Line Maintenance

[Corndog]

After a couple hours of fishing, my line wants to float in the surface membrane of the water rather than high on top the water, thus making it more difficult to lift my line off the water to make a cast. Especially difficult when I'm making 60'+ casts. I have tried many lines and find this to hold true for all the lines I've tried. I've tried adding line floatant but that only works for about 30 minutes.

I'm curious what others do in this situation. Is this something everyone deals with? Do any of you have a solution to this problem?

Curiousdog

 

[Pete]

What you're probably experiencing is the difference between surface tension, and floating.

The clean freshly dressed line is sitting on the water (surface tension).

After the flotant washes off, or it gets dirty, it reverts to normal floating, displacing it's own weight, and sits lower in the water.

 

[Corndog]

What you're probably experiencing is the difference between surface tension, and floating.

The clean freshly dressed line is sitting on the water (surface tension).

After the flotant washes off, or it gets dirty, it reverts to normal floating, displacing it's own weight, and sits lower in the water.

Is there a way to keep it on top longer or is this normal for the line to sit lower in the water?

Curiousdog

 

[kindanewbie77]

The SA line that I just bought came with a little piece of fabric treated with a "dressing" used to clean the line and add the floatant back to it after some prolonged periods of use.....perhaps you could use something like that???

 

[smittin]

I like to use a greasy floatant on the last foot and a half or so of my line and that helps alote. You do have to reapply alote but it's only a small section and it only takes a couple of seconds.

 

[Bamboozle]

Stupidly obvious question, but do you clean your fly lines with any regularity?

After years of not giving a :holy:; when fly lines broke the $50 barrier, I figured it was worth my while to start taking care of them. Now I clean them after EVERY use, the way the manufacturer recommends which is with plain soap & water. After cleaning, I dress them LIGHTLY with the manufacturer's recommended dressing. Except under extremely dirty water conditions, my lines give me excellent performance. The whole process takes me about 7 minutes to do.

There are plenty of cleaning products out there if you want something more exotic than plain soap & water. Lost of folks swear by Zip Cast or other goops but I like to use what the line manufacturer recommends. Zip Cast is a cleaner & conditioner that takes only a minute to use although it is probably best done at the end of the day.

If you do clean your lines regularly and this still happens, you might want to consider looking into the Rio Wonder Cloth. They are small, cloth-like pads that are MILDLY abrasive and come in a pack of 5. They are similar in texture to the Sci-Angler's cleaning pads minus the sponge part. The theory with the abrasive pads is that a light abrasive rub restores the finish on the line and allows the manufacturer's impregnated line treatments to come out of the plastic.

With the Wonder Cloth, if your line gets dirty midday; you can take one of the cloths out of your vest pocket, wet it in the crick and pull your line though it a few times to clean it. I just bought some myself and haven't tried them yet but others who have, swear by them for cleaning lines and all sorts of other stuff like cork grips.

BTW - they AND the Sci-Angler's cleaning pads are considered fine to use on Rio & Sci-Angler's line BY THE MANUFACTURER'S. I can't speak to any other brand lines because that's all I use.

If you're still not happy after all of that, buy a Sharkskin. They supposedly float extremely high...

...almost as high as their price!

Good luck!

 

[Corndog]

Stupidly obvious question, but do you clean your fly lines with any regularity?

After years of not giving a :holy:; when fly lines broke the $50 barrier, I figured it was worth my while to start taking care of them. Now I clean them after EVERY use, the way the manufacturer recommends which is with plain soap & water. After cleaning, I dress them LIGHTLY with the manufacturer's recommended dressing. Except under extremely dirty water conditions, my lines give me excellent performance. The whole process takes me about 7 minutes to do.

There are plenty of cleaning products out there if you want something more exotic than plain soap & water. Lost of folks swear by Zip Cast or other goops but I like to use what the line manufacturer recommends. Zip Cast is a cleaner & conditioner that takes only a minute to use although it is probably best done at the end of the day.

If you do clean your lines regularly and this still happens, you might want to consider looking into the Rio Wonder Cloth. They are small, cloth-like pads that are MILDLY abrasive and come in a pack of 5. They are similar in texture to the Sci-Angler's cleaning pads minus the sponge part. The theory with the abrasive pads is that a light abrasive rub restores the finish on the line and allows the manufacturer's impregnated line treatments to come out of the plastic.

With the Wonder Cloth, if your line gets dirty midday; you can take one of the cloths out of your vest pocket, wet it in the crick and pull your line though it a few times to clean it. I just bought some myself and haven't tried them yet but others who have, swear by them for cleaning lines and all sorts of other stuff like cork grips.

BTW - they AND the Sci-Angler's cleaning pads are considered fine to use on Rio & Sci-Angler's line BY THE MANUFACTURER'S. I can't speak to any other brand lines because that's all I use.

If you're still not happy after all of that, buy a Sharkskin. They supposedly float extremely high...

...almost as high as their price!

Good luck!

LOL Sharkskin is what I'm using. You knew that and are messing with me aren't you?

I'm bad when it comes to cleaning my line. That's probably a big part of my problem. I'm gonna give those cleaning pads a try. Sounds like they would be easy to use on the water.

Thanks,
Curiousdog

 

[Bamboozle]

I'd call the Sharkskin, (Sci-Angler?) folks FIRST, and ask them the best way to clean that line. I have heard they get a bit dirtier and are harder to clean than peasant lines.

Good luck!

 

[Corndog]

I'd call the Sharkskin, (Sci-Angler?) folks FIRST, and ask them the best way to clean that line. I have heard they get a bit dirtier and are harder to clean than peasant lines.

