From RIO:
For 2025, RIO introduces two new freshwater fly lines to its multipurpose Gold portfolio – Gold XP and Gold MAX – designed to expand the possibilities in the places you fish most.
Multipurpose fly lines transcend fishing applications and push boundaries. Established in the early 2000s, classic RIO Gold set the Gold Standard by doing just that, bringing together design and performance elements that create opportunity as we explore ever-changing conditions on the water.
“The RIO Gold was revolutionary when it launched because it excelled in such a wide range of trout fishing scenarios,” says Chris Walker, Director of RIO Product Development. “Its front-loaded head bends a rod in close to enable the shortest, and often trickiest, casts, while its long rear taper means you never have to sacrifice delicacy in your presentation. I see it as a true product of its environment. It was designed on our homewaters of the Henry’s Fork and it remains our most iconic fly line.”
The new Gold XP, available in both Elite and Premier offerings, is the logical next step in the Gold family progression. With a mid-length head and half-size heavy design, its “extra power” relative to classic Gold gives it the flexibility to excel across a wide variety of techniques and casting lengths, offering truly blended performance.
“Gold XP shares the same mid-length front taper as the classic Gold, while its added power is balanced by a more level head design,” Walker explains. “The result is a taper just as capable of delicate deliveries with long leaders and small flies when duty calls. After years of tinkering, thousands of hours on the water and hundreds of prototypes sent to product testers, I’m convinced we have a line even more versatile than the classic Gold.”
Rounding out RIO’s gilded multipurpose trio, Gold MAX — also available in both Elite and Premier offerings — features a rear-loaded design and a line-size heavy weight distribution, making it RIO’s most powerful all-around taper for delivering plus-size rigs that get bites in fisheries not centered around long leaders and tiny drys. With the shortest head length in the Gold class, MAX carries more weight toward the back of the body, so anglers can turn over heavier rigs more efficiently, while the shorter front taper roll-casts bulkier rigs with ease, mends effortlessly at distance and delivers large drys with finesse.
“The MAX belongs in the Gold family because it’s aimed squarely at all-around, versatile performance, but its similarities to the classic Gold end there. Our design started with the requirement that it carry heavy rigs — and it is a full line-size heavy as a result,” Walker continues. “What sets it apart from other lines designed to handle big rigs is the rear-loaded head. It has the capacity to turn over a heavy indicator or wind-resistant foam fly, but the tapering body delivers those rigs without the “kick” that is so common among heavier fly lines.”
With the shortest head and the most power in the Gold family, MAX is the right choice anywhere that you rely on heavy rigs to catch fish.
Gold XP Highlights |
Designed for the angler who fishes subsurface flies just until the hatch pops, then turns to drys to stay on top.
- Mid-length head and half-size heavy weight balances the ability to carry line against quickly loading the rod for shorter casts
- Medium-long rear taper maintains line control for longer presentations, both in the air as well as on the water while mending
- Balanced body with enough power at the front to turn over a wide range of rigs, plus enough power at the back to load rods more deeply for short to mid-length shots
- Mid-length front taper for appreciable versatility, capable of turning over heavier rigs on shorter leaders powerfully or tiny dry flies on long leaders with finesse
Gold XP Application Overview |
½-SIZE HEAVY / EXTRA POWER
Primary: Dry Dropper / Light Indicator
Secondary: Small Dry / Big Dry / Light Streamer
MSRP — Elite Gold XP: $129.99 / Premier Gold XP $99.99
Gold MAX Highlights |
Made for anglers who have more tungsten, feathers, foam and heavyweight rigs in their boxes than CDC, parachutes, long leaders and size 22s.
- Compact and powerful, the short head and full-size heavy weight efficiently carries heavier flies and rigs with ease
- Short rear taper for easier shooting on longer distance casts
- Rear-loaded body turns over heavier rigs more smoothly than an aggressive, front-loaded design and makes for easy roll casting and mending of the entire head
- Short front taper for more powerful turnover of heavier flies and indicator rigs
Gold MAX Application Overview |
REAR LOADED / FULL-SIZE HEAVY
Primary: Heavy Indicator / Big Dry
Secondary: Streamer / Dry Dropper / Light Indicator
MSRP — Elite Gold MAX: $129.99 / Premier Gold MAX: $99.99
About RIO:
RIO exists to bring dream fish within reach. That means kitting anglers with everything needed to make every cast connect. But wrangling and releasing the hard-to-catch is just the start. True connection, as we know it, lies deeper than line, leader, tippet and fly. It’s the people we hold close, the places we hold dear and a dedication to stewardship that holds weight. These interwoven elements make for something inseverable. From our Idaho HQ to your local fly shop. From sharing high-proof stories around camp to dodging thunderheads on the flat. Wherever, whenever magic strikes — RIO connects you to the moment.
#riomaketheconnection
#getyourgoldon
For more information: farbank.com/pages/rio
