bizologist Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 Lately I have taken up with fly fishing and of course all the types and weights of fly lines has been a "cloud" of mystery. They also are expensive if a person wanted a full complement of the various weights and types. Any information on DIY fly lines? Or is homemade stuff limited to rods and flies? Thanks in advance for a comment! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Shad Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 (edited) Yes, the home made stuff is really restricted to flies, leaders etc, and rods to a degree. Depending on where and for what you intend to fish for dictates the set up you will need. The fly line is matched to the rod. For example, my bass fly rod is a 7 wt and I use both a floating fly line and a sink tip floating line with it, depending on the presentation/type of fly I am using. The lines ar also rated. 7 wt. Fly lines should always complement the power of the fly rod. To get a better understanding of this Rating (Known as the AFTM)...dona web search on AFTM flyline rating and all will be revealed. Don't get to bogged down with it....I don't...keep it simple, get a line or two that matches the power of your rod...and enjoy! It's a pretty involved subject and I would suggest you use the web to get to speed Here is a couple of links to start with: Learn the Basics of Fly Fishing Fly Lines : A Buyers Guide to Explaining Fly Lines Again, depending what you intend fishing for will dictate the lines you need. For most application a floating line and a sinking tip or Intermediate line should suffice. As to whether they are Weight Forward or Double Taper lines is a whole new subject. Enjoy!! Edited July 14, 2009 by Red Shad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizologist Posted July 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 Enjoy? You bet, The experience is very different from other fishing and I think it is great. I have never enjoyed fishing as much as fly fishing. I will research the subject on the internet as you suggest. My setup is balanced, rod, reel and line for WF6 wt line. It has performed well and I just need more experience to be proficient. I am going to experiment with using Spiderwire line and covering a portion with heat shrink tubing. This can allow me to create floating or sinking types as well as various kinds and amounts of weighting. I also will weigh the line and try to match the specs. It just irks to have to spend 50 bucks for another line and more for a spool just to short cast into shallows etc. I'll let you know my results. On this one I will be way outside of the box. Thanks for your reply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaPala Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 Try this from the first printed book about fly fishing: Treatyse: The Lines 1 Frankly I don't think making your own fly line in this century makes much sense. Just keeping the line consistent and balanced thru a 80yrd length will be a hugh chore. Braided line and maybe a plastic coating like PlaticDip might do it but...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizologist Posted July 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 Read the history - The ale part sounds pretty good to me . . . . Not exactly what I want to do either to get a fishing line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassrecord Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 Fly lines have increased in price over the decades because generally they have increased in quality. If you purchase a floating line, today you expect it to float while fly fishing from daylight to dark. Depending on how dirty was the water you were fishing, today you might expect to go 2-3 days without cleaning your floating fly line. Fifty years ago we would have to stop one or two times (depending on the ambient temperature) and clean and re-coat our floating lines for good action while casting. Another point. Today's fly lines have far less memory that lines from 50 years ago. Memory means fly line loops hang on every blessed thing it comes near. Memory means you have to straighten it with the leather straighteners. Memory means the fly line does not shoot out straight through the rod guides and it is harder to cast as far. More memory means the angler has to spend more time futzing with the fly line when he could be fishing. Ice on fly line pulled through frozen rod guides is hard on fly lines as is 100+F ambient temperatures. Salt from brackish or saltwater is hard on fly line and rod guides. The coating wears off and floating fly lines start to sink after a few hours. Hope this helps! John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Shad Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 Good stuff bassrecord! I often wonder how many of us us pursue Bass with a fly rod? I do (though not exclusively) and it seems as a percentage, bass fly anglers are pretty rare...or do they just keep their light under a bushel..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassrecord Posted July 16, 2009 Report Share Posted July 16, 2009 I often wonder how many of us us pursue Bass with a fly rod? My guess is around 1%. In the Spring when reservoirs flood fly rods for bass and bluegill come out. Today more anglers are fly fishing at night. However Sage's new LM Bass rod (Legal in B.A.S.S. Tournaments by one inch!) may up the numbers 2-3%. I do (though not exclusively) and it seems as a percentage, bass fly anglers are pretty rare.. I can get lured away to catch salmon and steel head. A 40-45 inch silver salmon or steelhead is really fun to catch. and it seems as a percentage, bass fly anglers are pretty rare...or do they just keep their light under a bushel..... Kinda both. I invite practicing tournament LM Bass anglers to break down a 9 weight, 10 foot Big bass rod and put in on their boat. When they want to take a break and have some fun, I invite them to pull it out, slip it together and toss that big bass bug at whatever is knocking around that willow tree growing next to that 20-30 foot drop off. Chances are it's a big bass and their 10-15 minutes of fighting her relaxes them and helps smooth out the day. OH FYI there are rare days when ONLY a fly rod will get a bass strike. Oh yeah to close, it is possible to catch a 14-16 LM Bass on a fly rod. Go fish! John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizologist Posted July 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2009 My research into fly line has led me to silk fly lines, which were the successor to Horsehair. I found the following web page to explain: Silk Fly Lines I also found that 20 lb braided nylon fishing line has been used as a substitute for the silk line. Possibly because of the times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
