Guideline WF Fario Lines- a study

As in the previous blogs, you can see my preference to the Guideline Fario Lines, but as they have 4 variants, I thought a deeper comparison was in order, and include the other lies I believe are worthy of attention.

It should be noted that the Canadian distributor sadly only imports the “Fario Tactical” and keeps limited stock, so I often need to import-buy from Europe.

Line	Range	5wt	Front	Body	Back	Handle	Price	Colour
GL Fario Elite	3-7	185	18.0	11.8	4.9	9.8	100 E	Olive, w Yellow Tint
GL Fario Tactical	2-6	170	18.0	6.9	5.4	9.8	110 C$	Light Olive
GL Fario Tactical Camo	2-5	ns	18.0	6.9	5.4	9.8	90 E	Dark Olive
GL Fario Distance	4-7	200	21.3	11.8	6.5	9.8	100 E	Olive, w Yellow Tint
Cortland Ultralight	2-6	140	18.0	16.0	6′	–	90 US$	Olive
RIO Lightline	2-5	140	5+8	25.0	5′	–	100 US$	Light Olive

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Table Notes:

• Range – refers to the minimum to maximum line weight category available.
• 5wt – is the listed weight of a 5wt line. Note the AFFTA standard for 5wt is 140 grains.
• Length of each section of the line, in feet:
  • Front representing the front taper. The RIO line has a complex taper.
  • Body being the level behind the taper.
  • Back referring to the rear taper.
  • Handle, if there is one, is the thick running line we get into the shooting line.
• Price, in order of search
  • If in Canadian – listed at L’Ami du Moucheur
  • If it US dollars – listed at Bears Den
  • If in Euro – as defined at Guideline’s website

As previously note Guideline does not list their weight in accordance to the AFFTA standard at 30′, so I have used my 3wt line to understand what is try provided.

• AFFTA Standard for 3wt at 30′ is 100 grains+- 6
• I measured at 25′ – 105 grains
• and then measured at 30′ – 126 grains
• where the AFFTA standard for a 4 wt at 30′ is 120 +- 6

As the taper is slow, this deviation can be beneficial is you are roll-casting or working in close. Otherwise, for long trout (40’+) distance casting this heavy weight is a disadvantage for a properly weight rod.

When we looked at each element, and select the best

• Range: Guideline Fario Tactical, Cortland Ultralight
• Weight, as per AFFTA: Cortland Ultralight, RIO Lightline
• Taper and Body:
  • RIO Lightline at 38′ with a complex front taper for most fishing conditions.
  • Cortland Ultralight at 34′ with a long front taper for fine flies and slick water
  • Guideline Fario Elite at 30′ with the weight and shape for a SH spey casting (roll-casting)
  • Guideline Fario Tactical as it is overweight for small rivers-creeks
• Colour: Guideline Fario Tactical Camo

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On Colour: My preference is a natural tone for the environment I am fishing, once the line is out. For trout, in spring to fall, think olive, but straw is okay. (3M had a colour that they called buckskin that I also liked)

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Guideline Fario Elite

Yes, I would fish it on a 4wt and 5wt rod for larger rivers, with its 30′ head. Would expect it to excel on SH spey casts, but would like a little less yellow. If Single Hand Spey Casting was the most important feature, I would select this line, but I am more likely to keep using my Cortland Ultralight.

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Guideline Fario Tactical

A nice light line for smaller rods – think small rivers and creeks using a James Green 3wt NTS 7′ Fiberglass Rod. With my lines, I wish the tip was a little darker.

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Guideline Fario Tactical Camo

Another fine line for smaller rods, with a darker tip, for small rivers and creeks surrounded by trees – think Appalachia. Yes, I would select this line – if available – before the standard tactical.

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Guideline Fario Distance

Would be a good match for open western waters with a long rod that likes weight, such as a Loomis NRX+

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Cortland Ultralight

A true weight line with a long body making signaling Cortland was thinking about presentation and mending on medium+ rivers when they release this line, like my Scott G905.

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RIO Lightline

RIO has a huge stable of lines, which I contend many of the trout lines are there to make you happy about your cast, but the LightLine is an exception, and is an all-rounder good line.

Any quibbles on my 2wt line, I would the line to be a little darker, and it is not the best line in this group for a spey cat setup.

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In closing, IMHO there are many lies available, some that properly describe what you are buying and fewer that are really focus on trout fishing.

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🙂

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