I wonder could any members of the forum please give me some advice/recommendations as to how often a fly line should be re newed/replaced.
I fish mainly a weight forward 7/8 fly line, floating and mainly on still waters.
I clean my lines and lubricate them reguarly but, like everything else they must wear out.
Any advice would be very much appreciated.
Keith

That's just going to depend on how often you use them,just replace them when they start showing signs of wear/cracks

Neil

Thats about it ,look for cracks/especially at the back of the head.Hardening of the cover.Memory.

Jim

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Personally, if I get a season from a floating line, I'm chuffed....sinkers last a lot longer 2-3 seasons or more. As said, it depends on how often you fish and also the bankside terrain if your not in a boat. Another thing worth mentioning...some super fast sinkers won't last you long at all due to the amount of tungsten in them.

Hi all,I got a new set up for Christmas all well and good apart from the line!The new line is a Hardys mach trout floating wt 7 it casts great but as soon as it hits the water it looks like a bloody helter skelter,the thing is i have had some good size over wintered trout one of 10lb but the line is still doing a master mind on me,not much good when i want to start dead drifting a dry fly ,anyone had problems with this line ?

Replace the line when it's knackered. Modern flylines can last a long time if treated well. Keep them in the dark; don't leave the reel on the parcel shelf in your car in the summer; clean it in warm water with washing up liquid or use one of the proprietary cleaners at least once per season and more often if it picks up grit off the bank.

I've got floaters that are five years old and still going strong and I've only just replaced my DI3, DI5 and DI7 lines after several years of service.

4fish's line sounds like old stock to me. No new floating line should behave like that. I'd be inclined to write it off and start fresh.

Thanks to all for excellent advice.
Keith

hello looking at the reviews of this line most people rave them as good lines, if you have the new one they have changed the design of the head, and you could buy the previous model at a reduced price (old stock). all lines have some memory except a silk some are good others not so, if your using a large arbour reel and when casting the line goes out nice and straight but then coils up would not be ideal for drifting a dry as you said, this should not realy happen considering the cost of these lines and from hardy, i would contact where you purchased and explain the problem and get a replacement or if you can return to hardys as they rely on there quality and customer service. good luck

send it back, get a pirate floater, theres somethin no right wi that line as has been said. as for how long lines last, i have a cortland blue about to have its 6th season and is as good as new, if anything it performs better now than when new, i have the original delta taper fast and slow glass lines that iv forgotten how old they are ( the slow is now goosed, but its OLD). Its about how well you look after them, when fishing hill lochs i always use a line tray, i think this helps greatly.

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i was walking far from home, where the names are not burned along the wall, saw a building, high as heaven, but the door was so small

It's very important to spool the line onto the reel properly,done wrong and even the most supple memory free line will end up like a slinky.
You must spool the line the The opposite way to which it was wound,IE If it's on a plastic spool you need to stick a pencil through the centre and wind it straight on.It's even better if you can get somone to help by putting a bit of tension on it.There are even cheap tools to help you do this so simple but oh so important job
If it comes loose then you need to get help buy putting a rolled up paper/magazine through the centre and let it unwind.

Jim

__________________
The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.