The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

which one is best for RIVER stripers (mending, etc.)

I don't do much mending with lines, floating or sinking, for river stripers. I generally would go with shooting heads...you can handle floating flies with heads without a problem. Other than that, if you are absolutely sure you want a floater, then I would consider the Rio Outbound....

Hi Doug,
There are so many line strategies for river Striped Bass Fishing.

For waters like the Lower American from Howe and upstream, I like to use an integrated shooting head like the Airflo Depth Finder (400 grains for my 10 weight). It has a floating running section that allows mending, so you can control the drop.

For the deeper waters below Howe and all the way down to Discovery Park, I like to use an integrated shooting head like a Rio Custom Cut Outbound. I cut the head down to 30 feet, so I am casting 420 grains. This line has an intermediate running section because mending is not as important.

If you plan on fishing surface flies, it is hard to beat the floating Rio Outbound Short.

There is a video that was produced by the late Dave Howard. He was the go to striper guide for the Lower American. The video is called "Stripping for Stripers." In the video Dave discusses line strategies. Most fly shops have this video.

AB