Glossary
Floating line
Fly line that rides on top of the water, used for dry flies, most nymphing and general trout and bass fishing.
Floating line is treated so the entire line sits on the surface of the water rather than sinking, which is why it is the default choice for the vast majority of fly fishing. It works for dry flies fished right on the surface, and it also handles most nymphing when paired with weighted flies, split shot or a strike indicator to get the fly down.
Because it stays visible and controllable on top of the water, floating line makes it easy to mend, meaning an angler can reposition slack line on the water to control how the fly drifts without dragging it unnaturally. This control is one reason floating line remains the standard even for many nymph and light streamer presentations, not just dry flies.
Floating line needs occasional cleaning, since dirt and algae buildup can make it start to sink or hiss through the guides, so wiping it down and using a line cleaning kit keeps it floating high. A common beginner mistake is blaming a sinking dry fly on the fly itself when a dirty or aging line is actually riding low in the surface film.