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 Post subject: Recycling Old fly line
PostPosted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 7:01 am • # 1 
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I discovered something that I want to share concerning old fly line.  I'm always interested in finding something new.  A couple of years ago i bought an old reel off evilbay, put it in a drawer and forgot about it.  The other day i got it out and was cleaning up the reel.  After taking the old line off the spool i discovered that the back of this weight forward line was like new, so I cleaned it up some and weighed thirty feet of the running line(it was an old cortland 333 weight forward 8 weight line).  The line weighed right at the weight for #4 line so I reversed it, tied on a leader, and tried it with a true 4 weight rod.  It worked good out to 40-50 feet.  So, my point in sharing this is: DON'T THROW AWAY the old weight forward line.  You can reverse it and have a pretty good level line, which is excellent when used for short line casting such as popping bug fishing, fishing from a yak or kick boat, or anywhere short 40 foot or less casts are enough.  I really enjoy the sound of the old cortland 333 as it shoots thru the guides-p-


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 Post subject: Recycling Old fly line
PostPosted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 1:28 pm • # 2 
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How can I tell the 30 feet of lines gonna be worth for? I have an old SA Trout 3wt... so if I use the running line I may get a 1wt?


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 Post subject: Recycling Old fly line
PostPosted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 8:01 am • # 3 
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Simon,
You can buy an Umpqua line scale, measutre off 30 feet of the back side, and weigh the running line. If you have an older 3wt line it might weigh in as a heavy one or light two weight line. I reuse old line all the time especially level or DT lines. Gene has come up with an innovative use of an older WF line. The question is whether to cut the line or keep the older section.

http://www.umpqua.com/pc-...pqua-fly-line-scale.aspx


Les


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 Post subject: Recycling Old fly line
PostPosted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 1:28 pm • # 4 
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Thanks for the heads up, look around the net to buy the Umpqua Scale but all e-stores that have it in stock doesn't ship international :(


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 Post subject: Recycling Old fly line
PostPosted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 3:19 am • # 5 
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If you have a scale (cooking, postal, reloading, laboratory...) that will read in tenths of grams, or even grams, you have all you need.

1-Weight - 60 grains in a range of 54-66 grains = 3.89 grams + or - 0.39 grams (a range of 3.50 to 4.28 grams)
2-Weight - 80 grains, 74-86 = 5.18 grams + or - 0.39 grams
3-Weight - 100 grains, 94-106 = 6.48 grams + or - 0.39 grams
4-Weight - 120 grains, 114-126 = 7.47 grams + or - 0.39 grams


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 Post subject: Recycling Old fly line
PostPosted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 10:58 am • # 6 
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thanks!


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PostPosted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 1:57 pm • # 7 
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am using the running line from a 7wt line and it works great on my 5' 3wt.


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PostPosted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 5:55 pm • # 8 
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Good info. I have never thrown a fly line away unless it got trashed somehow. I do trim back the end a few inches for a good solid place for a new nail knot. Most of the old lines will not float very well anymore, but they make a good midge line, sinking very slowly down a foot or so...keeping the midge in the strike zone. You can hit the last 10 feet or so with a permanent marker to camo it up...just retreat as needed.


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PostPosted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 1:30 pm • # 9 
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A great idea, thanks!
An old wf3f ultra2 becomes a level 1wt (56gr)


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PostPosted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 2:05 pm • # 10 
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ColdPass wrote:
If you have a scale (cooking, postal, reloading, laboratory...) that will read in tenths of grams, or even grams, you have all you need.


1-Weight - 60 grains in a range of 54-66 grains = 3.89 grams + or - 0.39 grams (a range of 3.50 to 4.28 grams)

2-Weight - 80 grains, 74-86 = 5.18 grams + or - 0.39 grams

3-Weight - 100 grains, 94-106 = 6.48 grams + or - 0.39 grams

4-Weight - 120 grains, 114-126 = 7.47 grams + or - 0.39 grams


So, you are saying if the 30 feet of line weighs around 3.89 grams then it would be a one weight line? If it weighs 5.18 grams, it's a 2 weight line ,etc?

By the way, Harbor Freight stores sell inexpensive small scales for around $11 or $12. I bought one and tested it against some lab weights and the readings were accurate.

Dave


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PostPosted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 7:59 am • # 11 
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Exactly, Dave. Just weigh the first 30'. I used to have access to a lab scale where I could get very good precision, but now make do with a kitchen scale that is accurate to the gram. That Harbor Freight scale sounds like just the ticket.

I use this method each time I buy a used reel with line on it, since they usually don't have stickers, and if they do you often can't trust it.


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PostPosted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 10:39 am • # 12 
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even the manufactorers label on lines is sometimes wrong; sometimes a #4 line weighs out to be a #5; so weighing is a good way to find out what your have-p-


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PostPosted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 5:52 pm • # 13 
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Location: Lorain, Ohio but can be found in fishing waters of West by God West Virginia and southern Ohio.
Cool stuff! This give me another thing to do.


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PostPosted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 1:49 pm • # 14 
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Jeez, here I've been using an old WF5F from BassPro to bundle sticks. Before that, I used the same one duct taped to a softball and threw it through the lowest crotch of a 70' oak tree so I could get a wire cable up there for tension while cutting it down.


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PostPosted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 6:13 pm • # 15 
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a fellor just can't have too many fly lines; never know when you'll need one-p-


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PostPosted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 3:18 pm • # 16 
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Another great idea Gene, thank you!


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PostPosted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 2:02 am • # 17 
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How would this work out with the new "overlined" lines.. the 6.5's and such ?

I imagine it would every time for a DT line.


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PostPosted: Thu Apr 25, 2019 10:29 am • # 18 
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Wow some great info thanks


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PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2020 7:53 pm • # 19 
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Great ideas. If any of y’all are into Tenkara, there’s another use. Cut whatever length you need off the running end and it’s a free Tenkara line. On the subject of weighing, especially in grains, digital scales for such a purpose are available in most archery shops.


Tight lines to all.


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