issues of distance and flotation and assaults the senses in such a glorious way. Stop by one of our TCO locations to cast this line and you’ll feel and hear the difference for yourself.

Click here to purchase your Sharkskin Fly Line