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Sharkskin Fly Line

Reviewed by Glenn Zinkus

Sharkskin Fly Line from Scientific Anglers

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ell, I did it. I put away my favorite trout line and fished this past season with 3M Scientific Angler's Sharkskin fly line.

To tell the truth, I was like a five-year-old and couldn't wait to try it out. I took my rod to the lawn and started false casting. Once I got past the noise of the line zipping through the guides, I noticed that casting the line to the other end of the yard came with hardly an effort.

Now that I've used the Sharkskin line for a while, this sound now seems kind of cool. Cast once, cast again with a slight haul, and hold on while the line shoots and comes up solidly against the reel.

Time on the Water

What I felt in the backyard only got better on the water. It takes me one false cast to expel enough line to load my Winston 5-weight. I can load this line faster and shoot it farther than I can with my other fly lines. I can reach fish I could never touch before. Also, I can reach some lies I couldn't get to before.

The line is supple over a variety of conditions, including workable pliability while winter fishing on the Metolius. The suppleness even results in better presentations--I get longer drag-free dead drifts.

Up Your Stealth

Once this line settles on the water, it floats noticeably higher than other fly lines. The micro-replicated surface traps small bubbles of air and floats the line higher.

Sharkskin lifts out of the water with hardly any surface disturbance. There is no loud rippppp of fly line coming off the water.

Also, the line seems to mend with little commotion, and roll casting is markedly easier--I can now make some very technical drifts that I could never reach before. That extra few feet really can make a difference.

The finish on the Sharkskin is flat, not glossy as on fly lines of old. The micro-replication on the surface diffuses light, thereby reducing glare or line flash while casting and makes one all the more stealthy. There are some very spooky fish out there and this is the line for those situations.

What is Sharkskin?

The line is embossed with a repeating geometric micro texture that gives it the name "Sharkskin". This micro-replication results in less line surface area in contact with guides and therefore less friction. This helps you shoot those monster casts.

The Sharkskin trout line comes in two colors, including bright chartreuse and a more muted blue heron. The chartreuse is best suited to bigger waters where the bright line will be a lesser factor and seeing the line is advantageous, and the blue heron is the line anglers want for quiet waters, spring creeks, and locations like New Zealand. The Sharkskin steelhead line is optic green and it is visible without making me reach for my sunglasses just to tone it down. The color is just what I want for most of my steelhead applications. 3M is beginning to expand the Sharkskin line offerings beyond the trout, steelhead, and saltwater lines to include GPX and shooting lines.

While I've tested Sharkskin over a full season, I have not yet used this line for the long term so I cannot comment on the durability. Scientific Anglers reports longevity of up to three times longer than for other fly lines.

I am interested in whether the textured Sharkskin picks up dirt within the textures. It's reported that normal cleaning with a Scientific Anglers fly line cleaning pad will remove any soiling. I'll report back later with a long-term test update.

While this line outperforms others, particularly at mid to far distance, it comes at a retail price of $99.95. This won't stop me from changing all of my lines over some time as I need to. I need the help to reach out to those far-away fish.

Bottom Line: A real improvement in fly line technology. Reviewer Rating: 5

Glenn Zinkus is an avid angler from Oregon. When not engaged in piscatorial pursuits, he may be finding birds behind his Brittanies; or attending to business that often has him traveling. While traveling he lives vicariously through the Westfly contributors.

Uploaded 01/21/2009.

User Reviews

5=tops  3=average  1=low

Rated as 4 by troutpimp on 01/25/2009

Comments: Well...I love mine for sure, nice review.

Rated as 5 by bruak on 02/03/2009

Comments: Thorough review, I might have to pick up one for the 4wt this spring.

Rated as 2 by Purist02 on 02/05/2009

Comments: I have fished the steelhead taper in both a 6wt and 10wt. The 6wt has performed well but the 10wt seemed to sink within 3 days out of the box. I am not the only person who has experienced this. I can't recommend these lines.

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