Choosing the right fly line is the single most important decision you can make to improve your casting and fishing success. While rods and reels get much of the glory, the fly line is the engine of the entire system. It’s the line’s weight and taper that loads the rod, transfers energy, and ultimately delivers your fly to the target. A well-matched line makes casting feel effortless; a poor match leads to frustration.
RIO has built its reputation on engineering fly lines for specific purposes. However, their extensive catalog can be daunting. This guide is designed to simplify the process.
We will break down RIO’s entire lineup by its three main categories—Freshwater, Saltwater, and Spey—and use clear summary tables to help you find the perfect line for your rod, target species, and style of fishing.
Understanding RIO’s Fly Line Categories
RIO organizes its fly lines into logical families to help you quickly narrow your search. At the highest level, they are divided by water type and casting style.
- Freshwater Fly Lines: The largest and most diverse category, containing lines for everything from tiny trout in small creeks to monster bass in warmwater lakes.
- Saltwater Fly Lines: Built with stronger cores and specialized coatings to withstand harsh marine environments and powerful fish.
- Spey Fly Lines: Dedicated to two-handed and Spey-style casting, designed to cast long distances on large rivers.
RIO Freshwater Fly Lines
This category covers the vast majority of fly fishing applications. RIO divides its freshwater lines into one multipurpose family and several specialty families.
Gold Series (Multipurpose)
GOLD Series fly lines bridge the fishability gap with adaptable multipurpose tapers that cater to ready-for-anything anglers in search of maximum versatility. We explore this iconic series in much greater detail in our complete RIO Gold Fly Lines Buyer’s Guide.
| Model | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Elite Gold | All Around – Go-To | $129.99 |
| Elite Gold XP | Multipurpose / Extra Power | $129.99 |
| Elite Gold Max | Multipurpose / Max Power | $129.99 |
| Premier Gold | All Around – Go-To | $99.99 |
| Premier Gold XP | Multipurpose / Extra Power | $99.99 |
| Premier Gold Max | Multipurpose / Max Power | $99.99 |
| Premier Glacial Gold | Icey Conditions Trout Line | $99.99 |
| Premier Dog Days Gold | Hot Conditions Trout Line | $99.99 |
| Avid Trout—Gold | All Around – Go-To | $69.99 |
| RIO Fly Line Kit – Stream/Creek | Complete kit for streams and creeks | $49.99 |
Specialty Dry Fly Lines
With a range of lines designed for topwater obsessives, this lineup elevates your ability to present everything from dainty CDCs to plus-size salmonflies with precision.
| Model | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Elite Technical Trout | Dry Fly Specific – Presentation | $129.99 |
| Premier Bank Robber | Terrestrial & Stonefly Specific | $99.99 |
| Premier Technical Trout WF | Dry Fly Specific – Presentation | $99.99 |
| Premier Creek Line | Creek – Small Stream | $99.99 |
| Premier Technical Trout DT | Dry Fly Specific – Presentation | $99.99 |
| Premier LightLine DT | Presentation – Fiberglass / Bamboo | $99.99 |
| Premier LightLine | Presentation – Fiberglass / Bamboo | $99.99 |
| Mainstream Trout DT | Presentation – Fiberglass / Bamboo | $39.99 |
Specialty Streamer Lines
When it’s time to upsize your offerings, these lines are engineered to work structure, hit targets, and haul it all.
| Model | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Elite Predator Fly Line | Streamer / Big Fly | $99.99 |
| Elite Warmwater Predator | Bass, Jungle, and Bulky Flies Specific | $99.99 |
| Premier StreamerTip Fly Line | Streamer | $99.99 |
| Premier 24ft Sink Tip | Sinking Tip – All Around | $99.99 |
| Premier OutBound Short | Power Cast / Shooting Line | $99.99 |
| Mainstream Trout Sink | Sinking Tip – All Around | $39.99 |
| InTouch VersiTip II | Interchangeable Tip Line | $189.99 |
| Elite MDC VersiTip | Interchangeable sink tip system | $199.99 |
| Avid 24ft Sink Tip | Sinking Tip – All Around | $69.99 |
Specialty Nymphing Lines
These lines bring focus to the feeding lanes with smart designs that turn over a full range of leader setups and fly sizes for effortless casts and deadly drifts.
| Model | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Elite Xtreme Indicator | Nymphing – Boat | $129.99 |
| Elite Indicator | Nymphing – Wade | $129.99 |
| Elite Switch Indicator | Switch Rod Nymphing | $129.99 |
Specialty Euro Nymphing Lines
These lines bring together low-stretch, thin-diameter cores and high-visibility for fast, responsive performance that nets big results.
