Newsletter Index > April 2010> Fishing Tips
In this article Steve walks you through the steps necessary to get your equipment in top form for the coming fishing season.
Prepare Thyself!
As the weather warms, once again thoughts turn to wetting a line on the Yukon’s fertile waters. Even now, grayling and trout are sipping chronomids and early season stoneflys, when the sun warms the open water patches. In the excitement and anticipation, one overlooked activity is readying our fly gear for the seasons fly fishing adventures. A little time taken to clean and stretch coiled lines, inspect and lube stiff fly reels and clean sticky rod guides, will pay great dividends at the waters edge.
Like me, many of you have left your gear boxed in a corner of the basement after the final trip of last season. The line spooled on the reel with whatever flotsam ended up on it when last the line was whetted. The rods hastily stuffed in rod tubes with the hope the cork was not moldy over time. Reels gritty, left for the winter in our pursuit of snowy diversions. I have been at the rivers edge many times, frustrated when the line did not fly through the guides, reels crunched and crackled and grips leaving a penicillin-like stench
on ones hands. To avoid such frustration, here are some tips on fly tackle prep for the
season to come.
The fly line is the heart of any fly fishing system, yet it receives the least attention over time. Repeated trips to the water leave our lines coated in oily fish proteins, dirt and algae from repeated contact with the ground and the waters surface. All of these substances serve to decrease the slick surface of the line, making the line stick as it shoots through the line guides. Line manufacturers that say their lines are impervious to such funk, have obviously not fished in the Yukon. To remedy such issues, the use of a line degreaser and slicking agent, is just what the doctor ordered.
Simply spool off the entire line from the reel and stretch it between two points. My living room looks like a spaghetti factory, with up to twelve lines cris-crossing the room. Run a liberally soaked chamois or soft cloth saturated with line degreaser or warm soapy water, several times down the length on the line. You can also use a commercial line cleaning device, which is nothing more than a felt pad in a plastic box, to accomplish the same result. I like to use such devices streamside, for periodic cleaning over the season. This is a good time to straighten the memory coils out as well by applying tension to the fly line when it is completely unwound and secured to a fixed object. As you clean the line, look for cracks or nicks in the coating.
Small lesions can be carefully fixed with Aquaseal or Shoe Goo using the less is more theory. After the line is wiped dry with a clean cloth, a coating of line slick is in order. There are several brands out there, with relatively the same application method. First one applies the compound with a clean cloth, allow setting and buff off excess a short time later. The line slick compound both protects and creates a slick surface so the line launches through the guides with little friction.
Modern reels are designed to be low maintenance and relatively worry free. That said, reels do need a little TLC. Go ahead and remove the spool from the housing and inspect all visible surfaces for ware and grime accumulation. If you are confident, disassemble the drag as far as you are able, looking to see if any water has entered through the seals. I am glad that reel manufacturers are getting the hint that most of us are not mechanical engineers by profession, and are simplifying the assembly process. Use a clean cloth and cotton tipped applicators to remove any grime, silt or water from the inner workings. Follow the manufacturer’s direction to sparingly lubricate areas of the reel that need it. Put the reel back together ensuring the drag mechanism is functioning and there is no metal on metal grinding noises.
Have you ever opened your rod tube only to find a thin green velvety layer of mold covering the cork handle? I sure have. What a frustrating sight. Fear not, a white vinegar solution and a scotch-bright pad will restore the handle to its former glory. While you are at it, wash the entire rod with this solution, paying special attention to the ferule ends and line guides. These areas tend to attract dirt and grime, causing friction points on the
guides and seized ferules. After all parts are rinsed with water and allowed to dry, coat the rod blank and guides with line slick, buffing off any excess. Think of it like waxing your car to protect it from the sun and water damage. While I have the rod out, I throw the rod socks in the laundry to remove any mold or fish smell from them. Remember to let them hang dry as some will shrink in the dryer.
After completing these simple maintenance duties, you are now ready to hit the water and know that your gear will not be a hindrance to your enjoyment or success. Fly fishing gear is designed to be rugged and last a lifetime. With proper care and attention to detail, it will function as good as it did the day you first cast it on the water.
Take care and tight lines.
-Steve Hahn-
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About the Author: Steve Hahn
Steve Hahn has been messing around with a fly rod since he was 13 years old. An accomplished fly angler with both the single and double hand rod, he has plied rivers, with rod in hand, all over North America. A graduate of the Sweetwater Travel Guide School, Steve is skilled at the oars of his Hyde LPA drift boat or on the tiller of a jet sled. He is a certified Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic and has over 10 years of swiftwater rescue experience. A skilled teacher, Steve would love to teach you how to correct a bad cast, identify an insect or tie that perfect fly.
Steve has been fly fishing in the Yukon for over ten years and honestly believes it is one of the last true secret places in the North. His greatest pleasure would be to lead you on a fly angling experience that lasts a lifetime. If you have any questions about this tour or would like to check out Steve's own fly fishing company, check out his site from the link below.
Visit Headwaters to Ocean Troutfitter
