4 fly-fishing gear hacks to help you perform better on the water

One of my goals as a fly angler is to get a little better every year. Since fly fishing doesn’t have a golf-like handicap system, however, there’s no official way to measure improvement, which is just as well. One area where I know I’m getting better, though, is managing my gear. Over the years, I’ve picked up many tips and hacks for maintaining and getting the most out of my rods, reels and lines.

Strictly speaking, gear management won’t make you a better fly angler—that requires practice and experience. But taking care of your tackle does save on frustration, helping ensure you make the most of your precious time on the water. And that’s what it’s all about. Here are a few of the handiest ideas I’ve adopted.

#1  LINES

If you want to instantly add five, even 10 feet to your cast, wash your fly line. Seriously. With time and use, lines get coated with silt, pollen and other stuff from the water, dust from closets, whatever’s on your hands and, if you practise casting in parks, grass stains. Taking off this gunk will instantly make your line float better, shoot better and reduce wear on your delicate rod guides. In the bad old days, anglers used products such as Armor All to condition their lines, but those can damage today’s modern coatings. Instead, you can effectively wash a line in about 15 minutes with just warm water and mild liquid soap. To avoid tangles, I use the simple and clever two-bucket method (watch how here www.outdoorcanada.ca/cleanflyline).

#2  HANDLE HELP

Want a fast, cheap and easy way to clean a grubby cork rod handle? Buff it with a wet Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (or a generic alternative). The melamine sponge acts like ultra-fine sandpaper, making the cork look like new and provide a better grip. The product is well named, since it really does seem like magic to get a fresh, clean cork handle. And it’s not just cosmetic—it feels, and grips better in your hand.