I caught my first brook trout(s) this past weekend largely thanks to all of your excellent videos/advice. I started from ground zero in November and now I feel like I really have a handle on everything. It was a dream come true to take in so many trout after doing so much research and practicing in local areas. Thank you for helping me achieve this goal, I have a video coming out at 12 this afternoon.
Good for you, 50 years from now that first one will still be the best one. Mine came to me way back in 1963. Today Fly fishing is not the voodoo it was thought to be back then. I was on my own. Now there is a huge amount of information and instruction, Never mind the rod lines and reels are light years better too. A lot of the information and Instruction accessibility is in no small part due to the scraggly beard and in dire need of a haircut legend from the State of Vermont!
I couldn't agree more Tom. I literally have 50 year old fly lines that still work OK. Unfortunately they haven't been used a great deal but they aren't cracking and with a little use the memory will probably disappear. Keep the good stuff coming.
When the season is over for me in the fall, I wash mine with warm water & then hang in on a "Pants Hanger" in a warm room for the rest of the year. Waiting until Spring when I go fishing again, & spool it back on. Been doing that for years. I hate buying a new fly line every year, I do both floating & sinking lines. By hanging them up un-spooled, I prevent the curling of the line from occurring when I start fishing again in the spring.
That is the one thing that has been a major improvement in Fly Fishing is how good the fly lines are these days. Back in the 80s and 90, I fished a lot and well there was that cracking issue. I am really anal when it comes to keeping my rod reels and fly lines in good order. All my stuff is used but well cared for. I put nothing away wet. I will strip and dry a fly line before I put it away. I think I will be adding a 7"6" Orvis Recon 3 wt, I am planning to spend all of September in the Driftless Region, to feed my spring creek addiction.
I keep a small piece of micro fiber in my waders. When I'm through for the day I wipe the line down while striping it into the river and then real it in. My lines are always smooth through the eyes. I clean the line in my garage sink at the end of every season.
Hi Tom, Thankyou for your advice. Personally, I wouldn't and have been advised not to use dish soap, because strong detergents etc contained inside. I use soap flakes. Soaps flakes are much more gentle than washing up liquid and then the line dressing to finish with. I find that's what works for me, thankyou.
After the fires in the Yosemite area, I fished in one of the Tuolumne River forks. It was pretty crispy up there and the water had a lot of dissolved ash. I think it ruined my fly line. I used it afterwards and it worked, but the line was discolored and not as smooth, which I'm sure affected casting distance. It kind of felt slightly hardened too. Is there anything I can do to clean it and restore it's smoothness and softness?
I recently got some (new old stock) GLADDING MAGISTRATE L-6-F braided nylon floating line. (3 packages) Would you use a floatant like Muscilin on this type line?
🌴 But I fish saltwater , a line can get used a lot ( abused)👈🏼 a lot depending were and how you fish , they get dragged across pilings with barnacle’s and oysters , scraped on rocks , and you never know when a mangrove tree will grab your line and snag it 👈🏼😄 🤔so here’s something I was thinking about what if you coated it with a ceramic car wax coating , would it actually make the line slicker and cast easier and farther 🤔👍🏼
My fly lines will not float unless I treat with silicone or line dressing. I would love to not have to do that but I hate the end of the line not floating while I use it.
Tom - storing the line in cold or hot would seem to contradict what I've read about warm and cold rated fly lines on manufacturer websites. If I'm not supposed to use cold rated fly lines in warm water because they get sticky and limp...I would think I shouldn't be storing cold rated fly lines in a hot garage (by example). Confused with what seems to be conflicting info...or maybe I'm missing a nuance.
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I caught my first brook trout(s) this past weekend largely thanks to all of your excellent videos/advice. I started from ground zero in November and now I feel like I really have a handle on everything. It was a dream come true to take in so many trout after doing so much research and practicing in local areas. Thank you for helping me achieve this goal, I have a video coming out at 12 this afternoon.
Good for you, 50 years from now that first one will still be the best one. Mine came to me way back in 1963. Today Fly fishing is not the voodoo it was thought to be back then. I was on my own. Now there is a huge amount of information and instruction, Never mind the rod lines and reels are light years better too. A lot of the information and Instruction accessibility is in no small part due to the scraggly beard and in dire need of a haircut legend from the State of Vermont!
