Let me start by presenting two caveats that would seem to be relevant. First, I am not, nor am I likely to become, a true "fast action" fly rod fan. Thus, my experience with this line is comparatively limited given that the RIO Grand fly line is specifically designed for truly fast action rods. The second caveat is that I do not currently own a RIO Grand fly line and have only used it in conjunction with rods owned by friends or in test casting rods at fly shops.

Even with these admissions, I think there exists enough practical use that I can offer a certain amount of reasonable insight into this fly line. More over, I think the above caveats actually permit me a certain objectivity that someone who regularly uses or depends on this fly line might not have. You see, if familiarity can breed contempt, it can also breed a certain blind loyalty or myopic perception that might jibe with the advertising, but might not engender an accurate understanding of where this line actually fits into the "Grand" scheme of things.

Oh, this outta be good.

..... What The Company Says .....

Rio Products International, Inc. (also referred to as "Jim Vincent's RIO") is a comparative newcomer to the fly line industry; Jim Vincent and his wife Kitty having started the company in 1990. As noted in the company's 2006 catalog:

"...I come at fly line design from an intuitive rather than an engineering point of view; experience drives innovation at RIO. We don't hire guys in white lab coats to design a better way to connect a fish to a fly line..."

Further, the company's 2006 catalog states:

"...The product development process has to incorporate the input of fly fishers, guides and captains; and the hours, days, and years of standing in rivers, wading on flats, surf-casting or standing on the deck of a flats boat...every fly fisher's experience on the water presents numerous challenges...it is our collective experience and the expertise of our customers that drives RIO's creative products."

RIO wants to promote itself as being "in tune" with contemporary needs; which explains why the company has quickly gained a loyal following among many new fly fishers and fly fishers using more 'modern' rod designs. A quick and probably inaccurate count from Scientific Anglers, Cortland, and RIO catalogs (the three 'biggies') shows a minimum of 75 different, named floating lines for myriad fresh- and saltwater fishing situations. The reason for this rather outstanding number of variations? Some are for specialty situations such as large flies (bass bugs and streamers aren't very aerodynamic) or high winds. But, primarily, the differences can be found in the tapers and how they're designed to work with a specific type of rod; e.g., modern, faster action graphites, Spey rods, or the more traditional, moderate-slow actioned graphite/fiberglass/bamboo rods.

[Point of interest: On 9 November 2005, it was announced that: "Far Bank Enterprises, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Joshua Green Corporation of Seattle, Washington, today announced that it has acquired RIO Products Intl. Inc. of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Sage Manufacturing and Redington are also owned and controlled by Far Bank..." For the complete news release, see http://moldychum.typepad.com/moldy_chum/2005/11/more_industry_c.html ]

To that end, the RIO Grand has been specifically designed around modern, "fast" action rod designs. Or, as the company states:

"The RIO Grand, made with state-of-the-art fly line technology, is an all-around line with distinctive benefits for the trout fly fisher. The weight forward taper is one half size heavier to load fast action fly rods. The unique taper design features a long rear taper that roll casts easily and a front taper that will delicately present even the smallest dry fly. AgentX Technology gives the RIO Grand maximum floatation. The line remains supple in coldwater conditions and is ultra smooth for maximum casting distance. The Super Floatation Tip has a welded loop for changing leaders. Tests prove that when you land a fish, the loop slides through the rod guides more easily than the customary nail knot." (http://www.rioproducts.com/product.php?recKey=5)

..... What Did They Just Say? .....

"The RIO Grand, made with state-of-the-art fly line technology, is an all-around line with distinctive benefits for the trout fly fisher..."

The "state-of-the-art" technology they refer to is derived primarily from the AgentX Technology and Super Floatation Tip referenced above. Exactly what are these? Sparing you the techno-babble, SFT stands for "Super Floatation Tip." The SFT label indicates that the line is infused with a chemical that gives a floating fly line a low specific gravity, resulting in higher buoyancy. On the WF lines, this treatment is combined with a welded loop unique to RIO that, purportedly, "stops water wicking up the core" of the line; thereby, producing a line with a tip that should never sink. That is unless you don't want the loop and cut it off for the more traditional nail knot connection between fly line and butt section/leader.

Frankly, I've never met a fly line where the tip did not sink to some degree. The RIO Grand is no exception; even with an absolutely brand new fly line. What I can say is that it has not sunk as much as some of the other lines I have used over the years. And, insofar as the welded loop passing "through the rod guides more easily than the customary nail knot..." Well, sort of. Much of it depends on what you consider to be the "customary" nail knot.

