Handling loose line.

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    Posted: 07 Sep 2006 at 6:24am
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Titanium
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Joined: 13 Aug 2003
Location: Waihi Beach
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A forum member raised some very interesting questions for people just starting out in SWF. Unfortunately that post had to be hidden by another moderator because of other content.
 
However, I didn't want the opportunity to comment on the valid questions raised to be missed as I am sure what I will add here will help someone land a fish they may otherwise not have, and even better, save them some gear...
 
The most common way to lose a fish is usually involving the loose line that builds up during the retrieve. Sometimes you'll get knots in it, sometimes you'll stand on it, or it will catch on something.
 
The only way to avoid tangles is usually pre-treatment... When using things like specialist Mono for running lines the best stop gap is to ensure you have it fully stretched before fishing. Soaking it overnight in water (If you remember) does wonders too... Stretching full fly lines and running lines also helps immeasurably.
 
To stretch a line simply tie the leader to something walk out until the entire line is out of the reel and then stretch it hard. at full stretch hold it for about 20 seconds and the line should have removed most of its memory. Sometimes the line will get curls in it from casting and one good way to remove these is to pay the entire line out behind the boat with no fly attached and move forward slowly for a couple of minutes... this should remove them. During rock fishing, maybe every two - three hours it can help to get most of the line out and when straight rotate the rod. five or six turns to the right if you are right handed and the left if you are left handed. This will remove many of the curls that build up and help alleviate knotting problems in the loose line, this works best if you can get the line hanging "down-current".
 
On boats the biggest problem is exposed cleats and general clutter. Get your "workspace" as clean as you can with as little stuff about that could catch a line as possible... If you haven't set your boat up specifically for saltwater fly it is possible to do so easily... It is possible to source recessed cleats and these are definitely the way to go for the serious fly fisher.
These become especially important if you draw the short straw and, as a right hand caster end up on the left hand side of the boat or vice versa as the cleat will be right where you strip the line...
 
Many overseas anglers like to use LMD (Line management devices) on board as well and these are a great way to travel rods and keep your line under control.. the base has rubber "fingers" to ensure your line remains in open coils and doesn't fold over itself causing knots which hold up in guides messing up casts and costing you fish...
As far as I am aware these are not currently on the market in New Zealand but it is possible to easily make one. Craig has a mega version on his boat and though I didn't use it for line control that Big Blue drum is perfect for traveling rods!
 
On the rocks the options are limited only by your imagination. In some cases I do not use any LMD at all but if you are around mussel or Oyster areas you'll need something. In most cases you are better off with a LMD than not.
 
The old standard for most anglers on rocks or surf is the stripping basket.
These simply go around your waist and you strip the line into them instead of onto the rocks or the wash... The main drawback I find with them is that it is very difficult to get a fast retrieve using one and a double hand retrieve is almost  impossible. Some have made a larger than usual stripping basket out of small laundry baskets and some ties to attach to your belt (As advocated here by Si) I haven't tried these but understand they are extremely popular with many US East Coast Striper anglers and very effective.
 
However, my favorite solution if I am based in a specific spot, which when fishing into a burley trail is most of the time, is to use plastic netting or weed mat as a casting base. I have a piece about 1.5 X 2 meters with  several 2 oz sinkers attached around the outside. It folds up to almost nothing in your kit but when spread out at your fishing area it gives you a comfortable area to strip line onto at pace without worrying about it catching on rocks.
 
As long as you fly fish you will lose fish to knots jamming in guides, standing on the line or the fly line catching on something... everyone who has done any amount of it knows that it's part of fly-fishing and will happen to everyone as long as they flyfish... but it can reduced and many fish landed that otherwise would not have been.
 
Hope that helps someone out...
 
Clark
 
 
 
www.clarkreid.co.nz   FFF Certified Casting Instructor / Umpqua Designer Tier
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