Posted by Jim E (24.116.99.140) on July 17, 2003 at 14:00:35:
This is something that Sid and I discussed doing. The tip of the week will be posted every Thursday. If you have a good tip that they would like to share, you can email your tip to me flyfish@cableone.net and I will post it, giving you full credit. Depending on how many I get it might take a few weeks before it appears. Maybe I can get Sid to donate something small to those that contribute. ???
Now, this week's tip:
Clean your fly lines !!!
You might be surprised how much better your line performs when it is clean. Even though most of the trout waters we fish are fairly clean waters, your line still gets pretty dirty.
Most newer lines only need to be cleaned with warm soapy water. This allows the line to float better/higher and will aid in the shootability, therefore increasing your casting distance, all other things being equal.
Personally, I use Loon's Line speed. It's advertised to have UV inhibitors in it and it leaves a slick coating on the line, all while cleaning it. Many line manufactures will only reccomend their brand of line cleaners. But, like Mr. Leon Chandler(vice-pres. of Cortland line Co.)said, the reasons that they do that(other than the obvious)is because they can't keep track of every line product out there. They would have to test it on their lines to make sure it doesn't adversly affect their lines coatings and then one company changes theirs a little...retest... Well you get the idea.
In short, if your line tip sinks, it's probably dirty. If your line doesn't cast like it used to, it might just be dirty. Sounds like a "you might just be a redneck" joke. So clean your lines. I do it after every trip.
For all kinds of info about fly lines click on the link.
Thanks for reading,
Jim Enns <*))))))><