At the following web address, you can find an article by the legendary J.M. Chico Fernandez regarding line to leader knots - (http://www.midcurrent.com/articles/knots/fernandez_connection.aspx). Scroll down and you will find a photograph with, from top to bottom, a "standard" nail knot, a loop-to-loop connection of monofilament, and a nail or "needle" knot where the leader or butt section is run out through the middle of the fly line. This last knot is what Fernandez refers to as an "even slicker, more energy efficient connection" than a 'standard' nail knot. It also happens to be the knot I have used for the majority of my fly lines to butt section connections for something like the last 20 years. I also find it to be at least as smooth passing through the top guide as the welded loop on the RIO Grand.

The advantage of a loop-to-loop connection is that it allows a relatively quick leader change without having to cut the leader itself; which gives you greater flexibility and can extend the usable life of your leader. But, as Fernandez cites in his article, the loops must be "small and compact to slide through the guides." The welded loop on the RIO Grand is not as small as one which can be tied in standard mono. Further, the line does not transition into the loop as smoothly as I'd like, giving some weight to Mr. Fernandez's comment that: "This method of connecting the line to the leader, however, will not slide through the guides as easily as a nail or needle knot."

On top of all this, I know that I can create a loop connection that gives me more perceptual confidence in terms of strength. I've never seen one of RIO's welded loops give way, but I have heard of a couple. Bottom line... I'd clip the loop and go with a nail/"needle" knot. But, that's just me.

Alright. But what is AgentX Technology? According to RIO -

""AgentX is a manufacturing process in which two coatings are applied to the fly line at the same time. As a result of these coatings being produced simultaneously, they fuse together in what RIO calls 'Fusion Technology,' forming a seamless single coating that will never separate or break down. The advantages of Fusion Technology are vast. The 'under coating' not only seals the core and covers any blemishes in the braid; it also adds a super low density proprietary coating. This under coating fuses to the outer coating, resulting in the smoothest, slickest, highest floating fly lines ever made. The combination of these processes ensures that the outer coating is perfectly centered around the core and allows for greater durability, less dirt pick up and longer casts."

I have "gouged" a RIO Grand. It wasn't a large gouge, but it was noticeable if you ran your fingers along the line. What did it take to create the mark? Just hanging the line over a limestone outcrop and having the line pulled in two directions simultaneously; me pulling back and "something" else pulling away. The nice part was that it did not penetrate to the core nor has it created any type of flotation issues.

I have yet to see a RIO Grand that was "cracked" with age. But, again, I don't own one and, therefore, have not been in a position to observe a single line over time. So, from my perspective, and given my experience with other RIO lines such as the Classic and the Selective Trout (see A Fly Line for Trout and for Selective Fly Fishers), the "durability" aspect is certainly true; or, at least, believable.

As for casting...

You have to be careful which "fast" action rod you place the RIO Grand on. It is a heavy fly line (more on that in a moment) and, while designed for "fast" action rods, it does not perform the same on any given rod design. Bear in mind that the terms slow, medium, medium-fast, fast, and similar speak to the rod's ability to generate line speed. The 'faster' the rod, the higher the line speed it is able to generate. Higher line speeds eventually equate to things like casting distance and greater ease for casting in the wind.

Until recently, faster action rods were usually made of higher modulus graphite with a resultant, stiffer rod. Such stiffness has, for many (including some rod designers), become erroneously synonymous with 'faster action.' To mitigate such stiffness, particularly when it comes to tippet protection and 'fishability,' many rod manufacturers have incorporated a more flexible 'tip' section. Thus, the expression "a stick with a tip."

In the last couple of years, with the advent of technologies such as boron composites and Aligned Fiber Technology, rod designers have found that they can develop rods which will generate high line speeds and attain a certain level of flexibility previously unknown in 'fast action' fly rods. For instance, I have tried this line on the Winston BIIX and find it unsuitable for that rod. I have found it usable on the Sage XP. But, the RIO Grand just seemed to come into its own on the new Sage Z-Axis that I "borrowed" from a friend a couple of months back. (see The Sage Z-Axis - It Might Get Your Mojo Workin')

Related to the RIO Grand's performance on the Z-Axis, here are some snippets from that review...

"One or two strokes is all it needed for 50' casts; in fact, I had to rein in a bit to keep from overshooting the casting pond. Now, for me, that is a very unique feeling. I originally thought the XP was a 'caster.' The Z-Axis seemed to nearly do it for you provided you didn't try to overpower it as one is often tempted to do with many faster action rods. It roll cast 45' slick as you please with the 6 wt. Rio Grand line that it was loaded with...