Good luck!

peasant lines :rofl:

Yea sharkskin has divits in the line. I just emailed them requesting help.

I have other lines that do the same thing. Probably cause I'm not cleaning them regularly. I'm a dirty boy.

Cdog

 

[AKSkim]

I cleaned all my lines before my last trip, but after a couple of days of fishing I was experiencing the same conditions you were.

While on the stream, I would put some floatant between my fingers and "grease line" my leader & fly line.

It is a temporary fix to keep it on the surface.

Back at the trailer I broke out the fly line cleaner and went to town.

The line didn't sink after that.

The amount of time you seem to spend on the water, it might become a nightly habit for you to clean your line.

 

[Corndog]

The amount of time you seem to spend on the water, it might become a nightly habit for you to clean your line.

Damn...I think I'm gonna need a servant.

Thanks AK,
Cdog

 

[Broadheadscreek]

Damn...I think I'm gonna need a servant.

Thanks AK,
Cdog

Consider getting a midget they don't take up alot of space and they don't eat alot either!

 

[Broadheadscreek]

Bamboozle and AK have the right idea and some good info if you fish more than once a week you need to clean your line more often. Daily is best but every other trip is ok. Not only does it keep your line floating it helps reduce line memory as well and adds to the life of your line as Bam stated they are not cheap.

 

[Corndog]

Consider getting a midget they don't take up alot of space and they don't eat alot either!

...and I can store her in my fanny pack.

Cdog

 

[Broadheadscreek]

Or in a back pack like Kinda does.

 

[Corndog]

Or a back pack like Kinda does.

I thought I saw his backpack move the other day.

Cdog

 

[kindanewbie77]

SHHHHHHH........ the wife doesn't know about her yet!!!!!

 

[Bamboozle]

Consider getting a midget they don't take up alot of space and they don't eat alot either!

When I travel upstate, I actually travel with a pack of midgets that cater to my every whim, well almost...

There are seven of them, (of course) and their names are:

Shorty, Stubby, Skimpy, Squatty, Stretch, Stumpy and Shrimpy.

They can clean a line while it's hanging below your rod and you never even know they're there!

The bastards can cook and clean fish too!!

I got mine from the Midget Local 452 or with food stamps at Shop Rite.

 

[AKSkim]

When I travel upstate, I actually travel with a pack of midgets that cater to my every whim, well almost...

There are seven of them, (of course) and their names are:

Shorty, Stubby, Skimpy, Squatty, Stretch, Stumpy and Shrimpy.

They can clean a line while it's hanging below your rod and you never even know they're there!

The bastards can cook and clean fish too!!

I got mine from the Midget Local 452 or with food stamps at Shop Rite.

Ah yes.. the Wee People you been seeing lad.

Been having a taste of the potcheen have ya now.

...and he I taught you didn't touch a drop.

 

[coolkyle]

The more time you spend worrying about your line and your little person, the less time your fly is in the water!

 

[Corndog]

The more time you spend worrying about your line and your little person, the less time your fly is in the water!

Kyle,

Very few have their little person in the water more than I.

Cdog

 

[Fly Guy]

When I travel upstate, I actually travel with a pack of midgets that cater to my every whim, well almost...

There are seven of them, (of course) and their names are:

Shorty, Stubby, Skimpy, Squatty, Stretch, Stumpy and Shrimpy.

They can clean a line while it's hanging below your rod and you never even know they're there!

The bastards can cook and clean fish too!!

I got mine from the Midget Local 452 or with food stamps at Shop Rite.

Are any of them female, 3' tall with a flat head? :hubbahubba:

 

[kindanewbie77]

The one I keep in my back pack, has a sister that looks just like that!:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

 

[AKSkim]

I have been using RENEW SOLUTION fly line cleaner and
conditioner for about 6-7 years now.

I believe it is the easiest to use and works as expected.

You just add the solution to the foam pad, lay your rod in the top
(rubber to protect the rod finish) section, and fly line on the
cleaning pad, close it.

You can clean the line by paying out your line and/or reeling it in.

It is that simple and easy to use even Ryan R can do it.

 

[podobed45]

i heard online somewhere that the sharkskin's porous nature can actually accumulate dirt and add a half weight, or even a full weight to the line you are using.


that cant be good, especially if you arent on top of it.

 

[AKSkim]

i heard online somewhere that the sharkskin's porous nature can actually accumulate dirt and add a half weight, or even a full weight to the line you are using.


that cant be good, especially if you arent on top of it.

All that written by someone who claims to have THREE ENGLISH DEGREES.

 

[crokit]

Dirt can accumulate on anything; the more porous the worse it can get. Makes sense. I know I am guilty of the dirty line. AK: I like the little tool you've pictured. I believe I will own one first thing tomorrow, if Gander has 'em.

 

[AKSkim]

AK: I like the little tool you've pictured. I believe I will own one first thing tomorrow, if Gander has 'em.

I had it so long I forgot where I got it from.

You can't go wrong with that system.

If they don't have one, post it on here.. someone will spot one in a fly shop for you.

 

[AKSkim]

D AK: I like the little tool you've pictured.

Found it here.

Renew Fly Line Cleaner Tool by Angling Evolutions: Fly Fishing Gear - Burleson Sporting Co.

 

[Fishin Technician]

This is out of the box of conventional flyline cleaner products but it works for a high floating line that will zing thru your guides......Simonize paste car wax, let it dry than wipe off. I have been using this stuff for over twenty five years. I only have to apply it maybe once or twice a season. F/T