Leland on the Scientific Anglers Sharkskin Magnum Fly Line
To be sure, the Sharkskin Magnum Fly Line is the choice for
big flies, big wind and fast action rods. Built a half size heavier at each line weight, the Magnum
helps load fast action rods for quick shots in tight quarters or to fast moving fish. With a braided multifilament core that's been optimized for warmwater conditions, this line is versatile and functional across multiple fishing seasons. For
handling indicators, hair bugs and heavily weighted flies with authority, you won't find a better line than the Sharkskin Magnum Taper Fly Line.
Specifications:
- Fly Line Density: Floating
- Fly Line Taper: Mid-short belly, weight forward with welded front loop
- Total Head Length: 35 feet (for 5 weight line - varies by line weight)
- Running Line Length: 65 feet (for 5 weight line- varies by line weight)
- Total Line Length: 100 feet
- Core: Braided multifilament for warm water use
- Coating: Sharkskin Micro-textured surface on 3M PVC
- Line Weights: 4 through 10 weight
- Color: Mist Green
Leland on the SA Sharkskin Fly Lines
The most impressive, and important feature, by my reckoning, of
3M’s micro-replication process is its awesome flotation properties. I
couldn’t believe how high my new Sharkskin line floated on the water,
even the line tip! Fly line manufacturers have been struggling to
improve line flotability for decades with decidedly mixed results.
According to Scientific Anglers, the micro-texturing of the Sharkskin
Fly Line “Greatly increases the upward meniscus force (surface tension)
through a combination of the water’s interaction with the new surface
and the trapping of air into the valleys of the texture. The result is
an over 200% improvement in resistance of the line to be forced into the
water….effectively improving “flotation” of the line significantly
beyond anything that can be achieved through the addition of glass
bubbles or surface chemistries.”
The incredible flotation of the Sharkskin had a profound effect on my
ability to make drag free presentations. Firstly, the high floating fly
line better supported the floating portion of my leader, keeping it up
near the surface in rougher water. Secondly, the Sharkskin lifted so
damned easily off the water that mending, stack mending, and roll
casting could be accomplished with a fraction of the energy of my other
lines, particularly at distance across disparate currents. Thirdly, the
Sharkskin line itself has less drag in moving water due to its high
flotation, but it also has less drag due to its suppleness, compared to
other fly lines. Softer material, be it line, leader or tippet, will
create less drag in current.
Leland on Scientific Anglers
Scientific Anglers was founded in 1945 by fellow
anglers Leon Martuch, Clare Harris, and Paul Rottiers in Midland,
Michigan. They developed the first modern, plastic coated fly line in
1952, replacing silk fly lines which had been in use for well over 100
years. In 1954, SA introduced the Air Cel, widely considered the first
modern floating fly lines. The development of 3M Microballoons in 1959
revolutionized the way that fly lines float and is the standard
technology by which all manufacturers float their lines today. 3M, then
known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, acquired
Scientific Anglers in 1973.
Today, 3M is one of 30 companies comprising the Dow
Jones Industrial Average and is ranked about 100 in the Fortune 500
listing with over $23 billion in annual sales, operating in over 60
countries with 29 international companies and 35 laboratories. It’s
probably the largest company in the world directly involved in the fly
fishing industry. No wonder these guys can make fly lines float! They
obviously wrote the book on early modern fly line development and it’s
not surprising that they have research and development resources way
beyond the means of the handful of other major fly line makers that we
usually see on the shelves, which include Rio and Cortland in the U.S.
and Airflo in the U.K. Most other brands you buy are actually made by
one of these few companies or in Asia. Machines to build modern fly
lines are very sophisticated, very expensive, and take up a lot of
space, to satisfy a very small potential market. Hence the dearth of
players.
So, why hasn’t Scientific Anglers simply rolled over
their competition? Well, the other companies may be small by comparison,
but they too, have been innovative at times, particularly in coming up
with specialized tapers for different fishing situations. These tapers
are designed by knowledgeable fishermen, not scientists, so sometimes
the little guy gets the jump on the big guy. Rio Products, recently
purchased by the Sage rod company, has been particularly active, and
successful, pioneering whole new categories of Spey and single handed
fly lines.
I’m not a patent lawyer, but I’m guessing that the 3M micro-replication
process might pose a difficult challenge for all other fly line
companies seeking to mimic the advantageous properties of the new
Scientific Anglers technology. Certainly expect S.A. to capitalize on
Sharkskin with an expansion of the product line in the near future.
Scientific Anglers on their Sharkskin Fly Line Series
"The Ultimate Casting Experience"
What is Sharkskin?
