A Review: Airflo Saltwater Fly Lines

On a recent trip to Isla Holbox Mexico, our group fished a couple of Airflo Fly Lines.  Here is a recap of what we discovered.

Want to know what it's like to land Tarpon in Isla Holbox? Read this.

Airflo Tropical Punch

All the guys on our trip have fished saltwater before, but we all primarily fish for trout.  Casting 8, 9 and 10 weights are not the norm and usually only happens on destination trips like this one.  The Tropical Punch line was developed for anglers who can use a little help getting their fly to the target in conditions outside their daily norm.  With a compact front taper and a long rear taper, the line excels at quick casting to close targets.  The 40 ft. head makes it easy to load the rod for standard length casts.

I’m not going to lie. I strongly encouraged everyone on the trip to pick up a new fly line, and I suggested the Tropical Punch as a good choice.  So, if the line did not perform as advertised, it was going to reflect poorly on me.

The majority of our tarpon shots were within 60 feet. The Tropical Punch proved to be a great delivery system, and everyone who used it was very happy with their results.  Despite the wind, fishable casts were achieved and everyone landed Tarpon. Having the right tool for the job is paramount, and the Tropical Punch proved to be the right tool.

Looking for the right fly line? Check out our selection here.

Airflo Ridge Tropical Clear Tip Short (12’ Clear Floating Tip)

In the past, I’ve noticed an advantage with clear fly lines on Key’s tarpon. So, I was interested in trying the Tropical Clear Tip. The 12 ft. Clear Tip definitely provides a level of stealth not achieved with a standard fly line with color. Also, the Clear Tip is less visible in the air when casting to fish, or over fish. And, it is less visible on the water when fish are approaching.  After 12 ft., the line is colored a pale yellow that is easily tracked by the angler, or guide.

We were faced with very windy conditions on our trip. (Judging distance and targeting fish blurred by rippled water, is difficult.)  The Clear Tip provides a little cushion for casts not quite on the mark, and I noticed fish were definitely less likely to spook from under it. If a moving school managed to get under my line, I could let them pass and then retarget them.

The wind certainly adds a challenging factor to accurate casting, especially when using a long leader.  With a colored line, we were using 12 ft. leaders.  With the Clear Tip on the Ridge Tropical, I was able to fish 8-10 ft. leaders.  This was much easier to handle, especially when casting to fish at the edge of the mangroves.

The Ridge Tropical Clear Tip has a 51 ft. head length.  There are now two options.  The short version I chose has a 12 ft. clear tip, and that seemed like the best choice for me.  There is also a long version featuring a 30 ft. tip that might make more sense in the Keys.

The overall profile of the line is more like a bonefish line than that of the more aggressive Tropical Punch.  A longer head is a benefit because, it is easier to lift 50 ft., or more, of line when making longer casts. This is ideal when targeting fish out in the open flats.  Despite the head length, I was still able to load the rod sufficiently for close in shots.

I would consider the Ridge Tropical Clear Tip to be a great all-purpose saltwater line for whatever species you are chasing.

Have you ever wanted to take a destination fly fishing trip? Check this out.