For many fly anglers, a floating line in weight 5 will be the main tool—and sometimes the only one—of their passion. From such lines, the first expectation is great versatility. Especially in weights 5 and 6, they must adapt to a wide range of situations: fishing short and precisely to sighted fish as well as casting streamers very far on stillwaters. These models in the Ply Patrol Line range form the transition between the world of traditional fly fishing, where insect imitations are used (still the core domain of a #5), and what could be called “whipped lure fishing,” that is, streamer fishing (the main requirement of a #7).

The design brief

Here are three scenarios that will give you an idea of the situations the LST 5, 6, and 7 are designed to handle. They also illustrate the design brief that guided our technical choices.

Scenario for a #5: Kobarid – a journey on the upper Soča

The Soča is one of the most beautiful salmonid rivers in Slovenia, and undoubtedly in Europe. It begins its course by rushing through the magnificent landscape of the Julian Alps. With emerald or turquoise waters depending on the pools, and a generous population of rainbow trout, brown trout, and above all marble trout—those huge marbled trout that have made Slovenia famous—it is a prime destination for traveling fly anglers. Setting up a base camp in Kobarid, close to the Italian border, gives access to a network of rivers offering exceptional fly-fishing opportunities. In such a paradise, it is best to be prepared for every eventuality. The magic number for trout versatility is a #5 line. Fine enough to delicately present a dry fly, yet powerful enough to extend the cast, capable of carrying a heavy nymph into a deep pool or a small streamer, it is the Swiss Army knife of salmonid rivers.

Scenario for a #6: Adventure on the Dordogne at Argentat

It’s morning, and you’re having coffee in the mazagrans at Maryse’s. The atmosphere feels a bit like visiting a great-aunt, mixed with a pilgrimage to one of the sanctuaries of Dordogne fishing. You sense that pages of French angling history were written in front of this counter and on the wide stretch below, across the road. You wade in downstream of the bridge to explore a very broad section where rises can happen anywhere—or, as today, not at all. In that case, you switch to nymphing and cover water. One effective technique (even if it makes purists wince) is to fish one or two nymphs suspended under a very buoyant dry fly (the brown Tavanas from the French national team is perfect for this). A good-casting #6 line is an excellent choice for sending this rig to any distance, even into the wind. The same applies if you suddenly feel like switching to a streamer or need to reach twenty meters to cover an unexpected, distant rise.

Scenario for a #7: Carp on the flats

A secret stillwater in central France, in summer. Along the entire western shoreline, the depth does not exceed 50 cm. The substrate is fairly rocky here, allowing you to wade without sinking up to your calves in mud. Fine carp cruise along the edges, and their tails often appear as they feed on the bottom. To tempt them, fairly bulky nymphs or small streamers are used. The game often takes place beyond fifteen meters, and the right tool for this is a #7 line with a forward-shifted profile. Moreover, with this freshwater bonefish, a #7 rod is often not too much to maintain control during the fight.

The design philosophy

Head profile

LST lines (Long Shoot Taper) are primarily designed for casting performance, and above all to facilitate long casts. The forward-shifted profile provides very clear feedback during false casts. The head of the line measures a total of 14.5 m, a choice clearly aimed at maximizing distance. This does not prevent the LST from excelling at short and medium-range fishing.

The sweet spot

While it is obviously possible to cast effectively at all distances, including very short ones, our lines have a “sweet spot”: an optimal casting configuration when you want to place your fly beyond 20 m. The LST profile includes a section of intermediate diameter between the head and the running line. This section is your casting reference.

Long cast (double haul, intermediate skill level): during false casts, let the line slip until you feel the running line between your fingers. At that moment, the intermediate zone is in the guides and the head is already outside. The line is ready for a spectacular shoot.
Extreme cast (double haul, advanced skill level): for maximum distance, you can carry the entire head, including the intermediate section, while allowing about one meter of running line to extend beyond the tip-top guide. In this configuration, the airborne line consists of approximately 4 m of running line, 14.5 m of head, and the leader (let’s say 3 m). That makes 21 to 22 m. Add an energetic shoot—and 30 m is within reach!

Core

The core of the LST is relatively thin (24 lb) with a stretch of 9%. This ensures excellent suppleness and complete absence of memory—always appreciated when pulling out a running line that has been coiled on the reel for some time.

Coating

The coating of the LST 5, 6, and 7 is the same as that of the ST3 and 4: a very high-quality PVC coating with glide that is immediately noticeable to anyone who has truly handled the line. It is a pleasure to feel it slide through the guides, to see the loop extend effortlessly, and above all to experience the ease of shooting. The line has no memory; even after fairly long storage, it unrolls smoothly and straight.

Usage tips

Here are a few combinations we have tested and approved—blanks that allow you to get the very best out of our lines.

LST 5

FP864: A fine and lively 8’6”, with a pronounced tip action and power rating 4/5. Combined with the LST5, it creates an ultra-light-in-hand, extremely precise setup, perfectly capable of handling long leaders. The perfect setup for sight nymphing.
FP905: The go-to combination for refined dry-fly fishing on open water, where responsiveness is needed to extend casts while retaining finesse in control. A very versatile setup, equally capable of sight nymphing or propelling a large grasshopper.
LH905: The quintessence of trout fishing—a 905 of fabulous lightness, highly responsive, lively in the cast yet offering a very pleasant softness during the fight on fine tippets.
LH1004: Dry-fly fishing on large rivers, long casts, effective mends, and powerful hook sets.

LST 6

LH906: The perfect combo for distance fishing, especially streamer fishing for trout. A setup for big rivers, taken to Patagonia or Norway, but also excelling in the pursuit of mullet in saltwater.
FAF905: In a similar vein to the LH906, the FAF905 pairs very well with the LST6 to create a setup capable of handling any situation where power and control must be combined in the search for precise long-distance presentations.
FP1006: An excellent stillwater combo for medium to long distances, all surface techniques.
LH866: The magic of fiberglass—the Redneck 866 can truly do it all. Paired with an LST6, the 866 becomes a kind of Swiss Army knife, capable of tackling any fishing situation, from classic dry fly to sight nymphing and light streamer fishing.

LST 7

LH1007: Paired with an LST7, this is the ideal combo for long-distance surface fishing, especially when battling the wind. Dry flies, knitted chironomids, or washing the line on stillwaters, targeting large trout that rarely come close to the banks—the LST’s glide really shines here.
Fast8: Casting power and in-flight stability. A high-performance setup for powerful fishing approached with finesse: bass on poppers when presentations are technical (banks and structure), surface-feeding sea bass, carp on large nymphs or streamers.
INV645: A little gem of liveliness—ultra-dynamic for a fiberglass rod. The INV 645 features a pronounced tip action, great lightness in hand, and asks for just one thing: to send the LST7 skimming along the banks, under branches, and anywhere a cruising bass might explode on the streamer and bend the glass right down into the grip.