Flyfisher Currents

If you're anything like me, you've got a closet or a drawer somewhere in your house that is sort of a "catch-all" for fly fishing equipment you've somehow aquired but perhaps don't use all that often.  Maybe a few reels a friend or relative gave you or maybe a vest you don't use because you've switched to a pack.  As you're doing your "fly fishing spring cleaning", reorganizing your vest or greasing up your fly line, consider setting some items aside you'd be willing to give away to a youth angler.  Let's face it--fly fishing can be expensive to get into, especially if you're a youngster or a student.  Personally, I get a lot of pleasure from introducing fly fishing to someone new, especially a kid.  If you can't think of an appropriate person to recycle your hand-me-downs with, bring your items down to Steamboat Flyfisher and we'll find happy homes for them.  We work a lot with students and youth groups in the area who are in need of used gear.  If we can get more young anglers to appreciate the rivers and the habitat, we'll be ensuring that the next generation of anglers can enjoy fly fishing just as we all have.  If the cost of that investment is a reel you no longer use, I'd call that a small price to pay.

Spring is a funny time in the Yampa Valley.  One day brings the promise of summer with bright sunshine, only to be followed by a wet snow storm the next.  Fishing can be tricky this time of year.  Rivers are starting to be off-color with snow melt, and lakes are still frozen.  Unless you have a nice tropical destination to head off to, anglers must be content to wait it out, which could be a great time to check and prepare your equipment for the coming season. The three basic things to check are lines and reels, rods, and terminal tackle.
Lines are the basis of how anglers present flies to fish.  They need to be clean and crack free.  Visually inspect your floating lines for cracks.  If they are cracked, they must be replaced. Cracked lines alow moisture to seep into the Dacron core of the fly line causing it to sink.  Even if the line rides low in the water and doesn't completely sink, it can cause incredible frustration when trying to get a drag free drift or lifting the line off of the water while dry fly fishing. The partially submerged line will drag tiny dry flies under water causing you to constantly maintain and dress your flies.  If the line is not cracked, a good habit to get into is cleaning it. Unspool the line in your living room, or some other large space, and lay the line out in long loops. Starting from the backing end, use a wet wash cloth with a drop of dish soap (or one of the many commercial products sold at your favorite fly shop) on it and run the line through. Repeat this a few times until the line seems to come through without leaving a dirty mark. Finish by running the line through a dry cloth to buff it and you are finished.  While the line is out, check your backing to see if it is rotted, or knotted, then re-wind your line,  Complete the job be removing the spool of your reel to check if the reel is clean of sand and has sufficient grease. Wipe it down and you are done.
Modern fly rods need very little in the way of maintenance, but a couple of things can prolong the life of your rod.  Wipe down the rod with the same moist cloth you used on your fly line. Inspect the ferrules for scratches, or grit.  Clean these well.  Buff the rod with a clean cloth to make sure it is dry and you are finished. If your ferrules are worn or scratched, apply some wax to them by simply rubbing a bar of paraffin or a candle up and down the area where the two sections connect.  This helps fill scratches and keeps the sections from twisting or slipping while you are fishing. Next, take the moist cloth and scrub your cork grip.  This will do two things:  One, it removes dirt and perspiration from the cork and the cork plumps back up to its original size, and two, it gives the cork a little more texture so the rod won't slip or turn in your hand while you fish.  Rod builders use cork for a reason and you want it to function properly. Always wait until your rod is dry to replace it in its sock and tube or you will create a whole new set of problems.
Nothing is more frustrating on the water than when your stuff doesn't work.  Now is the time to go through your vest or bag. Check your nippers.  Are they sharp?  Are all of your tools in working order?  Most anglers also spend some time organizing their fly boxes or filling in necessary patterns.  Also, check your tippet.  If your 4, 5 or 6X tippet snaps easily it is probably brittle and needs to be replaced.  Most small tippet materials have a surprisingly short shelf life. They become brittle after about a year, especially if exposed to sunshine, which is the case if you fish a lot.  Brittle tippet can lose you the biggest fish of the summer. Another thing to consider is tippet compatibility.  Some tippet material is not compatible with others.  For example, Umpqua tippet is more supple that Rio and the knots don't hold well if you mix the two materials.  If you have a variety of tippet products, now would be the time to consolidate your spools to one manufacturer.
No one wants to have a bad day on the water, especially when it is brought on by equipment failure or neglect.  A little bit of time spent on a wet afternoon or evening can insure that when the sun is shining, and the fish are rising, you are ready to enjoy a day on the water.

Flyfisher Currents has been written by Sam Spillane of Steamboat Flyfisher. While most have heard of the Horse Whisperer, Monty Roberts, people will begin to hear more about the Fish Whisperer, Sam Spillane. Sam claims to be one with the fish, and his fishing customers echo this claim. Sam will tell the fish what to eat, and most often, they do. A very accomplished fly tier and casting instructor, Sam focuses on having fun and catching fish with his anglers. In addition to fishing, Sam enjoys archery hunting, entomology and mocking his older brother Johnny.

by Sam Spillane