Question on fly lines, How long do you expect a line to last ? I was inspecting my flyline the other day and the coating is cracking and coming off in several areas in about the first 25 feet of line, The line is only about a year old, Its a quality line, or so i assume A rio grande 65 bucks. I do admit I have never cleaned it much and theres a possibilty it may have come in contact with something like deet in bug spray or some sunblock, I think i read these things can cause a flyline to deterorate. So my next question would be, Whats your favorite flyline since i need a new one.
Hello Cap, Not really sure how to answer. I've had some lines for 10 to 15 years. I keep them clean and run them through the conditioner. Others have cracked or been damaged by wrapping them around rocks or sharp objects submerged in rivers, not to mention tangling them in trees. Like you said chemicals like deet damage the lines also. I think life expectancy for lines generally depends on how they are treated.
Lines are super sensitive to a lot of things, several of which you mentioned. They also tend to crack when dirt and grime gets on there and hardens. They also don't hold up well to light and heat. If you leave your reel in the car, that can really damage a line.
I think you answered your own question about why your line wore so fast. I expect mine to last several seasons of hard fishing. I clean my lines frequently with Rio's wonder cloth, it works very well considering its not treated with anything.
You might also want to consider sending your line back to Rio. I'm pretty sure they have some sort of warranty. Might want to check out their website for warranty info.
I have had most fly lines last at least a few years. To keep my fly lines in good condition I strip the line from the reel and then reel it back in while pinching it between a wet wash cloth. I then repeat this step by reeling the line back in through a dry, soft cloth. Then reel the line in one more time through a patch soaked with line conditioner. This process keeps the line clean, slick, and floating high. Its a pain in the ass to go through this process, but fly line is getting ridiculously expensive.
I assume your are fishing at least a few times a week. If so, your line just might be shot from normal wear and tear due to frequent use. Check to make sure your guides are still slick with no grooves or areas where the finish has rubbed off. Damaged guides will strip the finish off a line pretty quickly.
As far as a new line goes, I am a big fan of the Wulff Triangle Taper for WF-F line. I have also had good results with Cortland Selective Trout - Intermediate Sink in Clear Camo.
Actually, I don't really care how much the line is cracked or rough. I do care if it continues to float well, even after hours of fishing. Up until a year ago I was using Scientific Anglers Expert Distance line. However, I was having serious problems with the tip section (10-15 ft.) sinking after a couple of hours of fishing. I cleaned it regularly and dressed it. I even tried putting floatant on the flyline. Nothing really kept the tip from sinking after a couple of hours of fishing. Since my line was probably 5 years old, I bought the same line again, thinking that the line was just worn out. After a few trips, the tip section of my new line started sinking again. Again, I cleaned and dressed the line, but the same thing kept happening. I lived with the problem about a year. A couple of months ago I decided to try Rio Gold line. It definitely floats better and longer, but the tip does still sink a bit. I have talked to several fly shop workers and they have all told me that ALL flylines sink after a couple of hours. They also did say that Rio lines float better than SA lines. One tip that does help keep the tip floating is to dress the BUTT section of your leader with floatant. This helps keeps the tip of your flyline on the surface. Again, it helps, but doesn't fully resolve the problem.
I have been using the RIO Nymph line for indicator fishing. Based on the large number of days I get out on the water I only get 4 to 5 months at best out of a fly line..They get rough,stretched,stepped on,dirty,holes and week spots.I have had my fly line break while hooked up on a fish...I clean them often as well...I look at it this way..If Iam wearing out fly lines it's a good thing.It means Iam getting a lot of time on the water.. mx19
Thanx guys. I do fish a few days a week so I guess its a combo. of hard use and lack of maintenance. That line has seen a lot of rocks and trees, and even a big fish or two . I'll stick with rio for my next line as well, I'll send em the old one, Maybe they'll hook me up.
In regards to what type of line you want, what type of rod do you fish (action) and what type of fishing are you doing (dries, nymphs w/ indicator, etc).
As a general rule, I've found that most SA lines cast well and most Rio lines float well.
Do you want a slick, easy casting line, or a high floating/mendable line?
The new lines from both companies are supremely better than their older counterparts. The new SA's have a better dry tip technology and the new Rio's have a better agent x coating.
Spooled the abel super series 4 with a rio selective trout II line. Havent tried it yet but i'm excited to try it. Supposed to be super subtle with absoluty no memory, and real slick. The color is sweeeeet its a dark olive green. And its specifically made for slow medium action rods. I'll let ya all how it works out. I must add this, DO NOT KEEP FLYLINES IN YOUR CAR. I have for the last few months just storing my gear in the trunk of my car, Guy at the flyshop asked right away after looking at my old line, If i keep my reel in my the car. The heat kills em ! I think Mr. laskodi mentioned this before.
I like the Rio Nymph lines because I have tried to get away from using an indicator as much as possible and they have the nice orange tips. I have used SA mastery series GPX lines on most of my set ups and like them a lot too. I don't have one yet but I hear the new SA lines are high floating and have the welded loop. I think the sinking problem is from water wicking up into the flyline through the open tip.
The new SA Trout line for my three weight has the streamlined loop, turns over easily with a soft touch, floats very well, and doesn't seem to tangle as often as my Rio Grande four weight line. The SA loop is considerably smaller than the Grande loop. Might have something to do with weight difference??? Or just manufacturing process??? Very happy with both!
__________________
There's no greater fan of fly fishing than the worm...
