Scientific Anglers Amplitude Infinity

In the 2019 Gear Guide we called the Amplitude Infinity Smooth “the best do-it-all fly line for freshwater fishing.” Well, not any more. The Infinity is still my go-to taper for all-around trout fishing—if I know I’ve got both nymphing and dry-fly fishing in front of me on medium to large rivers, this half-size heavy fly line delivers like a boss. The 50-foot-long head and long rear taper give options to roll-cast effectively and also to mend, mend, and mend again at long distances. More important, the steep front taper helps power through headwinds or lob wind-resistant strike indicators.

But the new Amplitude Infinity is the first textured fly line that has both the super-durable AST Plus coating and the Infinity taper, and this textured version is simply better than last year’s smooth version. I know there are some old curmudgeons out there with waxed cotton jackets and bamboo rods who say they don’t like the sound of a textured fly line sailing through the guides, but clearly it’s a better-performing line. The running line has a shooting texture that reduces friction in the guides to deliver long casts. The camo-color front taper has a different texture for maximum flotation—you rarely handle the front portion, and it doesn’t run through your line guides. And while engineers can demonstrate that textured lines have less friction slipping through the guides, I’m a firm believer that textured lines have more friction in your hands, and are less likely to slip from your grip. I’ve blown casts and hook-sets by losing my grasp on a slippery smooth line—these kinds of fails happen to me less often with a textured line. It’s especially noticeable when streamer fishing with the Amplitude Infinity. The grippy texture on the line gives you better tactile line control and greater ability to set the hook firmly. $130 | scientificanglers.com