With Cortland lines, or at least the ones that I have purchased, usually come with a small cleaning cloth that has already been pre-treated with some sort of lubricating/cleaning fluid.
Some people clean their lines after every use, I like to do mine after a few outings. Really depends on what kind of water you are fishing and how dirty it is. One thing to keep in mind though, the better you treat your fly line, the better it will treat you.
Jvento, you mentioned that you were gonna clean your fly line the other day so it got me thinking. I've never cleaned any of my lines. Do you clean the entire length of the line? Or just the part that is usually out on the water?
A clean line floats better, slides through the guides better,and lasts longer.you should clean the whole thing.You dont wax just the top of your car do ya......most shops offer a few different brands or types....
A clean line floats better, slides through the guides better,and lasts longer.you should clean the whole thing.You dont wax just the top of your car do ya......most shops offer a few different brands or types....
ha ha ha can i just use mild soap and a wash cloth
I have a feeling that soap might take off some of the protective coating that the factory puts on their fly lines. It would be best to just get some cleaner at a fly shop.
Until then, I would recommend using warm water and a clean cloth and wiping it down. I'd bet you would get lots of dirt off of it. Also, clean out the guides of your fly pole. Just like the line, your guides will get dirty too. You should notice a difference in a clean line when you feel how much nicer it casts.
-Jon
-- Edited by jvento on Thursday 10th of September 2009 05:13:55 PM
-- Edited by jvento on Thursday 10th of September 2009 05:14:05 PM
For those interested in a less expensive alternative...
A guide I went out with on a sierra river told me he uses Albolene make-up remover for cleaning his line. I have tried it and so far it appears to do the job very well. You can get a 12 oz. container for $7.00 at Longs drugs, or CVS as it is now known. This size of a container will last for a very long time. Also, for use as a dry fly dressing, he swears by a mixture of 1 part Albolene and 3 parts Ronsonol cigarette lighter fluid. He said that there is no real "flotant", but that the Albolene cleans the fly and the lighter fluid evaporates the mixture as fast as you can pull the fly out of the container. I haven't tried the dressing yet myself, but I can say the line cleaner works well.
I'm far from a high roller I just have my priority's straight. Purchasing the needed gear to keep me on the water every single chance I get is as important as say putting food in my gut.
-- Edited by DrBombay on Tuesday 15th of September 2009 06:05:43 PM
I don't understand all the concern is about I have had my flyrod/reel /and line for about a year and fish a lot I just got that stuff IFISH recomended and it took off some dirt but not all of it. and it still floats but it did before I cleaned and it seems about the same after Ive been fishing ten years will I know some thing I don't know now Ive heard this discussion before on this site and remember the comment of changing line every year why is that does it not float any more or is there some other thing that warrents replacement
Don't obsess about this cleaning thing. You now have the perfect long lasting tool for keeping your line in shape as long as you take a moment when you know its filthy to give it a cleaning. That is, until your line finds itself raked across legions of stream side branches and river stone, underwater obstructions, your various foot stomps, and the occasional practice session on driveway asphalt.
Point being - line does eventually wear out in use for many reasons. Its made to fish, not made forever. Old line cracks, especially in the front section where the business end is and can get brittle with time. Conditioning does help. Often times, your floating line seems to sink a lot quicker at the butt section. Old line shows abrasion more often than not at that point of the line. Clip a little off if you need to and attach a new mono butt section. Whatever it takes to keep your old line in service until you can replace it.
If you have the resources to change your line out every 6 mos to a year. God love ya! If not, condition it for as long as you can stand it. Then, support your fish habit and break down and buy some new line for yourself. You deserve it more than you know!
For me, the primary purpose for cleaning my line is to keep the tip from sinking after a couple of hours of fishing. I used to use SA Xpert Distance line, but no matter what I did to clean or dress it, the tip would sink after 2 or 3 hours of fishing, even with a relatively new line. I finally switched to Rio Gold line and it floats much better. One thing I do to keep the tip of the flyline floating is to put floatant on the butt section of my leader (not the flyline). When the butt section floats, it helps support the flyline and keeps it from getting waterlogged.
I know this post is a little old at this point, but I just received an Email from Creative Sports Fly Shop in Pleasant Hill. They are offering free inspection of fly lines, and reels. They will, clean inspect and lubricate both for free of charge.
__________________
"May the holes in your net be no larger than the fish in it."
You should go check em out oh4fish. I've purchased several lines from there and Jamie the owner always does a great job of cleaning and lubing my very abused reel. Besides they need our business now more then ever !
I just have my priority's straight. Purchasing the needed gear to keep me on the water every single chance I get is as important as say putting food in my gut.
I don't understand all the concern is about I have had my flyrod/reel /and line for about a year and fish a lot I just got that stuff IFISH recomended and it took off some dirt but not all of it. and it still floats but it did before I cleaned and it seems about the same after Ive been fishing ten years will I know some thing I don't know now Ive heard this discussion before on this site and remember the comment of changing line every year why is that does it not float any more or is there some other thing that warrents replacement
