Before I go off on a tangent that goes against the grain of modern day fly fishing (and I am in fact in most cases a "Technologist" by nature!), let me acknowledge that "Weight Forward" (WF) fly lines now outsell "Double Taper" (DT) fly lines by at least twenty to one! However, regardless of the trends in the industry, I personally feel that Double Taper fly lines still have a legitimate place in the modern Fly Fishing world.

While modern WF lines come in models that mimic the performance of DT lines within a specific casting range (i.e., long front tapers and belly's), they all have their limits and eventually you will reach out beyond the "Rear Taper" thus unleashing the "Weight Forward" effect. In these circumstances, it is difficult at best to deliver a fly without creating some level of disturbance in the surface (a potential negative on Stillwater).

WF lines are constructed using a "Front Tape/Belly/rear Taper/Running Line" configuration while DT lines employ a "Front Tape/Belly/Rear Taper" design (i.e., the "Belly" is the "Running Line"). The simple concept of DT lines is that you have a continuous and even "Belly/Running Line" that helps "Roll Over" line at all distances. This allows the angler to deliver the fly in a very delicate manner.

In addition, DT lines tend to float better due to the larger diameter "Belly/Running Line". This can aid the angler in regard to picking the line up off the surface to recast without creating a lot of disturbance or drowning your fly. Even on moving water this can be an advantage when it comes to long line mending (a requirement for properly presenting a fly across multiple micro-currents in moving water).

While Weight Forward lines will unquestionably help you throw more line (i.e., the thinner "Running" line of a WT results in less friction than the thicker "Belly/Running Line" of a DT), it comes with some potentially undesirable effects as noted above. Conversely, DT lines take up far more space on the reel thus limiting the amount of backing you can use.

As a rule, I use WF lines for most of my River and Stream fishing (the exceptions being very light lines which I use for Dry Fly fishing only - PRESENTATION!). When I am "Nymphing", I rarely fish beyond the taper and this allows me to throw "Emergers" long distances where presentation is not a factor. In addition, the WF allows me to "push" out line with a minimal number of back casts (keeps me out of the trees!)

For Stillwater fishing on lakes and ponds, the DT is my line of choice. While I may lose a few feet in regard to distance, I feel that I gain a level of presentation and line control that in my opinion is critical to fooling wary fish. In addition, I have the luxury of making a series of "Double Hauls" without worrying about what's behind me in order to reach that cruising trout just out of reach of my normal casting range.