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Doug Finn wants to know about tapers:

In your books on saltwater fly-fishing, you advocate the use of normal weight-forward lines rather than saltwater tapers. Do you still have this view?

Q. In your books on saltwater fly-fishing, you advocate the use of normal weight-forward lines rather than saltwater tapers. Do you still have this view?

Saltwater taper lines were developed so you could get into action fast for short-range casting, for example, when you suddenly see a fish on the flats and have to make a cast. If you are not a good caster, then the saltwater taper is OK for short-distance casting where speed is required. But such lines have a shorter, heavier belly and front taper, and they land harder, making it more likely you’ll frighten your target. Conventional weight-forward tapers have a longer and thinner belly and front taper, so presentation is quieter. For general and distance casting, the conventional tapers perform much better than a saltwater taper.

-Lefty

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