I’d like to use a shooting head and a reel full of ~35# braided running line for both floating and sinking lines on stillwaters this summer. So far, so good. BUT, when retreiving this stuff it seems to me I could shred my fingers on the braided shooting line. Not much interested in a floating, skinny, running flyline, especially with a sinking head. What can I wear to protect my fingers? If a fish nails my fly and runs like crazy I’d prefer to not bleed all over the fish and our canoe in landing it. Mittens are too clumsy. Leather gloves don’t seem appropriate. Ideas?
Thanks.
Take up playing the guitar…? Before I started playing braided running lines would cut the snot out of my fingers but now I have all these cool calluses and you couldn’t get through those things with a bench grinder. But if that is not an option you could take a cheap pair of neoprene gloves and cut the fingers out just at the first knuckle leaving the index finger on (or at least that was what i used to do).
Steve
I use 30lbs braid on one of my spinning reels. As I recall that is about 6 lb diameter. If a fish takes line at a speed that will slice my finger with that line, I’d be happy to have the fish on.
My advise to you is dont worry about it, just dont wrap the line around your finger and you’ll be fine.
There is a double sided cotton gauze tape you can buy to wrap your fingers with. I have a huge roll of it that I bought about 10 years ago that I haven’t come close to running out of or I would probably remember the product name. All I know is that it’s blue in color and it looks like thin Ace bandage.
It’s primary use is as a veteranary bandage for wrapping up busted up dogs and horses and stuff so you may want to ask your veteranarian if you are pet owner. I’ve seen it in drugstores, but since I’ve never needed to buy more I didn’t pay attention to it’s name.
The stuff is awesome to use. You just wrap it around your fingers where the line might contact them and you are good to go. It is waterproof and won’t fall off, in fact you have to cut it off at the end of the day. You look a little like Lester Hayes, the old cornerback for the Oakland Raider’s when you are wearing it but you won’t cut your hands.
Have you tried putting band-aids on your fingers before they get cut? Let the band-aids take the damage. I have used some of the stronger, “sports” band-aids like that before.
Why do you want to use equipment that will potentially cause you pain, suffering and possible disfigurement (not to mention the mess in the canoe)? Are you creating a form of “extreme fly fishing” where chain mail and body armor will be the garb of choice? :shock:
I think I’m getting old. I still like using traditional fly fishing gear, and I’ll leave the "fringe adaptations" to you young guys. You heal faster than me.
I put a wrap of duct tape on my index and middle fingers when fishing for false albacore after getting “grooved” during a tunny melt. Never had that problem again. I believe there are guards you can buy specifically for this by I tend towards low-tech/low-cost solutions.
Littlebrook,
I’ve seen “Stripping Fingers” in a number of places. They’re reinforced finger guards that slip onto the first two fingers. The Fly Shop has them for $7.99, which sounds pricey, but less than losing a finger or two!!
Betty
If they work it’s a bargain. I’d buy some in a heartbeat, but unfortunately, that’s the kind of thing I’d misplace. I’m challenged to remember basic things like rods, reels, etc :oops: - I always have a roll of duct tape with me.
:shock: Duct tape! Never lose anything ever again!! Duck tape “whatever” to your vest (wall, door, cupboard)! Great fashion statement, too!! Saves on medical costs (tape instead of stitches!!)!
Wow! What a flood of responses so quickly. I’m impressed - again.
Thanks to all. Duct tape will be the first try. And since I didn’t even think about it, I’ll probably get drummed out of the Red Green club.
Joe V. Chain mail and body armor sounds slick. Got any idea where I might find mace, a pike (not the fish) or a petard? This mid-70s youngster needs to know! ;-).
More seriously, there’s a small lake not far from home that has rainbow trout. The lake goes to ~30 feet. I’ll probably not get that deep but even ~15 feet on a flyrod seems more fun that 30 on a spin rod. We’ll see. And the bass in other lakes might be good, deep targets.
Again, thanks a bunmch to all.
Best solution I have used, after trying various tapes and wraps, are lycra sleeves that slip over the fingers. Most of the other solutions I have found get gummy or sticky, or peel off, etc.
Petersen’s Stripping guards are one brand, there are others. Typically around $5 for three. They last a long time. Someone with skill with a sewing machine can make them fairly easily.