| Model | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|
| FIPS Euro Nymph | Euro Nymphing | $59.99 |
| RIO Micro Leader Material | Nylon leader-building material | $7.49 |
| Premier Technical Euro Nymph | Integrated Euro Nymphing | $74.99 |
| Euro Nymph Shorty | Quick Change Euro Nymphing | $29.99 |
| Premier Technical Euro Nymph Shorty | Integrated Quick Change Euro Nymphing | $42.99 |
Specialty Warmwater Lines
These lines are formulated for accurately turning over a wide range of fly sizes while staying slick in everything from typical summer heat to tepid jungle playgrounds.
| Model | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Elite Predator Fly Line | Streamer / Big Fly | $99.99 |
| Elite Warmwater Predator | Bass, Jungle, and Bulky Flies Specific | $99.99 |
| Elite Smallmouth Bass | Smallmouth Specific | $99.99 |
| Mainstream Bass | Bass Specific | $39.99 |
| Avid Bass | Bass Specific | $69.99 |
| RIO Fly Line Kit – Bass/Redfish | Complete kit for Bass/Redfish | $49.99 |
Specialty Lake Lines
Master the ever-changing stillwater chessboard with technical topwater options, stealthy intermediates, and a full range of deep-sinking standouts.
| Model | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Elite Stillwater Floater | Lake – All Around Floating | $99.99 |
| Elite Sub-Surface – Hover | Lake – All Around Intermediate Sinking | $99.99 |
| Elite Sub-Surface – CamoLux | Lake – All Around Intermediate Sinking | $99.99 |
| Ambassador – Lake Chucker | Pyramid Lake Switch Line | $129.99 |
| Ambassador – Phil Rowley Lake | Lake Specific / Integrated Tippet Ring | $99.99 |
| Premier Fathom | Lake – All Around Sinking | $99.99 |
| Premier Midge Tip | Lake – Shallow Bays / Weed Beds | $89.99 |
| Premier Midge Tip Hover | Lake – Shallow Bays / Weed Beds | $89.99 |
| Premier Midge Tip Long | Lake – Shallow Bays / Weed Beds | $89.99 |
| Premier Midge Tip Long Hover | Lake – Shallow Bays / Weed Beds | $89.99 |
| Premier CleanSweep | Lake – Sweep Style Sinking | $99.99 |
| RIO Fly Line Kit – River/Lake | Complete kit for River/Lake | $49.99 |
| Premier AquaLux | Lake – Clear Intermediate Sinking | $89.99 |
Specialty Shooting Lines
These lines put you at an advantage with powerful, easy casting designs made for moving big flies with minimal effort at maximum range.
| Model | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Premier OutBound Short | Power Cast / Shooting Line | $99.99 |
| OutBound Short Shooting Head | Power Cast / Shooting Head | $59.99 |
| Premier OutBound Custom | Custom Taper – Power Cast / Shooting Line | $99.99 |
Specialty Swing Lines
These lines feature the latest technologies for anglers wanting to expand their reach with roll and single-handed Spey casts.
| Model | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Elite Single-Handed Spey | Roll Casting Specific | $129.99 |
| Elite Salmon/Steelhead | Single Hand Salmon & Steelhead | $99.99 |
| Elite MDC VersiTip | Interchangeable sink tip system | $199.99 |
RIO Saltwater Fly Lines
Saltwater fly fishing demands equipment that can handle powerful fish and corrosive conditions. RIO’s saltwater lines are built with ultra-strong cores and temperature-specific coatings to ensure they perform flawlessly. Key categories include lines specifically designed for All-Around use, as well as those dialed in for Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon, Redfish, Striper, and Big Game species.
RIO Spey Fly Lines
Designed for use with two-handed rods, Spey lines allow anglers to make long, powerful casts on big rivers. This category is broken down into different systems that match various casting styles and fishing situations. The main families include Skagit heads (for casting heavy sink tips and large flies), Scandi heads (for delicate presentations), and Switch lines.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What’s the best RIO fly line for a beginner? For a beginner freshwater angler, the RIO Gold is an outstanding choice. Its user-friendly taper performs well across a wide range of techniques, making it a forgiving and versatile line to learn with.
What is the difference between a multipurpose line and a specialty line? A multipurpose line (like the RIO Gold) is designed to be a jack-of-all-trades. A specialty line is a master of one, optimized to provide maximum performance for a single technique, like indicator nymphing or casting huge streamers.
Do I really need a saltwater-specific line for the ocean? Yes. A freshwater line will not perform well in saltwater. Its core is not strong enough for powerful saltwater species, and the line coating will often become limp and sticky in tropical heat or too stiff in colder coastal waters.
What are RIO’s “Elite” and “Premier” tiers? Within many line families, RIO offers different performance tiers. “Elite” lines typically feature their most advanced technologies, like the ultra-slick SlickCast coating and low-stretch ConnectCore Plus. “Premier” lines are also top-quality and feature many of the same great tapers, often with the SlickCast coating but without the low-stretch core. Both are excellent choices.