My friend laid out some orange markers every 10' out to 100'. I only took the Rio Grand on the Galvan Standard reel along since that's what the rep at the conclave had 'advised...' Mr. FFF Certified Master Casting Instructor started with a NEW, unstretched line and pumped out an 85' cast on the first go. Okay. What's a little "showin' off" between friends...Alright, when he stroked the rod, my friend measured a cast near 100'. But, he wasn't much interested in trying for distance you understand. Uh huh...

Oh boy, my turn. I picked the thing up, took three strokes, and hit the 75' mark. (Bear in mind that the best, "officially" measured cast I've ever made was with a 9 1/2' 8 wt. at 97'. But, that was when I was younger and didn't know what I was doing. Ahem.) I found that, with only a single haul and, for me, an almost intuitive stroke, I could easily lay line out from 10' to just under 80' with one to three strokes. It has to be the rod.

Accuracy was spot on. Roll casting is problematic at best on a lawn. However, reach casts, reach mends, flips, something my friend referred to as a "constant tension" cast (yeah, whatever, I just know it works and I came up with it on my own, without instruction; and, no, it isn't pretty), pile casts, S-casts, etc. all pretty much hit where I wanted from 15' to around 50'. Once I get beyond that mark, the fancy stuff pretty much goes out the window; which, with a 'fishing cast' is just fine in that 90% of trout hookups happen within that 15' - 50' range. Just to put the icing on the cake, I even (would you believe, deliberately?) laid out a 70' cast so that it landed almost perfectly on top of the 100' tape for the entire length of the cast...

Again, using only the 6 wt. Rio Grand line, I initially strung it up with a 7 1/2' 4X leader and 4X tippet. I attached a large, Bole' yarn indicator, 2 BB sized split shot, and two beadhead (with lead underbodies) nymphs; a size 12 2X long on about 5' of 4X tippet with a standard size 14 about 2' below that on a 4X dropper. It's one of the most awkward rigs I can think of to cast, usually requiring that one open their casting loops significantly. But, it is precisely the kind of nymphing rig required to get down on this river...The rod cast the rig with better authority and far less "clunkiness" than my 7 wt. Scott SAS; even when deliberately not opening the loop. Distance was 15' to about 45' with the typical cast being around 20' - 25'; which is about all you can ask of a 6 wt. with such a rig and about all you want in terms of distance for that type of fishing. Mending was more than acceptable. Line pickup was excellent...The rod cast the dry rig very well and with little effort. A couple of strokes and it was out there 50' - 60' and drifting where it needed to be...

I switched back to the Rio Grand and stuck with the size 12 nymph, Palsa indicator, and the 5X fluorocarbon tippet. It must have been fate (or just my kind of luck). As I turned around to face the water, what looked like about a 16" trout rose about 25' out and about 40' to my left. Out of position and with line jumbled at my feet, what was I to do? I stroked about 15' of line out the tip, single hauled, and let fly. BOOOOMMMM. Right on target, just past the fading ring where the fish had risen...

...the Rio Grand worked the best of the three lines I used with the rod. For me, it would probably end up being my line of choice. (Just this afternoon I met another gentlemen who had been fishing with a 5 wt. Z-Axis and he had also been using the Rio Grand with the rod.)"

..... Any More Interpretation Needed? .....

I mentioned earlier that the RIO Grand is a "heavy" fly line. RIO clearly states this in the above write-up: "The weight forward taper is one half size heavier to load fast action fly rods." However, you can't take this at face value. Some react - "Oh, just like the Scientific Anglers GPX." Well, not quite. The RIO Grand is even heavier than the GPX.

AFTMA standards for line weights (measured in the
first 30 ft. of fly line) are as follows:

___ Weight ___ Grains ___ Range ___
_____ 1 ________ 60 _____ 54-66 ___
_____ 2 ________ 80 _____ 74-86 ___
_____ 3 _______ 100 _____ 94-106 ___
_____ 4 _______ 120 ____ 114-126 ___
_____ 5 _______ 140 ____ 134-146 ___
_____ 6 _______ 160 ____ 152-168 ___
_____ 7 _______ 185 ____ 177-193 ___
_____ 8 _______ 210 ____ 202-218 ___
_____ 9 _______ 240 ____ 230-250 ___
____ 10 _______ 280 ____ 270-290 ___
____ 11 _______ 330 ____ 318-342 ___
____ 12 _______ 380 ____ 368-392 ___

While there can be some variance based on taper design and Weight Forward (WF) or Double Taper (DT) configurations, the RIO Grand is only available in a WF configuration (pale green or "camo" [olive] in color). Three to five weight lines are 90' in overall length, while six to nine weight lines are 100' in total length. What is striking is the weight of each of these lines.

