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Fly goes hi-tech with new S.A. Sharkskin
lines and Sage Targets Bassers
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Date: |
1/20/08 |
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Tackle type: |
Fly Gear |
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Manufacturer: |
Various |
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Reviewer: |
Zander |
Introduction: We picked two of the
most exciting fly offerings
at the ISE Sacramento
show,
the first being the
innovative new Sharkskin
casting and flotation
lines from Scientific
Anglers, and the second
being Sage's new fly
offerings designed
specifically for bass
fishing... that's right, Bass.
The fly exhibits
surround a casting pond
where experts teach
amateurs how to improve
their casts
At Sacramento the Fly Fishing
presence is so large that it gets an entire hall dedicated to the sport.
Centered around a test casting pond there are a ton of manufacturers and guides
eager to share their wares and stories with you.
A look at the 2008 show floor of
the fly Exhibits
As we made our way around the hall there were a
number of quality offerings, but not a lot of tackle that we could actually
consider new. The reel manufacturers for the most part simply introduced more
sizes rather than new additions to their lineups. You can always count on
Scientific Anglers to come up with something exciting, as they spend more time
and money on research drawing on their vast 3M resources.
Nice cast!
Scientific Anglers: At the show Scientific
Anglers demonstrated their new Sharkskin lines which are designed to offer the
ultimate casting experience. By modifying the surface of the fly line with a
micro-repeating structure, it is possible to 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.
Scientific Anglers introduces
their new premium line...Sharkskin
The Sharkskin technology is a radical modification of typical
smooth-surfaced fly lines, and introduces a micro-pattern 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 resulting in
less drag, easier mending, easier roll casting, easier pick-ups, and less water
spray.
There is plenty of technology
behind this new line, and the scientists turned to nature for inspiration
So what are the real life 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.
Under the microscope you can see
the Sharkskin micropattern
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.
Jason Lozano shows us the new
Sharkskin lines
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 change to the line
to diminish the coating integrity and resistance to cracking. Scientific Anglers
explained that in actuality, 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.
Next Section: Sage makes new fly
rods for bass anglers
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