Repair Fly Line?

[pinecone]

I've got an old SA GPX 5wf line that I managed to cut right where the tip meets the belly. I repaired it with ZapAGap and it looked good. last year I put it on my wife's reel and she cast it very well. She caught some big browns at Taney in Nov up to 27". At the end of that trip on inspection, I noticed the line was barely holding together and I'm amazed she landed those fish. I removed the damaged tip.

Now to my question: is there a way I could rebuild the tip section. Not for trout presentations but just to use in my pond for bream and bass? I'm thinking a section of mono might make it "castable" If so, what size mono? Maybe Amnesia about the length of the original tip. Any ideas?

Jerry

[Brian Wise]

The best way I can think to do this is to make two knotless loops (one on side of the break) and put them together with the loops, kind of like the versa tips. There will for sure be some floatability issues though.

Try googling Whitlocks knotless loop or something like that.

Good luck

Brian

[Terry Beeson]

My thoughts too, Brian... About the "Whitlock" system anyway. You could "weld" the ends together using a loop tip. Just cut off about an inch or so opposite the loop and push the cut ends into each end of the section. Then use Plibond to hold it together. I wouldn't trust it on anything of any size though... Although the loops I've used have held up well under some pretty good size fish.

[Thom]

Have you tried to take the line completely off and rewind it back on from the other end. Some of the lines can be reversed this way and have double ends that can be used. If that is not a possibility check page 80 of cabela's fly fishing 2008 catalog. Two of these line leader loop connectors could be put one on each piece and then looped together. There is usually 3 or 4 in a package for 7 bucks. I do this for a sinking tip that I use to keep from changing reels.

[strangercreek]

What about taking a Cortlant loop connector, cut the loop off, use the remaining section to join the two pieces of fly line (use the heat shrink tubing to secure both sides).

I would this this would work and it would go through the guides easily if you rounded the heat shrink edges off with some zap a gap or knotsense.

[Terry Beeson]

Isn't that what I just said?

Thom,

You've got a point if it is a double tapered line. If weight forward, the back end would not be the same. But good point...

[strangercreek]

Isn't that what I just said?

Thom,

You've got a point if it is a double tapered line. If weight forward, the back end would not be the same. But good point...

sorry Terry, the ADD is kicking in again

[Thom]

If you use the loop and tie it on both ends you must leave the middle near the ends loose or the chinese handcuff effect won't work. it must be loose at both points in the center for the effect of weaved fiber to work and tighten when pulled. That is why I suggested to leave the loop on and just loop them togeher.

[pinecone]

Thanks for the ideas guys. See my original post, WF so reversing on spool won't work.

I had forgot about Whitlock's knotless system. I have a book by him but dismissed the idea that the knot would really hold. Guess I should trust Dave. I don't have anymore ZapAGap so I wonder if regular super glue (or the generic stuff at Home Depot) would work?

I've also got some of the Cortland loops as I've got away from using them in favor of a short loop made out of 25lb Amnesia on end of flyline.

This brings up another possibility. Just bridging between the two pieces of flyline with a short piece of Amnesia with a nail know at each end. A little more bulkier but with some Knotsense might work. I could try it and only waste about an inch of flyline if it didn't work.

Jerry

[Brian Wise]

This brings up another possibility. Just bridging between the two pieces of flyline with a short piece of Amnesia with a nail know at each end. A little more bulkier but with some Knotsense might work. I could try it and only waste about an inch of flyline if it didn't work.

I would say it completely depends on how much line you have on each end. If it is the true "tip section" that is broke you are talking about somewhere around a foot of line that is actually broken off of the rest of the line. If this is the case and you are talking about using this as either a total backup line or for 'gills and bass I personally wouldn't even worry about it and would loop your regular set-up on the end of the line and call it good. If it is several feet down the line I don't think I would nail knot a piece of amnesia becuase of a massive hinging effect on the cast. The Whitlock system would have a hinging effect as well just not one that might not be as problematic as the amnesia. Basically if the break is under say 10' from the end of the line you probably won't have to worry too much about how ever you fix it sliding through the guides smoothly since most bass and panfish set-up are usually shorter than that 10 or so feet.

The only problem I have with the shrink wrap loops is that if you forget to change them every once in a while they will fail. I have had this happen a couple of times with fisherman, one lost a dink and the other lost a hog. That has been added to the list of things I check with my fisherman before the day starts. They are handy, I just think that there are better ways to attach your leader to the line.

Good luck and let us know how you end up doing it and if possible shoot a photo I think it would be cool to 'see' it!

Brian