The Rio Perception was my favourite Rio line. I liked it for the shorter head length over the Gold. Damn good review though. I can't remember a more detailed review on fly lines. Well done.
A couple things have me confused: 1) you kept on talking about the Gold Max performance at 45, 50, or 60 feet. The like only has a 36ft head. Were you trying to carry that head with 20+ft of running line in the air? 2) you also mention just how heavy the Max is. I know the distribution of weight over the length of a head can change the feel a bit (having used shooting head and DT lines) but now that Rio has the specs on their website the 5wt Max is lighter at its full head (175gr at 36ft) than Gold (208gr at 48ft) with the XP about the same as the Gold for total head weight but at 40ft
Rio lines are pretty slick right out of the package and they're new, but as you use them and they get dirty, not so much. How about long term durability? Neither of those are trivial. Also, the Scientific Anglers Infinity should be included in this comparison, many anglers are changing from MPX to Infinity Tapers in the S/A world.
All Rio lines have stuck to my guides. I've tried Rio Gold and Grand tapers. SA lines are the standard...they shoot and don't stick. Cortland lines shot through my guides better than Rio and at a better cost.
This guy makes it way too confusing. Here's the rundown...all RIO Gold lines are multipurpose lines. RIO divided the family into three different Gold lines based primarily on terminal payload (i.e. fly size). Of course they changed tapers, weighting, and load balancing of the line, etc but all that stuff tends to confuse folks, so go back to what I just said: terminal payload. Think about it this way...the multipurpose line of choice in big Alaskan waters where you're often roll-casing heavy indicator rigs and streamers with the occasional big dry flies, is much different than the multipurpose line you want on the South Platte where you need to delicately place tiny BWOs and RS2s and occasional light nymph rigs into narrow slots. Yes, in both instances -- Alaska or Colorado -- you need a multipurpose line, just not the exact same one. A good analogy is all-weather tires: a Subaru Outback is not going to run in the same shoes as a 4Runner or a Bronco, but they can all rock some kind of all weather tire. Great videos on RIO's website explaining all this.
Very good review - been in branding and marketing (for all kinds of companies and products) for a long time (and a fly fisherman for even longer) and Rio, as alluded to in this review. broke pretty much every rule of branding, brand waterfalls, brand v product v skew hierarchy etc you can possibly break... this is a confusing hot mess (and I use Rio and SA products all the time so I actually know what the lines do / how they differ and work) - can you imagine a newbie or a first timer staring slack jawed at the lineup and having to utterly rely on someone to say 'no - you need the $180 line - not the $110 line - trust me!' (a top-of-the-line line eg MPX here in NZ costs around $250 !!!) a total own goal because it is actually (in this case anyway) pretty simple...ill stick with my current lines thanks - at least I understand what they do....
I used rio for years. I'm tired of giving these people money. I got a line from Amazon for $30 last year. It's at least as good as an old 444 probably better. Good enough
Thanks for clearing up this “marketing gimmick” by Mayfly Outdoors which apparently is in the process of sub-branding their best selling products like Rio Gold and Sage R8… ps, love the Tee!
The Rio Perception was my favourite Rio line. I liked it for the shorter head length over the Gold. Damn good review though. I can't remember a more detailed review on fly lines. Well done.
I've always used SA and Orvis lines and have really enjoyed them. I'm excited to check out the RG MAX and give it a try. Thanks for the great review.
You're going to give those poor folks over there at Rio the impression that you don't like them.
All of his reviews have a kind of negative touch LOL
@@FlyFishingChronicleskind of???? 😂😂😂😂
More line reviews please!
May your delusions continue...Rio and SA need you
It would have been beneficial to add SA Infinity Smooth to the discussion. From the taper chart at SA, it looks like Rio Gold.
Absolutely. I don’t know what the hype about the MPX is. Scientific Anglers Standard Trout is comparable to the Rio Gold as well IMO.
Sorry, Rio, but a ‘full size heavy’ WF5F isn’t a 5 wt line. It’s a mislabeled 6 wt.
A couple things have me confused:
1) you kept on talking about the Gold Max performance at 45, 50, or 60 feet. The like only has a 36ft head. Were you trying to carry that head with 20+ft of running line in the air?
