Rio Slick Shooter 115 ft.
RIO Slick Shooter 115 ft. is a nylon shooting line made for use with shooting heads in Spey casting. It is not a complete fly line or a shooting head: it forms the running section behind the head and travels through the rod rings during the shoot. Its hard, slick finish and oval profile are intended to keep friction low, helping the running line leave the rod cleanly and allowing the energy carried by the head to be used efficiently. This construction suits anglers seeking distance without choosing a coated running line.
Profile and fishing use
When the cast is formed, the shooting head provides most of the mass that loads the rod, while Slick Shooter remains the light section following behind it. Its low coefficient of friction assists the release of successive coils during the shoot. This becomes particularly relevant once the head is beyond the tip ring, when final distance depends on controlled running-line management, sound timing and coils that can leave the hand without obstruction. The hard finish also creates a more direct feel than a soft, coated running line.
- Type: hard nylon shooting or running line for Spey casting.
- Length: 115 ft.
- Profile: oval, with a slick finish designed to reduce friction.
- Family variants: 25 LB, 35 LB, 44 LB and 50 LB.
Nylon can retain coils after storage, so stretching the required working length before fishing is a useful part of preparation. Slick Shooter is designed not to retain memory after it has been stretched. This helps reduce coiling and gives a more predictable release from the fingers as line is shot. The oval shape also provides a defined surface to hold while controlling the amount of running line outside the rod, although a thin, hard shooting line calls for a different handling technique from a conventional coated fly line.
The family includes versions marked 25 LB, 35 LB, 44 LB and 50 LB, allowing the running line to be selected in relation to the shooting head and the wider tackle set-up. Choice can balance the required strength with handling and casting preferences. Every version follows the same principle: a 115 ft. nylon construction, a hard and slick surface, and a dedicated role as the running section of a shooting-head system. It is aimed at anglers assembling a Spey outfit from a separate head and running line, with an emphasis on efficient passage through the rings and direct control of line release during the shoot.