I recently bought two lines, a 6# Airflo inter 40+ and a Rio mainstream 10# for the Pike, both these lines had pretty bad memory and it really pi$$ed me off. Anyway I tried the soak in hot water and stretch treatment and both lines are much better now, have to say I have had no memory issues with the John Norris 5# floater line so its cheap lines for me from now on.

I think I'm with you. I can understand most of the advice fly fishing writers give, but "buy the best line you can afford" does puzzle me somewhat. We all know that the law of diminishing returns applies to fishing tackle, nowhere more than to lines as far as I have found. While a top price line may be a fraction better than a midprice one, it's hardly noticeable in use, and the expensive ones certainly last no longer...a winter's gravel pit trouting will finish off any of them. What's more I have little use for oversize tips, lines in between AFTM ratings, extra long heads and the rest of the gimmicks makers deploy. Lines from our own Pitsford Pirate, and from Steve Parton, Barrio and John Norris continue to do sterling service for me.

Are Greenie and I missing something here ?

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"In wine there is wisdom. In beer there is strength. In water there is bacteria." - German proverb
JH based near Southampton

ALL FLY LINES have memory — they “remember” the shape they are stored in, usually coils on a reel or on a storage spool. The reason is simple: most lines are made with nylon cores and PVC coatings, and both materials tend to hold and retain their shape. But memory in these materials is also temperature dependent, and the colder the line, the stiffer it will be, and the memory more tenacious.I have noticed that certain lines suffer from memory more than others and this is due to the materials in their construction.Age also comes into play and some fly lines have been on a shelf for many months before they are sold. Soaking in warm water and then stretching them straight works well generally. Never keep the line on the reel spool over winter unless you're using it regularly.

Aye I have been using J Norris ten quid floaters for the river for a few years now excellent. I replace every year regardless of condition with the old ones getting another few seasons use on induction/open days.
Great lines and great value. I was a cortland444 man untill they mucked them up by changing something.

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BROWN TROUT:THE RED SPOTS HAND PAINTED BY GOD

I started using John Norris lines a couple of years ago. They've been every bit as good as some of the expensive lines I've used in the past.

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How poor a thing, sometimes I find,
Will captivate a greedy mind - Isaac Walton.

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That's impressive. Do you know if there are any in MENSA?

Most lines will have a bit of memory at this time of year, less so when it warms up.

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www.paypalsucks.com

Some fly lines have no discernable memory...

richard

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Who resides on the right bank of the Derbyshire Wye and is lulled to sleep each night by the mutterings of a weir, dreaming that "When the rivers and their inhabitants come first, we ALL win..."

Hello Greenie

Was the memory apparent from the off or after you had fished with the line a while.Some flies/offset hooks as a couple of examples can induce twist into a line which could be mistaken for memory coils.Just a thought before you change out the lines.

Best JP

Agreed, there are lines that very little memory, and these are generally braided core lines, with polymer coatings, and tend to be a little to a lot more expensive. Memory is an extreme irritation for me, but not the only factor I take into account when choosing a line. i also like to look at it's streach properties, related to the flex of the rod that i am fishing with. If I am using a heavy rod that has a fast action and a stiff bend, like a 6wt for stillwate boat work, i will tend to go with a line that has a lot of streach to compoenaste to the stiff rod, and the light tippet. I like a line that will streach about 30cm on 30 feet. For nymphing rivers with a 4wt mid flex action, I would go for a line with an intermediate to low streach, to assist in the feel of the take, and being able to bring the fish to the surface almost instantly. For short line mono and Czech nymphing, I choose a line with minimal to no streach, and here, memort is of no concern to me.
There is astill a tendancy for people to choose their lines according to criteria that are not really matched to the fishing application, nor the preffered rod for the application. Once the rod and line are considered as a tool to more effectively apply a certain technique, line choices become interesting.

Line memory is usually magnified by cold conditions - and thisyear has been all of that. Most lines will have many fewer obvious coils in warmer conditions, but as has been said, all have memory to some degree. I am wholeheartedly behind the 'pay less, buy oftener' school, and as an instructor find that it pays to replace regularly - it's amazing what learners can do to a line, and you certainly don't want it to happen to an expensive one! I believe the same of rods - I have a Sage XP but wouldn't inflict it on a beginner - I use Sonik 3, 9', 5/6 weights for teaching - it's a much more forgiving rod than many of the expensive ones and much easier to replace in case of damage which again is almost inevitable with beginners - shut in a gate, my last casualty was!