Hi to all

So having returned to the sport after a break of about 7 years I've noticed that I manage to twist my line over time. I don't remember doing this before and assume my casting (rusty as it is) is to blame. Anyhow I was wondering how best to avoid this as I would assume the twisted line would no cast as well as one would want. In addition how would one go about untwisting the said line?

Thanks

Chalky

How do you mean twisted? Do you mean like curly loops?

If so it sounds like line memory, particularly if it is the same line you used 7 years ago (thats been sat on a reel)??? If this is the case it would help to stretch the line - attach one end to a tree and walk away giving it a good stretch. Some lines can be more prone to memory problems than others.

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Time is a stream I go fishing in.

Using a line that's been on the reel for 7 years is bound to cause memory problems, like what Darmoor says. Instead of attaching the line to the tree, it's slightly easier to just pass the line round the tree so you're holding both ends, and then stretch it.

However, if it's not a memory problem you're talking about, I do find that certain flies put twists into the leader as they are being cast, resulting in fankles in the fly line that won't shoot through the rings. Last time this happened to me, my solution was to take the snatcher (tied on a kirbed hook) off the middle dropper and the line untwisted itself as I fished after that. Foam daddies are another prime candidate for spinning when they are cast. I can't see stretching the line helping me solve this problem.

But it could be your casting too. I find that if my backcast is "off to the side" and my forward cast is "over the head" then that imparts twists into the line.

To get rid of those kinds of twists, I take the line off the reel and into the bath with some mildly soapy warm water, give it a soak and a clean, and when drying it I pass it through a fluffy towel, from reel end to the tip end, and I do that several times till the twists have worked their way off the end of the line. I know I've finished when the tip of the fly line doesn't spin anymore as I pass the line through the towel.

I'm sure there must be easier ways than this. I just don't know what they are!

I would feed all the fly line off the reel down a good stream and leave it hanging for a minute or two, the current spins the twist back out of the line. But to be honest if it's a 7 year old line I'd just replace it. £20 for a Barrio line. Costs more for a days fishing.

I don't know anybody who doesn't get this effect - nobody ever writes about it though .

During the day as an inevitable result of casting sooner or later you will actually put a twist into the line . Ususally after a few hours just make a cast and you'll see the curls - the cure is easy - take the reel off , untwist the line - put the reel back on .

The worst experience I ever had as a direct resuult of this was a truly amazing tangle one evening off the bank at Rutland that took over half an hour to undo and cost me most of a hot evening rise ! Then I figured it out .

Nothing to worry about - just untwist it

Best wishes

Steve P

Blimey! It is a new one on me. I am not disagreeing BTW - but it really isnt something I have ever heard of.

No doubt it will happen the next time I am out

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Time is a stream I go fishing in.

I know exactly what you are talking about as I suffer from the same thing.
I know its something to do with me not keeping on the same plane as I forward and backcast, and also that I false cast too much. I'm working on it!!

Before I fish, I take all the line off the reel 3 or 4 times to get the twists out before I start and during a days fishing, if it gets too much, I take the reel off, make a loop in the line and put it around the reel seat and dangle it (if you can do it from a height, all the better). The reel then spins and takes the twists out.

Hi, Asssuming this isn't memory (7 Years on the reel), then unspool the lot and and take it for a walk through some grass at your local fishery, or a field near you.

Hope this helps.

Best regards

Stuart

It's actually a new line but I've been using it for the past week. The stream idea sounds like a good one. And yes I think it is my casting.

I have tried this method but I am always worried about damaging the line, I use the stream method instead, it seems to work well