The second line from Celestial Fly Lines, designed and made by Steve Parkes

UK-made Meteor floating line from Celestial Fly Lines.

This is the second line from Celestial Fly lines, designed and made by Steve Parkes.

In my hand this feels supple and smooth. Again, this line comes without loops, so I nail-knotted the running line to backing, filled a reel, and nail-knotted a leader to the tip. Nothing too strenuous, I’ve been fitting lines this way for years… since last century!

This is a conventional PVC line, in the sense that the core has a bit of give and the PVC coating is fairly limp. I had no need to stretch the Meteor to pull out coils but tried it anyway – any minor reel or coil memory in this line can be erased with a little stretch.

The Meteor head is essentially one long continuous taper, thin at the tip getting thicker to the rear of the head. So the mass is concentrated at the rear of the head, during casting that means the bulk of mass is closest to the tip of my rod. Most Spey lines are weighted this way, most famously the original Triangle Taper used this head style.

As I cast the Meteor my rod loads a little more slowly than my usual WF5. Casts well enough; just feels light and maybe matches less stiff rods slightly more. With the head outside the rod tip the Meteor casts comfortably, turnover is excellent. This line type makes the most of roll and Spey casting; even with my stiff 9ft #5 this rolls nicely. Then extend a little more line – the running line is thick enough so I can false-cast into the running line – then shoot and the Meteor is a long casting line.

This is a #5 line which I might use as a general purpose river line, mostly for landing a fly at 30 to 40 feet, and for accuracy, the Meteor helps. The refined tip comes down on water lightly, more like a #4 than a conventional #5, mends well, handles a tapered leader well. Casting short, I think my 5-weight rod is a little stiff for this line, maybe to be matched with a sweeter rod, I have a glass rod coming…

At the moment Meteor lines come in line sizes #3 to #5, hopefully heavier lines to come.

Meteor WF5F
Colour: Tan/buff
Loops: None
Length: 90ft
Tip: 6 in
Front taper: 35ft
Rear taper: 4ft
Head length: 39ft. Rear weighted head.
Line type: WF Floating
Line class: 5
Approx weight (30ft): 9.5g
Tip diameter: 0.86mm
Running line diameter: 0.89mm

Price: £49.99
From: Celestial Fly Lines
www.celestialflylines.co.uk