6wt Vice line recommendations
Calling all fly line and streamer nerds - I need a floating line recommendation for my 6wt 9' Vice rod (S model with the fighting butt).
Rod purpose - streamers for smallmouth bass and trout in rivers for walk and wade, walk and wade schoolie stripers when they run etc. Ultimately, I need a fly line that can throw the max weight/size flies as possible for a 6wt rod. I realize I likely need/could use an 8wt, but I enjoy being outgunned on lighter rods with heavier tippet in order to ethically horse in a fish.
Lines I've tried
- SA Bass Bug Textured: love the way the texture shoots, but the 43' long head makes short casts not great and longer casts have just always felt clunky to me. I think I prefer a shorter head overall.
-Rio Single Hand Spey 3D - overhead casts well with smaller buggers, but some of my medium (sz 6 with heavy DB eyes) clousers haven't seem to cast as well as I'd like. It's clear that line is made for smaller stuff.
Rio Outbound Short - it might be the best option of the 3 I've tried, but it fell short of the SA Bass bug despite its shorter more condensed head (30' @ 235gr)
OPST Commando Smooth integrated - tried this out mostly to figure out spey casting in general and threw in the towel after a few weeks.. felt like too much condensed grain weight in a too short head for overhead casting.
Any insight or options to look into would be much appreciated.
Posted Jul 4, 2025, 1:22 AM UTC