RIO, one of the foremost names in fly lines, announced today two new fly line technologies that RIO is immediately introducing into three of its existing product lines. Termed MaxFloat and MaxCast, these two new technologies are the sort of developments that sound like potential game changers, provided they live up to RIO's billing. Given RIO's reputation, there's no reason to think they won't live up to the benchmarks that RIO is setting, but a bit of skepticism is natural when a product boasts the kind of performance enhancements that MaxFloat and MaxCast are touting.

RIO Gold Fly Line featuring MaxCast and MaxFloat technologies.

MaxFloat is a new tip technology allows RIO lines to float more than twice as high as existing lines without the MaxFloat technology. That's no small improvement. If that wasn't impressive enough, MaxFloat does this without any increase in the diameter of the line, a crucial aspect of castability. RIO tells us these significantly higher floating lines will allow for "reduced drag, longer drifts and quieter pickups". Sounds good.

MaxCast is a new line coating from RIO that RIO claims will result in lines that shoot farther, float higher and stay cleaner than other lines. RIO explains that "the coating’s advanced hydrophobic chemistry ... actively pushes water away from the line, resulting in radically improved floatation and reduced dirt adhesion. It also allows the line to slip more easily from the surface film for longer, quieter pickups. At the same time, MaxCast’s coating formulation contains a sophisticated blend of permanent slickening agents that continuously migrate to the line’s exterior for enhanced shooting and durability."

RIO will add MaxCast and MaxFloat to it's three best-selling lines, RIO Gold, RIO Grand and Trout LT available as of today.