Fly Line Durability Testing January 24, 2022 – Posted in: Films – Tags: , , , ,

Fly Line Durability Testing

One of the main features Scientific Anglers fly lines have over their competition is durability.  Bottom line, Scientific Anglers lines simply last longer.  This is due to several things, the most important being the addition of AST Plus.  This is not a coating that can wear off and needs to be re-applied.  AST Plus is an additive to the line which slowly migrates through the line to its outer surface constantly lubricating the line and reducing friction.  Proven through 3rd party Fly Line Durability testing. 

Friction from the line running over guides breaks down the line.  At a certain point, the line begins to crack, water seeps into the core and the line no longer floats.  The line also becomes more and more difficult to go through the guides.    In a worst-case scenario, the coating delaminates from the core and line is no longer usable.

Scientific Anglers R&D Manager, Josh Jenkins, shows us how SA tests and compares fly line durability.  In this apparatus, a fly line is attached to a cam and run through a fly rod tip top guide.  A weight is added to the end of the fly line to simulate casting and fishing use.  The number of cycles or revolutions of the cam are tracked and noted when the fly line begins to break down.

This can be done with a single line or multiple lines can be tested at the same time in series with identical cams, tip top guides, and weights, each under the same amount of electric power.  Tests have shown that most Scientific Anglers lines last a minimum of 60,000 cycles and at times reach 100,000 cycles.  Competitor lines usually breakdown between 10,000 to 30,000 cycles.  Scientific Anglers lines are the most durable fly lines on the market.