SF FL0814-5 Fly Line Review
Our verdict
The SF FL0814-5 is a 90 foot WF5S-IPS5 full sink fly line at $19.99, backed by 4.5 stars across 666 reviews, the largest review count of any fly line in this comparison at roughly a quarter of the price of the Rio and Cortland weight-forward lines.
Check price on AmazonBest for
Anglers who need a dedicated full sink line to get flies down in lakes or deeper runs and want a budget option with a large, established review base before committing to a pricier taper.
Skip if
You need a floating line for surface presentations, since this is a full sink WF5S-IPS5 taper built to get down in the water column rather than sit on top of it.
- Material PVC
- Length 90 Feet
- Line Weight 5 pound
- Technique Fly
- Size WF5S-IPS5 90FT
- Color Black-Full Sink
Our scorecard
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Owner rating4.5/5
4.5 average across 666 owner ratings
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Popularity3.9/5
666 owner reviews, more than most models here
The overall score is owner satisfaction weighted by how many reviews back it, so a high rating from few reviews counts for less. The bars below show where this model stands against the other fishing gear and tackle we track in this category on price, popularity and size. Context, not marks against it, and our read of the data, not a lab test.
Overview
The SF FL0814-5 is a 90 foot fly line built in a WF5S-IPS5 full sink taper, made from PVC over a core material, and finished in a black colorway. It is priced at $19.99, positioning it as the least expensive line in this comparison against the $49.99 to $69.95 asked for the Cortland and Rio floating lines listed alongside it.
The full sink IPS5 rating puts this line in a different category from the weight-forward floating lines it is compared against here, since it is built specifically to sink flies rather than present them on the surface. That makes it a complementary purchase for anglers who already own a floating line and want a dedicated sinking option for lakes, deeper pools, or faster current.
With 666 reviews at 4.5 stars, this line has by far the largest review sample of the four fly lines in this set, more than double the 242 to 438 reviews posted by the pricier alternatives. That volume, combined with a rating above the 4.4 stars posted by the RIO 6-20751, suggests a well-established product with a broad base of buyers, even without a bought-last-month figure to confirm current sales pace.
Pros
- Priced at $19.99, the lowest of any fly line in this comparison
- 666 reviews is the largest sample among the four fly lines compared, well above the 216 to 438 range of the others
- 4.5 star rating beats the 4.4 stars posted by the RIO 6-20751
- 90 foot length matches the longer end of the fly lines in this set
- Full sink IPS5 taper fills a role the floating lines here cannot
Cons
- 4.5 stars trails the 4.6 to 4.7 star ratings of the Cortland and Rio floating lines
- No bought-last-month figure is listed, unlike some alternatives showing 50 or more
- A full sink line is not a substitute for a floating taper if surface presentation is the goal
- PVC coating is a simpler build than the Cortland's natural material listing
Specifications
| Material | PVC |
|---|---|
| Length | 90 Feet |
| Line Weight | 5 pound |
| Technique | Fly |
| Size | WF5S-IPS5 90FT |
| Color | Black-Full Sink |
| Pieces | 1.0 Count |
Performance notes
A WF5S-IPS5 designation means this is a weight-forward, full sink line rated for roughly 5 inches per second of sink rate, built to get a fly down through the water column rather than float on top. At 90 feet, it offers enough length for most single-hand fly rod situations without needing to add backing into normal casting range. The PVC coating over the core gives the line a smooth finish for shooting through guides, and the black color helps it disappear underwater compared to bright floating-line colors. Because it sinks rather than floats, it pairs with different techniques than the floating tapers in this comparison, generally suited to streamers, nymphs fished deep, or stillwater retrieves where getting the fly below the surface matters more than a delicate landing.
What buyers say
At 666 reviews, this line has amassed far more feedback than any other fly line in this comparison, roughly 1.5 to 3 times the review count of the Cortland and Rio alternatives. A 4.5 star average on that volume suggests a consistent, broadly positive pattern rather than a rating propped up by a small number of buyers. It sits just above the 4.4 stars posted by the RIO 6-20751 but below the 4.6 to 4.7 stars of the other two lines, indicating solid but not top-tier satisfaction relative to this specific set of alternatives. No bought-last-month figure is available to gauge current sales momentum.
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Frequently asked questions
What does WF5S-IPS5 mean on this fly line?
WF5S-IPS5 indicates a weight-forward taper, size 5, full sink construction rated at roughly 5 inches per second sink rate. That makes it a dedicated sinking line rather than a floating taper, built to get flies down through the water column.
How does the review volume compare to other fly lines?
This line has 666 reviews, well ahead of the 216 to 438 reviews posted by the Cortland and Rio lines in this comparison. That larger sample size gives its 4.5 star average more weight as a broad pattern rather than a small, possibly unrepresentative group of reviews.
Is this a good first fly line to buy?
Since this is a full sink line, it is better suited as a second line for anglers who already have a floating taper and want to fish deeper water. At $19.99 it is an affordable way to add sinking capability without matching the cost of the pricier floating lines here.