Compact Intermediate

January 15th, 2026

In fly fishing, adaptability is the key to success. Conditions change, species vary, and the water presents new challenges on every outing. You need a line that can keep up, one that performs just as well in a temperate trout stream as it does on a tropical flat. The Specialty Series Compact Intermediate is engineered to be that line—our most versatile intermediate offering, designed for the angler who refuses to be limited by location or target species. Whether you're presenting a streamer to a wary brown trout, casting into a blitz of false albacore, or exploring remote jungle waters, this line provides the stealth and performance needed to make the crucial shot. It is the ultimate utility player for your fly fishing arsenal.

Quick Loading, Effortless Casting

The core of the Compact Intermediate’s design is its 26-foot, full clear head. This condensed, aggressive taper is built to load modern, fast-action rods with minimal effort. You can feel the rod load instantly, allowing for rapid, accurate casts with very few false casts. This efficiency is critical when sight-fishing or reacting to fast-moving fish, where the window of opportunity is often just a few seconds long. The clear head provides a significant stealth advantage, minimizing the line's visibility to fish in clear water and fooling even the most cautious predators.

Behind the powerful head, a floating running line ensures smooth line management and easy pickups from the water. This combination of an intermediate head and a floating running line gives you incredible control over your fly's depth, letting you hover it just below the surface or in the crucial top few feet of the water column where many species feed.

Advanced Technology for Superior Performance

A truly great fly line is more than just a taper. The Compact Intermediate is packed with our most advanced technologies to ensure it excels in any environment. Our signature ST coating creates a glass-smooth, super-slick finish that glides through the rod guides with minimal friction. This, combined with our Heat-Tempered Surface Treatment, seals the line from dirt, algae, and oils, maintaining its exceptional performance and slickness all season long. You get longer, smoother casts with less effort. Built on a durable monofilament core, this line is ready for action in both freshwater and saltwater. It also boasts incredible temperature versatility, performing flawlessly in warm conditions (50°F to 70°F) and even in tropical heat (70°F+). From northern pike and steelhead to striped bass and jungle species, this line can handle it all. Rigging is made simple and reliable with our strong, durable Dual Welded Loops on both ends, allowing for fast and easy leader connections without the bulk of traditional knots.

Find the Best Fly Fishing Inventory at Cortland Line Company

At Cortland Line Company we share a passion for everything fly fishing. We specialize in fly lines for both freshwater and saltwater fishing, and offer other products including leaders, tippet, rods and reels. We are passionate about the sport and offer over 100 years of refined experience both designing and manufacturing the world’s top fly line and braided fishing line. As techniques progress we remain focused on growing our technology for innovative new angler adventures. Our dedication over the last century compels us to continue pushing the limits of fly lines and propel the progression of fly fishing forward. All our lines are made in the USA at our premier location in Cortland, New York. We are a groundbreaking pioneer within the fly fishing industry, with many of our cultivated technologies continuing to shape fly line development. If you have questions about our elite fly lines, or anything fishing related, stop by and see us - we love to talk about all things fishing. We look forward to seeing you out on the water.