trout80 said:
I was wondering, what do you guys use to clean your lines?And do I need to change backing after awhile?Do you think it gives off a smell to fish if not changed?Thanks
Unless the fish manage to wrap themselves in your line and backing (or if you store your reel in the same bag you carry your catch), I can't see how the backing or line would pick up the smell of fish. As to cleaning, aside from a wipe down with a soft, damp cloth, most fly lines don't need much in the way of cleaning and dressing. At the end of the season like to do as Stone suggests, a warm soapy soak and then hang the line in wide, loose coils for the rest of the winter. Be sure to label each of your lines before you leave them for an off season. Doesn't seem to matter to me how much I believe I will remember which is which, if I don't label them, I will come 'round in spring and can't tell which is my 5 wt and which is a 7 :wallbash: :wallbash: When cleaning the lines it is a good time to carefully inspect the line for any knicks, scrapes, etc. These can hang up in your guides or, in the case of floating lines especially, allow water to seep into the core and cause your line to sink.