I got to test the New Rio Striper DC (density compensating) line over the past couple of weeks. I used the 250 grain on my 7 and 8 weights and the 400 grain on my 10 weight Echo 2 rods. Normally I would say that all intermediate sink tip lines are about the same, as in a pain to cast and have too much memory in the intermediate sections. These lines were the exception to the rule they were actually pretty easy to cast, but even easier to get out of the water when you’re picking up for your next cast. Getting a sink tip airborne is the most annoying thing in fly fishing because you not only fight the weight if the line but the resistance of the water as well. The striper series line comes off the water with minimal roll casting and once you get the 34 foot head airborne the line shoots like a cannon. Rios XS technology seems to really shine on these new generation of lines deigned to target sub-surface feeding fish. The 250 Grain is advertised to sink at 6 to 7 ips (inches per second) and the best I could tell it sinks right at 7.2 with a weighted fly and 0x tippet tied on. The 400 sinks right at 8.8 under that same conditions. I fished them both in ambient air temperatures from 87 Degrees to 26 degrees. In the heat the line retained its integrity well and in the blistering cold it only gained a small degree of memory, not enough to give me any problems launching 60-80 feet of line. Very few “new” fly lines impress me but these are both really great choices for not only striper but most freshwater conditions where an angler wants to throw streamers down to where the fish are feeding.
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