I couldn't agree more Tom. I literally have 50 year old fly lines that still work OK. Unfortunately they haven't been used a great deal but they aren't cracking and with a little use the memory will probably disappear. Keep the good stuff coming.
Nice tip Tom!!!..i hope you have enjoyed your stay in chilean Patagonia… i love my country for fly fishing … bless
When the season is over for me in the fall, I wash mine with warm water & then hang in on a "Pants Hanger" in a warm room for the rest of the year. Waiting until Spring when I go fishing again, & spool it back on. Been doing that for years. I hate buying a new fly line every year, I do both floating & sinking lines. By hanging them up un-spooled, I prevent the curling of the line from occurring when I start fishing again in the spring.
Thanks, Tom. Always great advise and glad to hear I don't need line dressing any longer.
Excellent tips as usual Tom.
Thank you Tom, I am sure a lot of beginner's and others never new this. GOD bless
Thank you for all of your dedication to teaching others. Thank you.
That is the one thing that has been a major improvement in Fly Fishing is how good the fly lines are these days. Back in the 80s and 90, I fished a lot and well there was that cracking issue. I am really anal when it comes to keeping my rod reels and fly lines in good order. All my stuff is used but well cared for. I put nothing away wet. I will strip and dry a fly line before I put it away. I think I will be adding a 7"6" Orvis Recon 3 wt, I am planning to spend all of September in the Driftless Region, to feed my spring creek addiction.
I keep a small piece of micro fiber in my waders. When I'm through for the day I wipe the line down while striping it into the river and then real it in. My lines are always smooth through the eyes. I clean the line in my garage sink at the end of every season.
I've always wanted to know about this...
Good info.
I keep my reels in plastic storage boxes and out of the elements.
Great tip thanks
Thank you.
I see Tom - I upvote
Hi Tom,
Thankyou for your advice. Personally, I wouldn't and have been advised not to use dish soap, because strong detergents etc contained inside.
I use soap flakes. Soaps flakes are much more gentle than washing up liquid and then the line dressing to finish with. I find that's what works for me, thankyou.
Probably a wise idea although I have never had dish soap bother the finish.
After the fires in the Yosemite area, I fished in one of the Tuolumne River forks. It was pretty crispy up there and the water had a lot of dissolved ash. I think it ruined my fly line. I used it afterwards and it worked, but the line was discolored and not as smooth, which I'm sure affected casting distance. It kind of felt slightly hardened too. Is there anything I can do to clean it and restore it's smoothness and softness?
I recently got some (new old stock) GLADDING MAGISTRATE L-6-F braided nylon floating line. (3 packages) Would you use a floatant like Muscilin on this type line?
U can put some light petroleum jelly a light coating will keep it soft an won't let it dry out ,
And it will attract a ton of dirt
I clean my warm water lines a lot more often than my cold water lines. Mainly due to how much dirtier the warm water is.
🌴 But I fish saltwater , a line can get used a lot ( abused)👈🏼 a lot depending were and how you fish , they get dragged across pilings with barnacle’s and oysters , scraped on rocks , and you never know when a mangrove tree will grab your line and snag it 👈🏼😄 🤔so here’s something I was thinking about what if you coated it with a ceramic car wax coating , would it actually make the line slicker and cast easier and farther 🤔👍🏼
My fly lines will not float unless I treat with silicone or line dressing. I would love to not have to do that but I hate the end of the line not floating while I use it.
Modern high quality lines don't need that.
You mean I don't have to spend all kinds of money buying brand name line cleaners? Thanks for the sensible advise!
Tom - storing the line in cold or hot would seem to contradict what I've read about warm and cold rated fly lines on manufacturer websites. If I'm not supposed to use cold rated fly lines in warm water because they get sticky and limp...I would think I shouldn't be storing cold rated fly lines in a hot garage (by example). Confused with what seems to be conflicting info...or maybe I'm missing a nuance.
Yes they get sticky to cast but hot weather will not damage them.
Thank you common sense
Do you recommend using a stripping basket?
Stripping baskets do have a place in helping to keep your line cleaner longer. Don't feel they are necessary however.
They are great when you wade a shoreline with sticks or if you fish a swirling surf. I have never found the need for one when wading a river though.
How about never.
That is often my plan.