Stretching a line
Most fly lines become curled when they have been stored on a reel for some time. With the best lines it takes the better part of a winter, while the mediocre lines often curl after just a few days on the spool.
Stretch such a line before you start fishing. Do it at home or waterside. Attach the tippet to a branch, a door handle or some other suitable object, and pull the line off the reel with the brake set to offer good resistance.
Tighten the brake further and hang the reel over another branch. If you do this in a smaller indoors space, you might need to return to your starting point and take one more round. Make sure there is a good, steady pull on the line.
Use a small piece of cloth or a dry pad and run over the line to remove dirt and moisture. Leave it there for at least 10 minutes. This will stretch the line and allow the last moisture to evaporate. You can now treat the line if you desire. Muceline, ArmorAll or a similar product may be applied to keep the line in good condition.
Grab the reel and stretch the line an extra time, then start winding the line back on the reel. Make sure your line lies in close turns with no chances of it biting into itself.
Now go fishing!
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