Clean and dress your lines every 2-3 starts, or anytime you think dirt is hindering their performance. The cleaning pads are easy to carry in your vest or tackle bag and can be used anytime, wet or dry. The first step in cleaning your line is to remove at least the first forty feet of fly line from the reel. Go a little more if you are going to make long molds more often.
Spray some cleanser on the patch and run the fly line through the patch. You will see how much dirt you are removing from a line that appears to be clean. Repeat this process at least one more time. Clean the entire length of the fly line several times a year or before storing it for a long time.
How often you clean your fly line will really depend on the type of fishing you like to do with your equipment. If you do a lot of bass fishing in ponds and lakes with lots of algae, you should really clean your line often. Every two or three exits is fine. In clean cold water, you can do between five and six outlets before cleaning.
Because salt can build up on the line, you may have to clean it several times during a single saltwater fishing trip. Fly lines should be cleaned after every 5-10 uses. They should be cleaned immediately if they have been caught or dropped on moss or aquatic vegetation, or if they have accumulated mud or sand. Fly lines collect and hold a film of dirt, grime and salt.
With floating fly lines, this layer of soil reduces the floating ability of the lines, also greatly increases friction through the guides and reduces the ability to shoot the line. Dirty fly lines tend to degrade and crack much earlier than fly lines that are cleaned and cracked. A clean and elegant line will make a big difference in your casting. It is worth cleaning your fishing line after every 3-5 uses or when you have caught water that is particularly muddy, dirty, with weeds or moss.
I just recalled a fly fishing line that I bought in 1997 that I have used consistently for much of my fly fishing over the years. I estimate that the line has had more than 150 outputs. But I wouldn't have been so lucky with the line if I hadn't taken care of it. So you've cleaned up all your flight lines and noticed that a couple of them aren't in very good shape? Yes, they don't last forever.
Or 3-5 years hanging out on your favorite fly reel. Its coating has a built-in UV blocker and comes with a sheepskin cleaning pad inserted into a wooden block to help with the application process. Most fly line manufacturers recommend cleaning the line after fishing in dirty water or every 3-5 outings, but if you're like me, you'll probably put it off longer than you should. Whereas, if you only fish a few times per season, cleaning your fly line once a year may be enough.
Now, if I find out that, say, the SA cleaner is actually the same chemical cocktail as my 303 gallon, the choice is easier. Its coating has a built-in UV blocker and comes with a sheepskin cleaning pad inserted into a wooden block to help with application. The fly dressing should be applied after the line has been properly cleaned, and it works great for lines that do not need to be replaced. The most obvious sign that you need to clean your fly line is that it leaves a small black stripe on the crease of the finger that holds the line.
A typical fly line lasts 100 to 250 uses before being replaced, but if you clean it regularly, stretch the memory often, and remove wind knots, it can significantly increase the lifespan of a fly line. I have tried several brands to clean and fix the lines, without being impressed, almost 3 years ago I tried Scientific Anglers Fly Line dressing with really impressive results. Honestly, there is nothing wrong with cleaning your fly line, so if you want to clean yours after every day in the water, go ahead. During a busy guide season, I try to clean my fly lines that I use frequently at least once a week.
You'll know that it's definitely time to clean your line when it looks dirty, dirty or has a good memory. . .
