Never underestimate the value of a clean fly line.
Anyone who has cast a line that's fresh from the box knows the truth of
that advice. A new line is always a joy, because it is slick and clean,
meaning it zips through the rod guides with minimal effort.
New lines perform so well that tournament casters often buy their lines
in pairs. One line is for practice. The other only comes out on
tournament day, then it gets retired from competition.
Why?
Because the line degrades with each cast. It picks up a bit of dirt and
gets small abrasions, making it a little less slick and causing
performance to slip. That diminished performance can cost a tournament
caster his title.
If you're not into competitive casting, peak performance is less
critical, but that's not to say you should ignore routine maintenance. A
little care will go a long way, allowing your line to slip through the
guides with less resistance. Not only will you cast farther, you will
also cast with greater accuracy and precision.
For lines that have not yet been abused, a simple cleaning is all you need. Any of the standard fly line cleaners (sometimes called line dressings)
will do. Just apply a drop to a soft, clean cloth, then pull the line
through the cloth a couple times. If you see dirt on the cloth, take a
few more swipes, removing as much of the dirt as you can.
You'll get even better results by letting the line sit overnight after
cleaning, then pulling it through a clean cloth a few times for
polishing.
What if your line is really dirty, probably because you can't remember the last time you cleaned it?
Use a little warm water, a clean cloth and soap. Do not use detergent.
Detergents will damage your line. Now, wipe the line dry, and apply your
standard fly line cleaner.
How often should you clean your line?
I like to clean my lines after each day of fishing. Now, I've been
described as obsessive-compulsive, so perhaps that's overkill. But our
south Louisiana waters have volumes of muck not found in other parts of
the country. I'm not as scrupulous, for example, when trout fishing in
Arkansas or Montana. In those conditions, I might fish for a week
without cleaning.
But the moment I notice that my line doesn't shoot through the guides,
or when I see the tip of a floating line sink, I pull out my rag and
bottle of cleaner.
If somebody tells you to use Armor All or some other vinyl cleaner,
ignore that advice, because such cleaners can damage your line. You're
much better off with a silicon-based cleaner that's specifically
formulated for fly lines.
When should you replace your line?
It depends on how often you fish and how well you care for the line. In
addition to regular cleaning, storing your line away from excessive heat
and sunlight will extend its life. In other words, avoid leaving your
reel locked in your car on a hot summer day.
Meanwhile, inspect your line from time to time for tell-tale signs of
wear. Look for tiny cracks or any darkening of the plastic coating. A
line that becomes wiry instead of supple has probably outlived its
usefulness. And a line that no longer retains its slickness after
cleaning is probably finished.
