How to Clean Fly Fishing Line?

Cleaning can significantly extend the lifespan of your fly line and improve its floatation and shooting distance. Modern fly lines are porous structures that collect debris in their environment over time, which can erode away at their coating and lead to cracks forming in the coating. Regular cleaning helps prevent this scenario from arising.
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When purchasing a fishing line, you need to ensure it’s the right one for you. If you’re familiar with it, you will be able to maintain it yourself. The fly line is one of the more expensive components of any fly rod, and it should be maintained with great care, just as you would any other component, such as reels, leaders, or tippet. A dirty fly line makes casting difficult and can cause irreparable damage to guides—both situations being costly.

After every 3-5 fishing outings, it's important to clean your fly line, especially if you fish in rivers, as they tend to require more frequent maintenance compared to streams and creeks. To clean the line, strip it into a cleaning solution, then run it through a cleaning pad. One side of the pad is slightly abrasive to remove grime, while the other side has soft fibers to thoroughly clean and remove any remaining dirt.
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Fly line conditioner can ensure that your line lasts longer, casts further, and floats efficiently while making your flies look more attractive and desirable to fish.

Start by gathering some liquid hand soap and two buckets (one filled with soapy water, the other without). Pour a few pumps of soap into one bucket before placing your line from its reel in it for cleaning. With a soft cloth, wipe gently over the line until all dirt and grime have been eliminated from its surface.

This option is especially helpful for saltwater lines or lines used frequently and has amassed an excessive layer of debris, as this type of filth needs to be thoroughly cleared away after every 8-10 trips.
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Keeping your entire fly line clean is essential to float freely and slide through guides smoothly. Spending just a little time each fishing day tidying your line will ensure it lasts longer and performs more effectively.

Fill a bucket or sink with warm water and mix a small amount of dish soap or hand soap before submerging your fly line in it for 5-10 minutes in this solution.

Next, grab a dry rag and clean your fly line using pressure. Depending on how dirty the line is, this process may need to be repeated several times or with increased force. After cleaning is complete, it's wise to apply fly-line dressings. Many varieties from various manufacturers are available at reasonable costs and can be purchased easily online.
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Once your line is dry, use a fly line cleaner or conditioner to improve casting and floating fly line performance in the water. These products can be found at most fly shops. These solutions are commonly applied with a dampened cloth soaked in the product.

These products go beyond cleaning the line to also reopen microscopic pores that become clogged with dirt and grit, helping straighten it, reduce tangling, and minimize coil memory.

How often you need to clean your line depends on the type of water and the amount of dirt, grit, and algae it contains. Bass anglers fishing in rivers with lots of algae should aim to have it cleaned once every three to four outings, while saltwater anglers may require multiple clean-up sessions per trip as salt accumulates quickly on their lines.
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Every time you cast and retrieve your line in the water, it picks up pollen, plant particles, and dust that settle on it from its journey through the environment. Over time, these contaminants build up, eventually forming a crust that doesn't easily come off after cleaning, leaving it less effective at casting or floating lines than intended.

Trying to clean and condition your line will help extend its life considerably. Most fly shops sell affordable bottles of cleaner or conditioner that you simply apply with a cleaning pad to extend its longevity. This process only takes minutes but could add years to its lifetime!

As part of your fishing routine, it is also recommended that you soak your line periodically to remove grime and build-up that accumulates over time. A good rule of thumb for doing so would be every 3-5 fishing trips, depending on the type of water used for fishing.
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Regularly cleaning and conditioning your line can help it float higher, cast further, and feel smoother—not to mention extend its lifespan so you won't need to replace it as frequently!

To clean fly line, fill a sink, bowl, or bucket with lukewarm water and add a few drops of your preferred fly line cleaner. Strip your reel's line from its reel into this solution for 5-10 minutes before running it through a piece of wet paper towel, soft cloth/shirt material, or shammy cloth while applying moderate pressure.

This helps open up the line's pores to further eliminate grime build-up while stretching it periodically helps maintain suppleness and prevent coil memory. Once completed, rinse the line in cool, low-pressure freshwater before drying thoroughly and applying the appropriate fly line dressing as directed by the manufacturer or product packaging. Learn about fly fishing to make effective purchasing decisions.
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