I have used SA mastery series GPX lines on most of my set ups and like them a lot too. I don't have one yet but I hear the new SA lines are high floating and have the welded loop. I think the sinking problem is from water wicking up into the flyline through the open tip.
I also use a SA mastery GPX (and like it a lot too, it comes in a nice sage color, a lot nicer than those fluorescent colors IMHO) and noticed the tip sinking problem after a few hours fishing. I remember reading somewhere that you can apply some sort of sealant (sorry can't remember what it is) on the open tip to prevent wicking. Haven't tried it tough. Anyone tried this?
Most fly shops recommend that if you use a nail knot to attach your leader to the fly line, that you use Pliobond on the knot. The Pliobond seals the end of your fly line and also makes the nail knot smoother so that it doesn't get caught up on the top rod guide. I have used the Pliobond, but it hasn't done much to prevent the tip from sinking after a few hours. Like I said previously, I have had portions of the first 10 or 15 feet of my flyline sink and this was when my flyline was only a few months old. That's why I switched from the Scientific Angler line to the Rio line.
i'd have to estimate somewhere around 60 to 80 days on the water with this line, I've fished more in the last 6 months then any other 6 month period of my life. I think it has something to do with exposure to heat, leaving it in my car at times, I was told heat is a flylines worst enemy. The outer coating is what keeps flaking off.
Just dumped my Rio ST DT-3-F because it doesn't shoot and the tip sinks. Got this line based on recommendations on the Winston message board. It was great for a half a season....Fishing a Sharkskin makes you scowl at other lines when they don't come zipping out of the rod tip.
SA Sharkskin is dropping in a DT for 2009, very sweet. I fish the 5wt on my rods now and its awesome. Will be fishing my new SA Trout DT-3-F for awhile, its THEE line for my 3wt.
You really like the shark skin line ? I've heard differing opinions on it some good and some bad. If I remember right its around a 100 bucks right ? Can't do that right now. Maybe try an SA this time. This line was specificly for soft meduim rods and dry fly fishing so it was very light and didn't rollcast nearly as well as my last line wich was a rio grande, that line was noticably heavier and roll casted much longer distances with less effort. My flyshop swears by rio lines so i have always used what they recomended. I do admit i tend to not take as good a care of my line as i should.
i have learned about taking care of fly line just as you are right now. called the hard way. all my line started to get crappy, cracky, and sinky. i hated it. so you need to take care of it clean it. trust me it pays of, and get a conditioner.
as far as cleaning, someone mentioned a pad earlier i use mild dish soap and warm water. stip of the line and let is soak for a few in the bucket, then i push it though a wash cloth or something like that until i have no dirty line. then i put on the conditioner. i just spent a crap load of money on line and definitly dont want to do it again next yr.
i bough the rio nymph 8wt line for my 7wt and love it. i got a Cortland Laser Line Rocket Taper 444 7wt for my 6wt and love it, i got SA Mastery Series 7wt sink tip type lV for my 7wt and love it, and i got cortlands new precision platinum 6wt line for my 5wt and i love that too.
i can definitly tell when my line is dirty though. its harder to get out there, have to double haul some times, and it just feels rough through the guides and my finger. its nice to wash and clean it after every trip, but we all know that doesnt happen, but i think once a month if you go say once or twice a week is a good idea. thats what i do and its paying off.
hope this helps shaun.
__________________
Fishing isnt about catching fish, its not about who caught the most, or who caught the biggest, its about the experience that you have on the water, and the life long bonds you make with others on the journey to becoming a better person inside.
The Sharkskin is the best line hands down. I could go into all the details why, but its better when you find out for yourself. I honestly believe that SA lines are truly superior than Rio's. Everytime someone somehow convinces me to get a Rio, I end up junkin it. And back on the spool the SA goes. I fish products that I like and that work well for me.
There are a lot of shops that like Rio...Sage, Simms, Rio shops - you see them everywhere. I like the sharkskin because its shoots like no other line, floats high, and that gray color is so awesome. Those are my reasons - it fishes well. Rio Gold casts nice, but its hard to mend that really thin gold running line.
Brian is right, taking care of your fly line will make fishing a lot more enjoyable and productive.
I have been using my Rio Gold line for about a year. Just the other day I noticed that my fly line is cracked at the base of the loop creating a "hinge". There is also a small crack just a short distance above. I will try using Pliobond to fix both cracks, hoping that this will prevent water from penetrating into the core of the line. After the next few trips I will report back on how my repair worked.
i think if you've gotten to the point where your line is cracking your at the point where the line has lost a lot of its possitive attributes (e.g. floating capabilities). Ive used my rio for almost a full season now and its deffinately time to get some new line. I casted a friends rod (with new line) a couple weeks ago and its AMAZING how much easier it was to get better drifts.
__________________
all of a man's addictions end and begin when he learns to fly fish
Drifter, as far as I can tell, the two cracks are the only ones in the line. Overall, I think the rest of the line is in good shape. That's why I am trying to repair the line. I haven't noticed any problems with casting the line. The next couple of trips I will focus on checking the floatability of the line. As I said earlier, I will report back on how well my repair works.
i hope the repair works out nohackle. I'll tell you a sure fire way to ruin your line quickly, have a little to much scotch (or other substances) when your fishing in freezing conditions and forget to dip your rod in the the water every few casts. I wish i had your patch kit a few weeks ago nohackle. hahah
__________________
all of a man's addictions end and begin when he learns to fly fish
. I'll stick with rio for my next line as well, I'll send em the old one, Maybe they'll hook me up.
I wish i had your patch kit a few weeks ago nohackle. hahah
