Help a Fly Line Forget

[Miles]

I've bought fly lines from several manufacturers before, but the last one I bought (a brand that I've used before okay) has appalling memory. Its murder trying to fish with it and it coils and tangles itself up like a slinky.

Does anyone know any more about this ? I know already that its to do with being coiled on a spool (okay, this is on a BFR Dragonfly cassette i.e. not a large arbor reel) and you can stretch small sections of it or tie one end to a post and give the whole line a gentle stretch, but are there any other solutions ? (i.e. tried all this to no avail).

I've wondered whether dumping the whole lot in a warm bath in large loops and letting the water go cold before winding it back onto a larger spool might help ?

Any other suggestions ?

[Old Smoothound]

Originally Posted by Miles

I've bought fly lines from several manufacturers before, but the last one I bought (a brand that I've used before okay) has appalling memory. Its murder trying to fish with it and it coils and tangles itself up like a slinky.

Does anyone know any more about this ? I know already that its to do with being coiled on a spool (okay, this is on a BFR Dragonfly cassette i.e. not a large arbor reel) and you can stretch small sections of it or tie one end to a post and give the whole line a gentle stretch, but are there any other solutions ? (i.e. tried all this to no avail).

I've wondered whether dumping the whole lot in a warm bath in large loops and letting the water go cold before winding it back onto a larger spool might help ?

Any other suggestions ?

Hi Miles,

First of all what kind of line is it...floater or Sinker? Secondly which brand is it?

How did you wind it on the reel?


All i can say at the moment is if its an Airflo Floater...poor you.

The way in which you wind it on has a lot to do with the amount of "Memory" the line will have. If you have accidentally put a twist in it, no matter how much you try and stretch it it won't lie on the surface correctly.

The only way to de-twist the line is to take it all off, lay it over some grass and keep it in a straight a line as possible...then you have someone holding one end whilst you run up and down the line with it between your finger and thumb until you get to the "free" end and the line untwists. You will have to do it several times before you get all the "twist" out of the line.

Once done...clean the line in warm water wind back onto your reel then rewind onto a line winder or an old bycicle wheel that has been padded out, and leave it for a few days.

This should remove the "memory" or twists.

If this does not work, send it back to them as it is a faulty line.

I hope this helps.

[Miles]

"All i can say at the moment is if its an Airflo Floater...poor you."

Yup, you guessed correctly.

I've had a couple of lines from them before and they were okay. However, the 3 weight 'River and Stream' floater is terrible. Don't like blaming and bad naming brands in case I'm just an isolated 'one off', but I'm starting to wonder if I've made a mistake here.

I wound it onto a line winder from the spool and back a few times in the process of attaching the backing etc., but never pulled it 'off the side' of the spool.

I've defended Airflo a couple of times, since I've never had any problem with their sinking lines, but obviously there is quite a reputation.... I'd be interested to know more. Is it due to their use of polyurethane ?

I'll give the untwisting a try and try leaving it a while in as large a loop as possible, but I guess, when comparing it to Scientific Anglers versions, I'm flogging a dead 'un.

Thanks for the help and sympathy !

[Old Smoothound]

Originally Posted by Miles

"All i can say at the moment is if its an Airflo Floater...poor you."


I'll give the untwisting a try and try leaving it a while in as large a loop as possible, but I guess, when comparing it to Scientific Anglers versions, I'm flogging a dead 'un.

Thanks for the help and sympathy !

Sorry to have to tell you this Miles....but Airflo are definately not the floater to buy . They are and never will be any good at making a decent floating line.

Don't get me wrong they make some of the best sinking lines in the market...(but not a slime line thats Scientific Anglers)

Try the untwisting method....but I am not hopefull it will work. I suggest you send it back...get a credit and buy something else and buy a decent floater.... Try Rutland Water mail order. I have used their Floating line for years. Normally last me about 4 seasons. Very supple...lies straight and does not wear out easily. Last time I bought one they were circa £13.99! If you want a weight forward 3 then buy a 4 or a weight forward 6 buy a seven. The double tapers are fine. I use fluo yellow most of the time even for Saltwater Fishing.

I hope this helps. And never ever buy an Airflo Floater again.

[skinhead]

Oi Oi Miles,

Like you I have had problems with Airflo lines. Not tried their sinkers, but never had a good floater out of them. I'll stick to Scientific Anglers or my employers floating lines.

[Miles]

Yeah, I know now !!

Thanks for the sympathy and understanding. I guess if I'd have asked advice a few weeks ago things would have been different. You live and learn ! I guess I should have smelled a rat when their (Airflo) range has been advertised 'marked down' from nearly fifty quid to 20 odd in their Group's (Tightlines and Fishtec) catalogues.

Thanks for the tips anyway and take care

[Old Smoothound]

No problem Miles. Its always a pleasure to help people out on the forum. No question is ever regarded as stupid on here.....

Take care and have fun fly fishing this season

[Miles]

I've defended Airflo a couple of times, since I've never had any problem with their sinking lines, but obviously there is quite a reputation....

Just to bring this thread up to date, I sent the line back to Airflo and they have sent me another in replacement. When I get a chance to try it out I'll report back here (and to Airflo) on how it performs. Since then, however, I've been fishing an SA Mastery Trout line (on a different weight rod) and its been superb, although it was twice the price.

[Old Smoothound]

Good news about your line Miles.

SA Mastery...well what can i say but one of THE finest line manufacturers in the World! They invent...others follow!

Enough said really.

[coch a bonddu]

At least Airflow have adopted a good after sales service, if you find the new line has the same problem I would suggest that you exchange it for one of their sinkers.