Lost Coast Outfitters Review: I certainly wasn't stoked to drop a few bills on a rubber mat, but I saw it's value immediately. This is a must have on any flats trip. Hopefully your guide has one and you end up being surrounded by 2 of these! Word to the wise, don't step on it as it can get pretty slippery on the deck. 

Windy days and boat decks fight like your kids in the back seat on a long road trip. Take the hassle out of managing fly line coils on the boat deck with the Launch Pad casting mat. The silicon spikes and cones will keep the line coils separated so you’re always ready for that next big shot.

Lost Coast Outfitters on Rio Flats Pro Fly Line:

The RIO Products Flats Pro has become our go-to tropical saltwater fly line for bonefish, permit, and general flats fishing. Few lines balance long-distance performance, short-shot accuracy, and tropical durability as well as this one. After extensive time on the flats, there are four reasons we keep coming back to it.

1. The taper is incredibly versatile
The Flats Pro features a long-headed saltwater taper that rewards advanced casters while still making quick, close-range shots easy for less experienced anglers. The weight distribution loads fast at short distances but remains stable and controlled when carrying line in the air. It is one of the few tropical fly lines that truly excels at both 30-foot shots and longer presentations into the wind.

2. The color markers actually improve your fishing
RIO’s integrated color-change system is more than a gimmick. The first color transition at 20 feet helps anglers quickly judge distance and communicate with guides, while the secondary marker identifies the optimal loading point for recasting. In real-world flats scenarios—especially when fish appear suddenly—these visual cues make line management faster and more intuitive.

3. The tropical coating and core are exceptionally dialed
The Flats Pro has the ideal balance of stiffness, slickness, and shootability for hot-weather saltwater fishing. RIO’s low-stretch core improves connection and hook sets while remaining easy to straighten before fishing. Combined with the hard tropical coating, the line shoots effortlessly, resists tangling on the deck, and maintains excellent performance in extreme heat and humidity.

4. The front taper delivers both presentation and power
With a 12-foot front taper and a subtle step-down at 6 feet, the Flats Pro turns over long leaders cleanly while still carrying enough mass to drive crab flies, shrimp patterns, and weighted flies into the wind. It presents delicately for spooky fish yet has enough authority to handle difficult casting conditions common in tropical saltwater environments.

If you want one of the best tropical fly lines for bonefish, permit, redfish, and technical flats fishing, the RIO Flats Pro remains one of the most complete saltwater fly lines available today.

Rio Products on Flats Pro Fly Line:

Conquer the flats with RIO’s Flats Pro tropical saltwater line. This line has a mid length head and long back taper for smooth, effortless loops, and a weight distribution that provide perfect presentations of just about any fly you are likely to use. Each line is built on RIO’s low-memory DirectCore that is extremely easy to anneal (stretch) and lies perfectly straight on the water, yet retains the stiffness needed to cast in hot conditions. In addition the line is built with SlickCast—the slickest, most durable coating on the market.