By modifying the surface of the fly line with a
micro-repeating structure, you can achieve surface interface properties
that mimic nature such as the ability of insects to walk on water, the
shedding and self-cleaning ability of Lotus leaves, or the adhesion that
allows a gecko to walk up vertical surfaces. Scientific Anglers
Sharkskin technology is a precise texturing process that embosses the
surface of the fly line coating with a repeating geometric
micro-pattern. The finished surface is no longer smooth, no longer
exhibits unwanted line flash, and can be optimized via the engineered
shape, depth, and frequency of the pattern to yield greatly improved
line-to-water floatation, casting performance, and overall line
suppleness and durability.
What is the specific benefit for a floating fly line?
The Sharkskin technology is a radical modification of
typical smooth-surfaced fly lines…introducing a micropattern around the
entire circumference of the line. One of the pattern’s key features is
that it changes the meniscus force balance that up until now, holds all
other floating fly lines at close to a neutral buoyancy within the
line-water interface…essentially ½ the line is above the surface and ½
the line is below the surface. The micro texture greatly increases the
upward meniscus force through a combination of the water’s interaction
with the new surface and the trapping of air into the valleys of the
texture. The result is an over 200% improvement in resistance of the
line to be forced into the water….effectively improving “floatation” of
the line significantly beyond anything that can be achieved through the
addition of glass bubbles or surface chemistries. The line sits higher
in the water – less drag, easier mending, easier roll casting, easier
pick-ups, less water spray.
What are the benefits of Sharkskin on casting?
Simply reducing running line diameters on weight
forward (WF) lines has long been utilized as a way to reduce line
friction in rod guides. However, reducing line diameter also reduces
line durability, and increases the propensity for a line to tangle.
Simple texturing of a fly line reduces the surface contact with rod
guides during casting. Scientific Anglers introduced the Bonefish taper
and other key distance-casting lines that utilize a braided monofilament
core - modifying the surface of the running line, reducing the
frictional interface during casting and resulting in the ability to
shoot farther but with few tangles. The Sharkskin technology takes this a
step further, allowing lines not made on stiff braided monofilament to
have this shooting and casting advantage and the advantage extends to
the belly and tip of the line, not just the running line. Because
friction in the guides is reduced significantly, even when the line
belly is in the guides, shoot distance is increased allowing longer,
easier casts. Casters who also double haul find haul resistance reduced
which results in easier, smoother hauls, even on hot days or when the
line is dirty. This, along with reduced shoot friction, has resulted in
increased test casting distance when compared to the exact same line
without the Sharkskin texture. Distance increases compared to
competitive lines without the advantages of AST, Sharkskin, and our new
taper, will be significantly greater. Although these new lines excel at
distance, the features that allow that distance make shorter casts even
easier.
What other features are improved with Sharkskin?
Another advantage of this new technology is complete
elimination of line “flash”. Most other lines have slick, glossy
surfaces that reflect light and can “flash” in the air scaring spooky
fish. The micro-texturing process virtually eliminates surface glare,
the finish is completely flat. When conditions are such that line flash
is an issue, Sharkskin lines have an additional advantage over other
lines. One would expect this radical change to the line to diminish the
coating integrity and resistance to cracking. Actually, the opposite
occurs. The engineered micro-repeating pattern effectively introduces
flex points that increase the suppleness of the line and in lab testing,
the durability and resistance to cracking is up to 3X greater. A good
analogy is how a bicycle chain, although made of metal, bends due to
flex points in the links.
Scientific Anglers on Scientific Anglers
Scientific Anglers™ Technology
You may not know it, but every time you go fly fishing you're using our technology.
With Air Cel,™ Scientific Anglers™ invented modern floating fly line
more than half a century ago. A few decades later, we invented Wet Cel,™
which established a revolutionary new sinking fly line technology. Our
processes and methodologies have improved greatly since those early
innovations, and as we continue to enhance fly line performance, the
industry continues to follow suit. For instance, we pioneered the use of
powdered tungsten in our sinking lines two decades ago, and we continue
to perfect and optimize its usage. That may come as a surprise to some,
because tungsten is now being heralded as a new technology. Likewise,
our innovations in Advanced Shooting Technology – AST – created the
slickness craze that every other fly line manufacturer is following
today. That's okay, because that's our role – to lead and help the
entire industry in the process. And Now - we have revolutionized fly
line performance with Our New Micro-textured Sharkskin fly lines. Just
last year we introduced System™ L2L line-to-leader connectors, which
people are just now starting to recognize as an extraordinary product
with incredible attributes. You can be sure that other companies will
soon introduce their own versions of System™ L2L, and perhaps claim it
as their own. System™ X waterproof fly boxes are another recent
introduction that we think will revolutionize fly box design. And the
great thing is – with Scientific Anglers™ – you don't have to wait years
for knock-offs. You can find the future of fly fishing right here in
this website. And best of all, you can find these products in the store –
ready to help you catch more fish. After all, you're using our
technology already – why not buy and use the real thing?