Google ‘stripping guards’ and you will find many sources.
I fish shooting heads a lot. In a long day of fishing I can strip more than a mile of line over my fingers, even slick flylines are abrasive with that much contact, even if the line is pulled through straight, instead of at an angle like many anglers do. These things really do the job for me and I use them for most fishing. They also protect you line guide finger on the rod hand, the one you use to line the line evenly back and forth, from cuts from spectra backing.
You can also find sun gloves with extended lycra fingers designed to perform the same function but I prefer the separate sleeves.
What are you using? The Rio or Frog skin stuff? I fish a lot of surf and use 50’ of Amnesia over dacron backing, since the braid seems to pick up sand and be more “cutty”. I’ve also shied away from regular braid because I’m not sure how friendly it would be on the guides or the reel spool, or working its way under the backing (though I wouldn’t use more than 50 feet, mostly go to dacron for the rest of the backing). I use a shooting basket to control everything and get more distance by eliminating water resistance on the cast.
I always carry a small roll of 1" Athletic tape on one of those metal spool things. It’s a good size to slip into a vest pocket or gear bag and always have it there. I apply a couple wraps to my index finger-- the line always seesm to find its way into those top two creases, especially when your hands get wet and skin gets soft. Yes, it is gummy and sticky, and occassionally it comes off when it get wet if you don’t put it on tight enough to make you finger turn blue. Duct tape will work too and is probably tougher and slicker, but it’s bulkier to carry and you’ll want to fuss with it a bit to get the right width, especially in the dark. (BTW, I tried the Tuff Skin stuff used to cover cuts, but it didn’t seem to work for me.)
Those stripping glove things look good if you are the kind of person that can keep track of them. The sun gloves work well too, and offer great flexibility, though I haven’t thought to use them at night for this, until someone mentioned it here…
Peregrines,
Rio or Frog Skin stuff? Neithr. My plan is to use shooting heads from mill end lines, attached to a LOT of braided monofilament line. The plan is to put loads of the braided mono into the stripping basket and fire off a HOOOGE cast into the distance for a long fishing trip back to the caster. Then do it again. This with a quick 3 wt rod and a pretty quick 5 wt.
I’ve tried shooting heads with running lines (light fly lines) and with monofilament shooting lines (like Amnesia) and not been happy with them. The small, level fly lines, (running lines) provide too much friction due to size, and the mono lines have too much memory (curl).I hope this way ( head and braided mono) will perform in a more satisfactory manner.
If they don’t I’ll go back to the Joe V. method of more standard, traditional ways. They’ve served me well in the past.
Didn’t find “finger protectors” at The Fly Shop but I DID find Petersen’s Stripping Guides. At six for ~ $13, S&H included, I might try them if the duct tape isn’t satisfactory.
Thanks VERY much to all who have helped. You’re great!
I’m MOST anxious to get back into the little cricks to exercise the wee, beautiful brookies!
There is a double sided cotton gauze tape you can buy to wrap your fingers with. I have a huge roll of it that I bought about 10 years ago that I haven’t come close to running out of or I would probably remember the product name. All I know is that it’s blue in color and it looks like thin Ace bandage.
It’s primary use is as a veteranary bandage for wrapping up busted up dogs and horses and stuff so you may want to ask your veteranarian if you are pet owner. I’ve seen it in drugstores, but since I’ve never needed to buy more I didn’t pay attention to it’s name.
The stuff is awesome to use. You just wrap it around your fingers where the line might contact them and you are good to go. It is waterproof and won’t fall off, in fact you have to cut it off at the end of the day. You look a little like Lester Hayes, the old cornerback for the Oakland Raider’s when you are wearing it but you won’t cut your hands.
Hope this helps.
Best Wishes,
Avalon :D[/quote]
Avalon,
It sounds like you’re talking about Co-Ban. When you get a blood draw, they often use this stuff to hold the cotton in place. It holds like tape but without any adhesive. It looks like it’s extremely wrinkled. When you stretch it to put it on, it retracts slightly and the wrinkles hold it in place. Some sporting goods places will sell it as a product called Snake Skin. It’s camo colored and used to wrap guns and bows in camouflage without using glue of any kind.
