Scotch Gaurd Not Safe For Fly Line!

[flyrodman]

About 3 weeks ago I put some Scotch Guard on my fly line after researching and finding nothing against it. I went down to the pond behind my house and fished for a couple of hours, then came back and cleaned my fly line in soapy water. After I was done cleaning it, I looked at the towel I used and I found bits and pieces of fly line coating in it. I thought back to what may have caused this and I concluded it was the Scotch Guard. The line is about 6 months old and went along on 5 trout trips and many trips down to the pond. No chemicals were previously put on the line and I always washed it in soapy water. Anybody have this happen to them?

[fishinwrench]

Why Scotch Guard, did you think the line was soaking up water?

What kind of line WAS it? Even if it hadn't ate it up I would think that SG would leave a gummy sticky coating on it.

[Brian K. Shaffer]

I have heard of people using Pledge to clean/dress a line... but wow.. Scotch Guard ?!

I understand the floating characteristics.. but that is stout chemical stuff, to strong on a fly line.

Good post.. hopefully it will prevent someone else from doing it.

[flyrodman]

I didn't know really what I was doing, it didn't leave a gummy, sticky residue or anything. I'm pretty sure that the line was Rio Mainstream. I went to Bass Pro today and bought some Sage Freshwater line, it's half off right now! Only $40. What's your guys opinion on agent x made by Rio? Also, I didn't know people dressed line with Pledge, I've used Pledge on my fly rod, it makes it nice and shiny and it adds a little dust resistant layer.

[fishinwrench]

I rubbed an old 333+ line down with Garcia Silicote reel grease and it really brought it back to life. I knew it wasn't recommended but I had nothing to loose by trying. I'll probably do it again in the future. I have used WD-40 and Armor-all too in the past, but the white silicone grease worked best and lasted longer. Has anyone tried Vasoline, vegetable oil, or hand lotion?

Really the only time dirty line bothers me is in the hot Summertime when the heat makes the line feel sticky.

[Brian K. Shaffer]

Guys - I wouldn't use anything that has been mentioned so far during this conversation except soap and water.

Aside form Ivory soap.. I use GLIDE. It is amazing stuff. Lasts a good long while too.

Anyone reading this - please do not use 95% of the items mentioned.

fw, please tell you were speaking in jest ?!?! (Vasoline, vegetable oil, or hand lotion)

[flyrodman]

I don't think Vasoline would actually form a lasting coating on a fly line. On the subject on Vasoline, has anyone used it to keep ice out of guides? Vegetable oil would only grease the line and I don't think it would last long on the water. Hand lotion is like sunscreen, the fish can smell it. I don't think hand lotion has flotation properties either, correct me if I'm wrong. I also pretty sure fish can smell any dressing or grease that doesn't harden over fly line.

[Brian K. Shaffer]

Use Stanley's Ice Off paste.. it works amazingly well (and is totally safe on fly lines).

Loon Outdoors sells it.

I do know of guys using Chap-Stik, but not me. I have only used Stanley's.

[fishinwrench]

I wasn't suggesting anyone should use any of that stuff, they were just some considerations I had myself when I was trying to make an old line fishable for another week or so until I could scrape up the coin for a new one.

The reel grease worked like a charm, just sayin'.

As for being concerned about the fish smelling it... Nope, they told me before I released them that they never even caught a whiff.

[Guest]

Rain X works pretty well for me.