I know that we have had this conversation more than once, but when I used the search function and did three searches: “fly line cleaner”, “line cleaner”, “conditioner” I couldn’t find the old threads that discussed this quite thoughly.
I just used up the last of my “Angling Renew Solution” by Angling Evolutions. While it did the job just fine, I am tempted to just use leather/vinyl cleaner like Amor All or a Turtle Wax product to slick up the line.
So what do you use and why? Is there anything out there, like these products that actually damage line that I should avoid?
I use zip cast. It’s great stuff but just be careful with it because its so darn slippery that if you get it on your hands or on anything else it’s a P.I.T.A to ever get it off. Last spring I cleaned my line at my cabin with it while sitting in the living room watching TV and I must have got some on the tile floor because there was an area about 3ft in dia on the floor that was like ice for the next few days lol
I tend to wash the portion of the line that I used with soap and water. Then rinse and dry off. I have used both Glide and Zip Cast with no problems. I think the important thing is cleaning your fly line. Most manufacturers recommend the soap and water route. Line conditioner is something we use to make us feel better about cleaning our line. I am not convinced that it makes the line cast any better or farther if you don’t use it.
Yes, ZIP CAST, I now remember the name and long conversations about it in other threads that I couldn’t find. I tend to agree that it is important to get the crud off of the line somehow, but the exact method is more a comfort for between the ears than anything technical. One guy in our local TU uses those throw away Turtle Wax or Amor All towlets. He likes them because he can use them stream side easily and he cleans his line several times per day.
I think that I will probably end up going to the store and buy some wiz bang cleaning protectant that is on sale and not look back.
Betty, Momma just got new granite counter tops and your advice reminds me of what the installers told us. Nothing to do with fly line of course and sorry for the random deviation from my own thread.
Again, anyone heard anything bad about using Amor All type products?
The word was Amor stuff leached the plasticizers from the line and made the line break down. There an article on line care from the man who was head of the Cortland Line Company (Leon Chandler who has passed on)… It is here: http://www.flyanglersonline.com/begin/101/linecare.php
I’ve heard the same thing about Armor All, but I’ll be honest with ya I use to use Armor All to clean my line for the whole first 10-12 yrs of fly fishing and I never had it hurt my line at all.
I use nothing but ZipCast…It cleans AND conditions. It also doesn’t get sticky & Fly Reel Dots is an FAOL Sponsor.
I use Outers 2’X2" cotton gun cleaning patches & my Angler’s Image line winder after every trip (sometimes every other trip). I help Jerry (Dot Man) with his sales & I always include a number of the patches with the ZipCast. They are a convenient size & 1 patch will hold up for a line or two.
Mike
Years ago I bought the Renew with the applicator. Then Jerry (dotman) started selling Zip Cast and like it a lot. I apply it using the Renew applicator. Zip Cast is very slick and a little goes a long way.
There was a thread about line cleaning and about ten posts in a row said ZIPCAST. That’s a pretty good testimony. And they were posts from many of the experienced people on here.
I still don’t know what I want to use either. So many choices. Thankful for the thread.
My friend is 80 and has been fly fishing all his life. He states he has used Amour All forever and no probs. If you buy a Fly Logic rod it…or at least mine…came witha booklet on fly fishing. At the end it recommends IN PRINT…black and white it says clean you lines with AMOUR ALL!
If you clean your line with Amour All does that also add floatant to the line?
If you clean your line with Zipcast does that also add floatant to your line?
Or should you clean the line with something…and then treat with a floatant?
What floatant treatment is good?
I don’t think this hijacking…all along the lines of treating a fly line.
One more question. A friend states that the Red Mucilin is for silk fly lines only! That it does no good on my plastic fly lines! Is this true? I have always heard the Red was the best. I dunno. I am totally confused now. “All” my lines are sorta plastic. Mixture of SA, Cortland, Aquanova, and Rio. But none of my lines are silk! Sylk…whatever. If I have NO silk lines…now I am totally lost on how to clean…and what floatant to use.
Back around 1970 I bought my first fly rod, reel and line. The line was a level 7 wt. Cortland and came with a round tin of cleaner with a felt pad inside. I used it for a long time on that line. I still have the line and it is still in good condition. If I ever find that product for sale I will buy at least one tin and use it.
I’m a zipcast fan but, that being said I can tell you this about Armor All: I use to fly indoor model airlanes that were rubber band powered some of started using Armor All as a rubber lube and it worked but did cause the rubber band to dry out and fail quicker than no lube at all. Then someone tried Son of A Gun from STP, very similar to Armor All but did not cause the rubber to break down and dry out. After that, I didn’t use Armor All for anything.
I was very pleased with the Cortland line cleaning pads, but then came to know Jerry and Zip Cast and have been using that. I can’t do a comparison, but Zip Cast works great and is a good value. I’ve seen no reason to move on to another line cleaner. A couple of years ago, I won an auction that included all of Dot Man’s products, and have to say they all are useful and work well. He’s a sponsor here, so check him out. http://flyreeldots.com/page/1dvfn/Welcome.html
I still use three fly lines that I purchased in the mid 1970’s which are still in excellent condition with no cracks, etc.
Cortland 444 Peach, S.A. Ultra Buckskin, S.A. Air Cel Light Green.
I’ve cleaned the lines with soap and water (glycerin soap) on a piece of sponge.
I start at the tip and work down approx 45’. I then wipe the line dry with a piece of flannel from the mid point,back to the tip.
I then apply “AmorAll” to a piece of flannel and wipe the line down to approx the 1/2 point (45’).
I then take another piece of flannel and wipe from the half way point back to the tip.
I’ve done this regimen for the past thirty years and have never experienced any problems with any of my lines.
The late, great James Castwell wrote an article back on September 1st 2008 called; “I Was Wrong About Cleaning Fly Lines.” You may want to check it out.
Red mucilin works great to float the tip of plastic fly lines. Especially if you also grease at least a foot or so of the leader as well.
I must admit though, I clean my lines rather often so there’s no buildup of the mucilin. I put some dish soap and water in a bucket and strip about as much line into it as I cast plus a few feet, then pull it through a wet rag and back into a bucket of clear water, then pull it through a dry rag and back on the spool. I’ve been doing this routine for years and it only takes a few minutes.
Another thing I found helps is to stretch the line good before and while fishing(especially when it doesn’t cast right). A couple of times a year I also tie one end off on a tree and stretch the entire line tying off on another tree and leave it that way for a few hours. When you’re done, lay the line out on the grass and grip it tightly with a rag and pull it through the entire length without releasing tension. When you get to the end it will start to whip around a bit, that’s the twists working themselves out of the line.
A clean and stretched line will cast just about as good as one that’s been “lubricated” and there’s no worry about using something that could potentially damage the coating. Of course this is only my opinion on it, I’m sure there are plenty of folks that swear by the specialty cleaners. I’d rather spend the extra couple of bucks on more tippet.
