Barrio SLX

I have just spooled up some new lines from Mike Barrio - the SLX. Very much designed for the modern fly caster, this has a short belly with an overall head length of approximately 33 feet. This is clearly designed for covering single handed spey casting with ease whilst allowing for easy overhead casting.

Here is Mike's outline for the SLX taper:

Further details from Mike:

"Our new Barrio SLX floating fly line has been designed to complement today's modern fly rods. The new line features a head length of approx 33 ft with a short belly and a series of multiple compound tapers to the front. The short rear taper is also compounded and helps to produce sweet loops and fast shoots from roll and spey casts whilst still retaining stability on overhead casts. The SLX is designed to be heavy on the scales, but feel light in the air and that is where the intricate tapers really come into play!

All the above properties help to make the SLX an ideal line where space is tight and accuracy matters!

The SLX loads quickly and presents a fly predictably with control at any range from 20 to 70 feet, although it is certainly not limited to this range. Suitable for anglers of all levels of casting ability, advanced casters will be able to do some pretty clever tricks with the SLX and thanks to the positive turnover, visible head and the colour change, less advanced casters will enjoy repeatable, predictable results and good range with minimal effort.

The SLX excels with a tapered leader and in the heavier sizes easily copes with salmon flies, small tubes and poly leaders, making these an excellent choice for single handed salmon or sea trout fishing".


Mike has also put together some video of the new SLX being pout through its paces:





First impressions: slick supple and a really interesting profile. I will be out on the water with it very soon.

~Dave.