Virtually all fly fishing situations can be approached with basic gear. A medium fast, 8’6″, 5-weight loaded with weight forward line will give you what you need to catch trout. But modifying one of those components to better match your skill or your circumstances can make a real difference. For example, a higher quality line will usually reduce friction and allow for a longer cast. A more specialized line will be constructed with a taper that can turn over large flies, load at shorter distances, or sink at a specified rate. If your fishing would benefit from such features, it is worth considering adding a new spool or simply swapping out your core line.

Sunray ‘s Kevlar NoKnot EZ Back Cast fly line is a specialized line that is loaded with features and could serve anglers in a variety of fishing conditions.

Many of those features are  highlighted in that voluminous product name:

• The line is built off of a Kevlar core. This means that the line, unlike the majority of fly lines, won’t stretch. While this eliminates any shock absorption in the line (your rod tip and leader still provide this), it allows for quick connections on hook sets. Subjectively, it feels like long lengths of line pick up off the water with less effort.
• “NoKnot”  has a few implications. Like many lines these days, there is a welded loop that allows for a loop-to-loop leader connection. Sunray does add some reinforcement, so the weld won’t give out before the line itself. More unique is the integrated backing. What is actually going on is that the braided Kevlar under the PVC coating extends for another 150 feet. There is a seamless transition between the two. While this isn’t a reason to buy the line, it is a nice perk.
• The real star of the show is the taper of the line, hence: EZ Back Cast. And that is a feature that deserves a little more attention.

Essentially, there is an aggressive forward taper that functions like a shooting head. However, it is designed to be cast with a traditional stroke and to land with enough finesse for normal trout conditions. In other words, with only one back cast you’ll build up enough energy to shoot out a good amount of fly line.

It is easy enough for a beginner to use. And the line is “color coded” to help distinguish where the front taper ends. With a few practice casts, anyone familiar with a fly rod will be able to utilize the EZ Back Cast line. I believe even novice anglers will be impressed by the distance and straightness they can achieve. Consequently, this is  plug and play line for saltwater or warmwater use. That said,  it will take a more experienced hand to command the line where delicate touch is essential. The tendency for those used to regular weight forward line will be towards a fast, splashy presentation. However, advanced anglers and diligent students will quickly be able to throw small dries to great effect.

The first application that the EZ Back Cast excels in is casting from a watercraft. The short of it is that it facilitates a single back cast that generates enough line speed to transition right away into a presentation. Needless false casting is eliminated, which accomplishes a few things. First, as you’re drifting downstream you’re able to hit more targets because your line is in the air for less time. Second, the taper and weight helps in aerializing a significant amount of line from even a seated position. Personally, the EZ Back Cast is going to be paired with my 9’6″ 5-weight; used from a canoe to chase trout in ponds and slower rivers.

Another great fit for the line would be water bodies where a back cast is possible, but the space for a long rearward loop isn’t practical. Or, an environment where you really have to build up good line speed with a little line to make the necessary presentation. Fishing New England ponds with heavily wooded shores, Great Lakes tributaries with steep banks, and southern tailwaters with high bluffs are some of the scenarios that come to mind. An experienced caster could use the line in these places with ease. A newer angler would really benefit from the marker that cues one in on when the line is primed to cast.

All said, Sunray’s latest offering is a fun, functional, and advanced line option that will get a lot of use in my season’s outings. There are some limitations due to the components and the build, but where it shines (long distance casts with minimal effort, quick pick up to presentation) it shines. It will be my go-to in the first situation I described above, and it will be spooled up and ready to go whenever I am out with my fast-action 5-weights.

If one of those applications sounds like something you find yourself encountering frequently, or if the features of this line fit a niche in your angling, I’d definitely recommend heading over to the Sunray website to learn more. As always, if you have a specific question please don’t hesitate to reach out and I’ll give you my honest opinion.