A lot of posts on here talk about lines lasting years. I'm lucky if my floating lines last months. (I use John Norris Pro brand). I know I'm hard on them, in particular I've a bad habit of standing on them when casting However I don't have the same problem with inters and sinking lines - partly due I suppose, because I use them less.
A very experienced fisherman told me the other day that he can go through 2 lines a season mostly due to the sharp rocks and stones at his venue.

So, accepting that some cheap lines might be rubbish anyway, is it realistic to expect a floating line to last years given due care and attention?

__________________
"Take not out your 'ounds on a werry windy day" Surtees.

Floating lines, in general, are not as robust as sinking / intermediate lines primarily because of the density of material that's used in their construction. However, as you've acknowledged, standing on them, particularly with studded waders, hitting trees and dam walls won't exactly prolong their life either.

However, probably the greatest limiter of a fly line's life is dirt, fine particles of sand etc picked up on its surface. A line that's used regularly needs to be cleaned regularly to get the best from it. A swish about in a bowl of lukewarm water with a drop of detergent followed by drying with a soft cloth and a treatment with a plasticiser or line lube will not only improve its life but also save your rod rings and make casting a more pleasurable experience.

My reservoir floating lines will usually last a couple of seasons depending upon how 'slick' their original surface was. Having said that I've some lines that must be 20 years old that are still in really good order.

__________________
[I]"I still don't know why I fish or why other men fish, except that we like it and it makes us think and feel."[/I] Roderick L Haig-Brown

[url]www.wildfly.net[/url]

[url]http://www.gameanglinginstructors.co.uk/[/url]

Spot on, Lighthouse. I really enjoyed my days fishing Langford trout fishery, which comprised 2 ex gravel pits in Wiltshire, but I used to go through floating lines like no-ones business due to the abrasive effect of the sand and so on picked up on them when bank fishing, specially in winter.

It's quite an eye-opener to see the amount of dirt that collects on a fly line from fishing almost anywhere. Reel in through a towel at the end of a days' fishing, and then look at the towel.

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

Hi Bill

Fishing a floating line regularly on rocks sand and gravel shortens its life even if you give it love care and attention. I used to fish in competitions once a month and the grit at the botton of a boat was a killer. I reckoned on a season of hard use and no more out of a floating line.

BK

Good points. Some floating lines have very thin running line and these go very quickly just behind the head. Cortland make some lines with a thicker running line and these seem to last very well.

I have had a number of my floating lines a number of years now no problems.
I am a bit anal in looking after my kit (not a bad thing really) but would wash, clean and luber my lines after a every couple of trips. If it was muddy or a there was lot of drit present i would clean them after that trip. A really good point was made earlier to about the wear and tear on the rod rings, plus it makes your casting inefficient (something i don't need).

The lines i use are Airflo ridge floating line, and cortland 333.

Going through lines at that rate is ridiculous

__________________

In my case I totally agree. My problem has been the plastic coating coming away from the core (but staying attached), in the running line behind the belly. The rod rings are ok...As I say, standing on the line or having it caught in vegetation whilst casting I assume is the likely cause. I clearly need to be more careful.

__________________
"Take not out your 'ounds on a werry windy day" Surtees.

Hi Bill. Try a line tray or line basket. Not ideal as line can tangle due to twist build up when casting. Also on windy days, the line gets blown out and still ends up on the bank so usual trouble. I do have a line tray but find it cumbersome, line gets twisted then knotted due to my casting style and I find it impedes my retieving hand.
Cheep lines break up, expensive lines split and can even break as I have found. Mid range probably about the best.

I may have to, Ged, although it'll have to be a home made one - saw the price of one in an Orvis shop. Bl@@dy riciculous.
Like you, I just don't like the idea of wearing one.
Jim,(3lb grayling) suggested stripping line into the landing net on another thread - might be an idea and would be a reminder to keep my feet away from the line.

__________________
"Take not out your 'ounds on a werry windy day" Surtees.