Fly Line Maintenance

It’s a well-known fact that a properly maintained fly line lasts longer and casts better. Considering the high prices of today’s fly lines, proper maintenance can save you some serious money over the long haul. However, what some people don’t realize is that over cleaning, can greatly reduce the life of your fly line. Therefore, if you follow the suggestions outline in this article, you can increase the life of your fly line; get more distance out of your cast, and save money to boot.

One simple and effective step you can take before you leave your favorite fishing hole is to make one final cast and retrieve your line back through a clean, dry cloth. This will remove most of the dirt and algae picked up during the day on your line before it has had time to dry and harden. Then, when you get home, place your fly line in a sink or bucket of warm water and let it soak, especially if you have been fishing in saltwater. After the line has been adequately soaked to loosen any contaminates and/or salt deposits, take a smooth clean dry cloth, fold it in half, and firmly pinch/hold the line between the cloth, and pull it through to dry it. This procedure should be done after every trip.

The next step in the maintenance routine is dressing your line, a step that will increase the likelihood that your line will cast farther. One way to dress a line is with Armor All. After you have dried your line, run it through a cloth moistened with Armor All, two or three times. Armor All is a great product that’s quick and easy to apply and does a wonderful job of lubricating and protecting your line. Although Armor All is soluble in water, it does penetrate the line’s surface and therefore, should last for several trips. Remember, Armor All works best when applied to a clean line, therefore, don’t be tempted to just keep adding it to your line. 

If you prefer to use a dressing specifically made for fly lines, there are a number of them available. However, as far as commercial fly line dressings go I prefer and recommend Glide, which if used appropriately, can add distance to your cast. Proper use includes applying it to your line, allowing it to thoroughly dry, preferably over night, and then buffing your line with a smooth dry cloth. When dried, Glide forms a hard slick coating that resists water and dirt. But don’t think that if a little dressing is good, a lot is great. Applying too much dressing can cause the line to pick up dirt quicker. So, remember a little line dressing is enough and be sure to clean off the old before adding new dressing. Also, keep in mind that line dressing should not be applied to today’s new self-lubricating lines, the dressing can and will clog the lines pores preventing the self-lubricating process. Just clean these lines occasionally, for best results.

Finally, here are some preventive measures you can take to prevent your lines from becoming dirty and to help extend their useful life.

· Don’t expose them to high heat.

· Don’t expose them to sun tan lotion or insect repellent.

· Don’t expose them to petroleum products.

· Don’t expose them to prolonged and intense UV light.

· Don’t step on your lines.

· Don’t practice cast them on hard, abrasive surfaces.

· Do use a leader on your line when dry casting (practicing).

· Do use old worn out lines when dry casting.

· Do use a stripping basket when casting from shore.

· Do perform simple, routine maintenance on your lines..