About Cortland

About Cortland Line

Fly Innovation Since 1915

Founded in Cortland, New York, Cortland Line Company designs and manufactures fly lines for freshwater and saltwater anglers worldwide. For more than a century, the company has focused on fishing driven innovation, developing technologies that helped shape modern fly line design, from the early braiding work of Ray Smith to the twentieth century leadership of Leon Chandler.

Foundations and Early Leadership

1915

Cortland Line Company Founded

Clothing merchant Ray Smith seizes on a new market and begins braiding silk fishing lines in his storefront in Cortland, NY where our plant has been ever since. It was a move that would ultimately change fly fishing forever.

1920s to 1930s

Early Tapered Fly Line Development

Cortland gains recognition for durable silk fly lines and refined taper construction, setting early performance standards.

1932

First Braided Fishing Line Patented

Ray Smith patents the first braided fishing line. This is Cortland’s first line advancement focused on improved casting.

1941

Leon Chandler Joins Cortland

Leon Chandler joins the company and inspires the company’s commitment to innovation, education and conservation for nearly five decades.He later becomes one of the most influential figures in fly fishing education and promotion.

1942

WWII Military Manufacturing

Cortland joins the US armed forces by using its braiding expertise to manufacture parachute and bomb cords that dropped troops and supplies into Europe and the Pacific during WWII.

Modern Fly Line Innovation

1953

Introduction of the 333 Series

Cortland introduces the 333. With a bonded synthetic surface coating and marketed as “unsinkable,” the 333 all but ended drying and dressing silk lines. The name 333 came from a quote to the press by Leon Chandler who said, tongue firmly in cheek, “It was our 333rd attempt to get it right.” He then convinced Ray to name it the 333.

1960

Fly Line Standards Established

Leon Chandler from Cortland leads a group of manufacturers from AFTMA to create the first standards for fly lines. They land on a grain-weight measurement of the first 30 feet of line, spawning our modern system of matching rod to line weight.

1962

New Fly Line Tapering Method Adopted

Cortland adopts a new method of tapering fly lines by applying different thicknesses of coating over a straight, braided core. Prior to this, the core itself had been tapered in the braiding process. The new method spawned a much wider variety in tapers and specialty lines, ushering in an explosion of line innovation.

1964

444 Series Introduced

The 444 series is introduced. It sports an industry-first, glass-like finish, and uses the latest technology in fly line jackets, allowing it to remain supple in cold conditions.

1965

First Pro Shop Program Launched

Cortland launches the first Pro Shop program in the fishing industry, allowing only Cortland partners to sell premium products.

1970

First Complete Fly Fishing Kits

Cortland introduces “Complete Balanced Fly Rod Outfits” with the trademarked phrase “just add water” on each outfit. These are the first fishing kits and begin to attract more novice anglers to the sport.

Refinement, Recognition, and Continuity

1979

Introduction of the 444SL

With input form baseball great, Ted Williams, Cortland engineers and markets the 444 SL series. The series, which utilizes a harder, more durable finish, puts long-distance targets within reach of average anglers. It support faster action rods and evolving casting styles.

1980s

Advanced Coating Development

Cortland continues refining plastics and coating formulations for improved durability and performance.

1988

Leon Chandler Hall of Fame Induction

Leon Chandler is inducted into the National Fly Fishing Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to the sport.

1992

Leon Chandler Retires

After more than fifty years with the company, Leon Chandler retires, leaving a lasting legacy within fly fishing.

1993

Launch of the 444 Lazerline

The 444 Lazerline is introduced, featuring advanced plastics and migrating lubricants.

2000

444 Series Receives Industry Honors

444 was named "Fly Line of the Millennium" and 444 Camo named fly line of the year.

2009

Liquid Crystal Fly Line Technology Introduced

Cortland introduces the PE+ Crystal fly line, the first-generation of current Liquid Crystal lines. These lines have a jacket made from polyethylene and other co-polymers (hence the PE+ name), and are substantially more clear and higher floating.

Cortland Line Company, 1931

Cortland Line Company employee outing, 1937

A 1953 poster for the Cortland 333 fly line series

Mickey Mantle and Leon Chandler representing Cortland Line at a trade show, circa early 1950s

Leon demonstrates fly casting at Abercrombie & Fitch in New York City in 1955

Leon with President Kekkonen of Finland in 1961

Leon unfurls a tight loop in Poland, 1963

Cortland Line Company, 1967

Leon meets with a shop owner in Japan, 1972

Cortland Line's new president, John Wilson, checks out one of the company's line braiding machines at the Cortland Factory, 2015

1 / 1

Continuing the Work

Cortland Line Company continues to design and manufacture fly lines in Cortland, New York, guided by the same principles that have shaped the company for more than a century. From the early work of Ray Smith to the leadership of Leon Chandler, Cortland’s history has been defined by practical experience, careful design, and a deep respect for fishing itself.

Chandler’s influence extended well beyond product development. His commitment to education, conservation, and industry leadership helped shape how fly fishing knowledge was shared and preserved, both within Cortland and across the broader angling community. That sense of responsibility continues today.

The team at Cortland carries this legacy forward by building on decades of accumulated knowledge in materials, tapers, and construction. While tools and technologies have evolved, the approach remains rooted in experience gained on the water and refined through generations of anglers.

EXPLORE CORTLAND FLY LINES

We Are Cortland