I’ll admit it, the last thing I want to do after a long day on the water is to take care of my equipment. As easy as it is to throw your gear in your trunk, truck bed, or Rubbermaid bin and forget about it, considering taking your equipment inside and giving it a few minutes of attention to extend its lifespan.

1. Fly Line Maintenance

One of the easiest ways to put your best effort forward is to be fishing with a fly line that is performing to its maximum potential. Regular maintenance of your fly line will not only add to its life but will also enhance the shooting ability and flotation (where applicable) of your line. 10 minutes of time after every few outings will help make precise, powerful casts, and delicate mends a reality. Most fly fishing manufacturers such as Scientific Anglers, Rio, Orvis, and Loon all have their own versions of fly line dressing for floating lines.

If you find yourself in a tight spot with a filthy line, soak your line in warm soapy water. After a thorough soaking run the line through a paper towel until dirt no longer wears off. This will provide a similar cleaning result as the products below but will not give you the added benefits of a freshly dressed line that performs like new.

Image result for scientific anglers fly line cleaner
Scientific Anglers Fly Line Dressing is a versatile option that can be used on and off the water.

Scientific Anglers offers its Fly Line Cleaner which includes a mildly abrasive fly line cleaning pad and line dressing.  Run your line through the abrasive pads until the dirt is no longer wearing off on the pad following a thorough soapy water soak. Next, applying the line dressing for several minutes before use will have your line sliding through your guides with ease. If you find yourself in a pinch, applying this product streamside will allow you to maximize your line’s floating ability without the water soak. Fly line dressings are an easy way to help ensure a successful day on the water.

In addition to Scientific Angler’s Fly Line Cleaner, products like Rio’s Agent X, Loon Outdoors Line Up Fly Line Cleaning Kit, and Orvis’ Zip Juice Wonderline Fly Line cleaner all provide improved line shooting ability and floatation for your next outing. All of these products benefit from the soaking and soap process described above. With a few minutes to hours of cure time, these products will add extra floatation and slickness to your line. While you have your line stripped off of your reel, consider following my second recommendation on reel maintenance below.

2. Reel Maintenance

The first and easiest way to keep your fly reel in working order is to keep it from getting dirty in the first place. Pay attention to where you are placing your rod the next time you land a fish and consider throwing it aside (trophies excluded!). Sand, dirt, salt, and a variety of contaminants in the water can wreak havoc on your reel. By placing your trusty rod in the hands of a friend or on a grassy bank for your hero shots, you can eliminate a majority of the dirt build-up that commonly occurs on reels. While most high-quality reel manufacturers have warranty and service departments, help keep your reel on hand and at the ready with a few minutes of regular maintenance.