"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is a timeless proverb meaning it is much easier and more cost-effective to stop a problem before it happens than to repair the damage after it has occurred. When your $100 plus fly line does not seem to shoot or float as well, it’s time to bring it back to life. Lets review what it takes to bring a line back to life and also lets review what not to do.

Even in 2026 when information on all subjects is so readily available there are some garage hacks that just won’t die. Recently at Stillwater I stumbled upon a table full of reels that had come back after a month on the flats. Next to these reels I saw a container of Armor All wipes. I immediately asked what’s going on here? The reel owner said, my guide in the Keys said he uses Armor All on his lines. My response was “absolutely not.” Fly line designers are chemical engineers and sure enough Armor All is about the last thing you want on your fly line.

Our Scientific Anger rep was in town and we chatted about what an angler should do when it is time to preform some fly line maintenance. First notice a change in performance, if it isn’t broke don’t fix it. Once you can tell your line is not preforming as well as it once did it is time to simply clean your line. A bucket with warm water to loosen any dirt and debris. then take a Line Cleaning Pad and wet it in the solution.  Pull the line through the pinched cleaning pad to remove all of the dirt and grim on the line.  Rinse the line in clean water and you are good to go with a line that will float and shoot again.      

If the line is really dirty, say lots of caked-on scum or after extended saltwater use, an extra pretreatment may be necessary.  In this case, Scientific Anglers Fly Line Cleaner or RIO’s Agent X cleaning solution are the tools for these steps. 

 If you have a Scientific Angler line with AST or AST Plus, no dressing is necessary.  A proper cleaning will restore the line to maximum performance. Reread this, don’t put some home brew concoction that will likely decrease the lifespan of your line. Trust the engineers at SA, this is what they do.

If you are using a fly line that does not contain the AST or AST Plus additive, you will likely have to apply a coating to the line to enhance both floatation and shootability. The RIO Wonder Cloth or Rio also makes a super convenient single use towelette. Once again not Armor All, WD-40 or whatever your fishing buddies has in his tool shed.

Remember Modern fly lines are highly engineered pieces of technology containing advanced slickness additives. Stick to a simple bath of warm water with a few drops of mild soap, rinse completely, and use manufacturer-approved cleaning pads and dressings designed specifically for fly lines. You have invested a lot of money in your fly line, don’t let yourself be its worst enemy.