___ Weight __ Grains (30') __ Grains (Head)
_____ 3 ________ 114 __________ 140 ________
_____ 4 ________ 133 __________ 163 ________
_____ 5 ________ 155 __________ 190 ________
_____ 6 ________ 178 __________ 230 ________
_____ 7 ________ 204 __________ 294 ________
_____ 8 ________ 231 __________ 332 ________
_____ 9 ________ 270 __________ 388 ________

By AFTMA standards for the first 30' of fly line (forget about the total weight of the head, you can see where that potentially leads), doesn't that make the 3 a 4, the 4 one grain short of a 5, the 5 well into the 6, the 6 a 7, the 7 an 8, the 8 a 9, and the 9 a 10? I mean, I understand the idea of overlining; especially to "slow" a faster action rod. I could even understand 'playing the margins;' i.e., the gaps between ranges. (Which is precisely what I think SA does with the GPX given that, as stated, the GPX is 'lighter' than the Rio Grand.) But, in this case, the lines usually fall into the next weight range.

In this case, I can see the argument that the Rio Grand lines are designated as "FOR" a fast-action 6 wt., etc. rather than as "A" 6 wt. line. That's the only way I see 'em getting around the AFTMA standards. Therefore, it comes down to how you interpret the phrase "one half size heavier." It's also why you must try the line with the rod series you intend using it with.

It used to be that many rod designs would often reasonably handle three line weights depending on the "action" or type of casting you were desirous of; i.e., one down (lighter), designated, and one up (heavier). Although this wasn't universally true, you could "get away" with over/under lining a particular rod often enough to make it a somewhat common practice. For instance, my older Scott Pwrply 8' 8" 3 wt. (see Traditional Class) doesn't work well at all with the 3 wt. GPX line from Scientific Anglers, but has performed better than acceptably with an old, original Mastery Series 2 wt. DT line from the same company when I (ahem) forgot to bring the reel with the proper 3 wt. line.

With modern fly rods, the practice of over/under lining isn't as readily "doable;" and seems to be progressively less so, especially with some of the newest, high-tech, ultra-light, wonder rods. If, as is the case with the Winston BIIX and their newer BIIt, the rod design is fairly well "tuned" to a specific line weight, then such heavy "overlining" just doesn't really work. (I prefer/recommend the RIO Selective Trout for the BIIX/BIIt rod series. Though I haven't tried one on my Winston WT or LTX rods, I have been given to understand that some of the Royal Wulff Triangle Taper lines perform remarkably well with the BIIX and other Winston rods.) Again, the line works reasonably well with the Sage XP and outstanding with the new Sage Z-Axis. (Bearing in mind the caveat that RIO is now owned by the same parent company as Sage as cited above.) I have been given to understand it works acceptably with a couple of the St. Croix series, but I don't know which ones specifically. Like I said, experiment before making a commitment; especially at a current listed price of $59.95.

..... Final Thoughts .....

You'll note that the company refers to the RIO Grand as "an all-around line with distinctive benefits for the trout fly fisher." If you go to their website and use the new "Buyer's Guide" feature by entering freshwater for water type, trout for species, big river or lakes for environment, and floating for depth, the first product to appear is the RIO Grand. This would be consistent with the types of situations you might want a "fast" action rod. Does that make it an "all-around line" for these circumstances?

As stipulated, it all depends on the rod and what type of performance you're looking for. I personally feel that the RIO Selective Trout comes closer to being an "all-around" floating line for trout. But, the RIO Grand does perform better with some fast action rods than does the Selective Trout. And, given that it effectively overlines a rod, I tend to think of this product more as a "specialty" fly line for my purposes than a general, all-around line. But, then again, I am not, nor am I likely to become, a true "fast action" fly rod fan. (Although, a 6 wt. Z-Axis could have its uses...)

In the end, I guess my evaluation boils down to the concept that the RIO Grand is a good line, but maybe not so grand as the advertising would have you believe. In the "grand" scheme of things, it is a good, solid performing fly line that has its place and purpose. You'll have to decide for yourself whether placing it on your fast action rod serves your purposes.

Recommended: Yes