2) you also mention just how heavy the Max is. I know the distribution of weight over the length of a head can change the feel a bit (having used shooting head and DT lines) but now that Rio has the specs on their website the 5wt Max is lighter at its full head (175gr at 36ft) than Gold (208gr at 48ft) with the XP about the same as the Gold for total head weight but at 40ft
Scott, with regard to their GS 884, suggests true-to-weight. I've stuck by that but also used Gold. How would XP or MPX work with a GS 884?
Will there be a $150 dollar trout line by the end of 2025??
Yes
I hope not…..
Rio lines are pretty slick right out of the package and they're new, but as you use them and they get dirty, not so much. How about long term durability? Neither of those are trivial. Also, the Scientific Anglers Infinity should be included in this comparison, many anglers are changing from MPX to Infinity Tapers in the S/A world.
I picked the Infinity for my Orvis Clearwater. It casts nicely. I an crazy for the MPX and have been wondering if I chose well.
XP ,the shorter head shoots a longer distance? unimaginable.
Will the coating last more than 2 weeks
All else being equal lol just use Cortland 444 peach or modern trout
Rio Gold was that not a song by Duran Duran 🤣🤣
All Rio lines have stuck to my guides. I've tried Rio Gold and Grand tapers. SA lines are the standard...they shoot and don't stick. Cortland lines shot through my guides better than Rio and at a better cost.
I've owned a few rios and the durability is shit compared to SA
This guy makes it way too confusing.
Here's the rundown...all RIO Gold lines are multipurpose lines. RIO divided the family into three different Gold lines based primarily on terminal payload (i.e. fly size). Of course they changed tapers, weighting, and load balancing of the line, etc but all that stuff tends to confuse folks, so go back to what I just said: terminal payload.
Think about it this way...the multipurpose line of choice in big Alaskan waters where you're often roll-casing heavy indicator rigs and streamers with the occasional big dry flies, is much different than the multipurpose line you want on the South Platte where you need to delicately place tiny BWOs and RS2s and occasional light nymph rigs into narrow slots. Yes, in both instances -- Alaska or Colorado -- you need a multipurpose line, just not the exact same one. A good analogy is all-weather tires: a Subaru Outback is not going to run in the same shoes as a 4Runner or a Bronco, but they can all rock some kind of all weather tire.
Great videos on RIO's website explaining all this.
@otes1000 - I think you're right that this is what they *should* have done, however, it's not how the lines worked out...
I don’t care what they change til they fix the durability issues
You're confused 🤔 they're trout lines and S A is now a orvis brand line but good review
Very good review - been in branding and marketing (for all kinds of companies and products) for a long time (and a fly fisherman for even longer) and Rio, as alluded to in this review. broke pretty much every rule of branding, brand waterfalls, brand v product v skew hierarchy etc you can possibly break... this is a confusing hot mess (and I use Rio and SA products all the time so I actually know what the lines do / how they differ and work) - can you imagine a newbie or a first timer staring slack jawed at the lineup and having to utterly rely on someone to say 'no - you need the $180 line - not the $110 line - trust me!' (a top-of-the-line line eg MPX here in NZ costs around $250 !!!) a total own goal because it is actually (in this case anyway) pretty simple...ill stick with my current lines thanks - at least I understand what they do....
I used rio for years. I'm tired of giving these people money. I got a line from Amazon for $30 last year. It's at least as good as an old 444 probably better. Good enough
@zachupold... $30? What line was that? Maxcatch?
Thanks for clearing up this “marketing gimmick” by Mayfly Outdoors which apparently is in the process of sub-branding their best selling products like Rio Gold and Sage R8… ps, love the Tee!
I think you are confusing Mayfly with Far Bank. Mayfly sells Airflo, has nothing to do with Rio and Sage.
@@Cigarhiker oh yes my bad, thanks. Still a marketing gimmick by Far Bank in my opinion
@@petdetectiveiii997 Agreed!
What is double haul?
Double haul is a technique where you pull/tug on the fly line. It is best to look up a video on how to do this
@ kinda like what one does with a streamer?
@Mattytube18 Yeah, when casting a streamer or any large fly, we tend to double haul so that the fly can travel farther
@ appreciate your response. Thank you.
Too bad Rio Lines fall apart. Scientific Anglers is a superior product.
Thanks Rio for making things really confusing!🫤🙃🤯🎣