“Wow!” – Hardy Mach II Fly Line

Don’t think yourself out of the loop for having never heard of Hardy’s fly lines, but now might be a good time to get in. Though the Hardy name is steeped in Victorian English tradition, Hardy’s fly lines give ample indication that they’re more 21st than 19th century.

First, there’s the two-tone color scheme that changes from sky blue to pale orange halfway down its 105’ length. The color change is more than aesthetic because, according to Hardy, it coincides with the ideal position for making that last shoot on long casts. A clever idea, even if I can’t say I felt the correspondence when casting with their 4-wt. line (it’s probably more evident with their heavier lines). Either way, the two-tone’s rad, but I’m fairly certain most fly anglers rely on feel more than sight to determine when to shoot.

The Mach II contains less visible, non-traditional features as well. A new braided core reduced the annoying coils of line memory on a mid-arbor reel. And then there’s the taper—Hardy recognized that the intended application and physics of a line passing through a 10’ 8-wt. rod are a far cry from dropping dries from 20 feet with a 3-wt. The result of this insight: line weights 3-5 have a shorter head length than the 6-, 7-, and 8-weight lines. Additionally, all weights have an elongated rear taper, designed to improve flight stability (read, accuracy) and shootability.

On paper then, the Hardy Mach II line should deliver easy shooting, smooth turnover, and precise control. Basically, it should be an epic fly line….and it is. But maybe this review still hasn’t given the line the respect it deserves?

While I was doing research for an article, I met up with two great guides out of Mammoth, California, and fished with them on their day off. Guide One mentioned early in the day that Guide Two was the best caster he knows, which I saw for myself was no exaggeration. Later in the day, Guide Two happened to grab my rod out of the boat when the fish began rising. He took up a spot 20 feet downriver from me, and after three false casts I heard him mummer to himself, “Wow!”

He laid out his cast, then shouted to me, “Is this line…?” naming a line from a competing manufacturer. I told him it was the Hardy Mach II. I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself because I had the very same reaction—literally saying, “Wow!”—when I first cast the line. You know it’s good when a guide won’t give you back your Mach II-equipped rod for most of the afternoon.

You likely won’t find the Hardy Mach II line in fly shops in the States (or even on Hardy’s website), but you can easily acquire it new on eBay for $34.95 shipped.

Check them out at fly.hardyfishing.com