There has always been something relaxing and meditative about fly fishing. I’m not sure if it’s the mist on the water as the sun rises or the back and forth motion of the line that puts me at peace. The beauty of the forest and a rippling stream are hard to beat. I got started fly fishing as a teenager when I was given a starter set as a birthday gift. I began practicing on the shores of our neighborhood lake catching sunfish, and I always had a blast.
As I became more experienced, I started getting into better fly fishing waters like rivers and streams. I also grew out of my starter set and started upgrading my rods, reels, lines, and flies. Because I was now investing money in my hobby, I became more attentive to the maintenance needs of my gear. I learned that keeping my fly lines clean is vital to their effectiveness and longevity. Cleaning my lines became part of my fly fishing routine to ensure they would last as long as possible. In this article, we will discuss the steps needed to correctly clean your line and keep it presenting your flies properly.
Why Bother?
There are plenty of fly fishermen that don’t take the time to regularly clean their lines. So why should you? There are actually several reasons why you should be a bit more responsible. One of the biggest reasons for keeping your lines clean is casting distance. I like to wade as little as possible to reach the ideals spots for my flies. This means a long cast is necessary. A clean line with have less resistance and weight so you will get more distance.
Floating lines will also float better when they are clean. This is absolutely vital if you are working with flies that need to remain near the surface. Of course, any line will last longer if you keep it clean. Debris will wear down on the line over time making it less functional. It also adds weight to the line. When you try to present a fly on the surface of the water, a dirty line will often drag it down so it does not present realistically for the fish. Fly lines are porous, and dirt and algae will stick to those pores to make fishing tough. If you keep your line clean, it will perform as it was intended to.
What Do You Need?
If you clean your line with the wrong products, it can do more damage to your line. Because of this, you want to be very careful about the products that you choose. Common mistakes are using dish soap or bar soap. Dish soap is somewhat corrosive and can thin your line. Bar soap leaves a soap scum that will make the line heavy like anything else that latches to it.
Your best option is to use liquid hand soap with no scents or additives. Just add some soap to the bottom of one of the buckets as you fill them up. You can also buy a product specifically designed for cleaning fly lines. Along with your soap, you will want two buckets filled with warm water if possible. You also want a non-abrasive cloth like a shammy or a jersey rag. These materials should not damage the line.
Removing the Line
This process is actually quite simple. If you change your line regularly for different fishing conditions, you may already be used to this process. You will need something to cut your line like scissors, nail clippers, or a knife. Start feeding your line off of the reel and into the bucket with soapy water. When you get to the end and all of the line is spooled up in the bucket, cut the line off and remove any excess line.
There are also lots of people that prefer to clean their line while it is still on the reel. This is absolutely fine and may be your only option when you are out on the water. Instead of cutting off the line when you reach the end, you would just clean the line and transfer it to the fresh water. Once rinsed, you would then just spool it back up on the reel. You probably will not be as thorough as if you remove the line, but it is still better than leaving a line dirty.
Hand Cleaning
Whether you are removing the line or cleaning it on the reel, you are best to let it soak. Leaving the line in warm, soapy water for about 30 minutes is ideal. This is just like letting dishes soak before you start washing them. It loosens up the debris so it will come off the line easier. Then you will just use your non-abrasive cloth to rub down the line in the soapy water. When you are finished, transfer the line to the fresh water to rinse off any soap. Even the proper soap will leave a film on the line if you don’t rinse it thoroughly. Then you should dry your line as you spool it back onto the reel by using a dry cotton cloth.
How often you clean your fly lines is really about where you fish. If you are fishing in ponds and lakes with lots of algae and other vegetation, your lines should be cleaned every two or three times you fish. If you stick to spring fed streams and rivers, you are okay cleaning every six or seven trips. Fishing in salt water is unique because of the salt content. Salt will attach to the line, so you should clean every time you fish. Some anglers will clean their lines several times a day when fishing in the ocean.
Respooling Line and Spooling Devices
If you are working with your line by hand, reattaching and spooling your line takes longer but is still simple. You should just use whichever knot you originally used to attach the line. I like using a clove hitch, but there are several knots that work well. Just be sure the line is dry as you reel it back in.
If you spend lots of time fly fishing and you intend to maintain your lines properly, spooling devices can speed up the process. These little machines are portable and ideal for travel and for bringing to the water with you. They can spool or unspool a line in about sixty seconds, versus taking several minutes to do it by hand. There are larger versions that are just for spooling at home, but why spend the money if you can’t take it out in the field?
Dressing Fly Lines
You may have heard about dressing fly lines and think that it should be done for all fly lines. This is not the case. Only floating lines should have a dressing applied. Most line dressings are made from silicone. Typically, the company that makes your line will also make a dressing specific for that line, and this is often the best option. To apply, clean and dry your line first. Then put some product on a dry cloth. Apply the product as you unspool the line, and then reapply as you spool it back up.
If you are putting some money into your fly fishing gear, you will need to maintain it properly. As you become more experienced and skilled with this craft, you will likely start to spend more money on specialized gear. While this gear is built to last longer, it also must be cared for. Along with your rods and reels, your lines will need to be kept clean for both performance and to make them last longer. Cleaning your line is cheap and simple, so take the time to start cleaning your lines regularly and your wallet will thank you.