Can fly lines go "bad" on the shelf?

You guys are the reason I fish alone...

Randy wrote:
All,

I'm just about to pick up a new fly line and was checking out the prices
on Ebay for fun. Lines are VERY cheap on Ebay. Its makes me wonder if
somebody buys these lines as closeouts because they are being rotated
off shelves? I know that lines deteriorate after a few seasons of use
but do they go bad just sitting on the shelf for a couple of years? I've
heard that you dont want to use old leader or tippet material, I wonder
if the same is true for lines?

TIA,

Randy

Mike,

Thanks for the on topic advice. What those other cheesed*cks are ranting
about is beyond me...

Mike Connor wrote:

"Randy" wrote in message
...
SNIP
but do they go bad just sitting on the shelf for a couple of years? I've

heard that you dont want to use old leader or tippet material, I wonder
if the same is true for lines?

TIA,

Randy



Lines deteriorate in time. PVC lines eventually go brittle and crack, even
when not used. This is because the softeners used in the plastic migrate to
the surroundings ( Basically, they evaporate!). This is also heavily
dependent on storage conditions.

I have some very old lines which are still good, and I also have some newer
lines which are basically useless, although unused. There usually is no way
to know why a "cheap" line is cheap, and there is always a risk involved in
buying such lines. The only real way to know if a line is any good is to
use it. How it performs, and how long it lasts, under a variety of
conditions, indicates the good quality, or otherwise.

One is more likely to obtain good quality from relatively expensive "Name"
lines, than from cheapies, regardless of the source.

Sometimes one may save a little money on "bargains" and the like, but one
may just as well end up with junk, and consequently be obliged to replace it
in short order. This may cost more than buying a good line in the first
place.

Unless you are a rank beginner, ( in which case you will probably ruin the
line fairly quickly anyway, and a cheap line is good enough to start
with),or a very experienced and knowledgeable angler, ( who knows exactly
what he is buying and why), then you are probably better advised to buy a
good line from a reputable source.

TL
MC

Mike,

Thanks for the on topic advice. What those other cheesed*cks are ranting
about is beyond me...

Mike Connor wrote:

"Randy" wrote in message
...
SNIP
but do they go bad just sitting on the shelf for a couple of years? I've

heard that you dont want to use old leader or tippet material, I wonder
if the same is true for lines?

TIA,

Randy



Lines deteriorate in time. PVC lines eventually go brittle and crack, even
when not used. This is because the softeners used in the plastic migrate to
the surroundings ( Basically, they evaporate!). This is also heavily
dependent on storage conditions.

I have some very old lines which are still good, and I also have some newer
lines which are basically useless, although unused. There usually is no way
to know why a "cheap" line is cheap, and there is always a risk involved in
buying such lines. The only real way to know if a line is any good is to
use it. How it performs, and how long it lasts, under a variety of
conditions, indicates the good quality, or otherwise.

One is more likely to obtain good quality from relatively expensive "Name"
lines, than from cheapies, regardless of the source.

Sometimes one may save a little money on "bargains" and the like, but one
may just as well end up with junk, and consequently be obliged to replace it
in short order. This may cost more than buying a good line in the first
place.

Unless you are a rank beginner, ( in which case you will probably ruin the
line fairly quickly anyway, and a cheap line is good enough to start
with),or a very experienced and knowledgeable angler, ( who knows exactly
what he is buying and why), then you are probably better advised to buy a
good line from a reputable source.

TL
MC

"Randy" wrote in message
...
You guys are the reason I fish alone...

Oh dear. What an inestimable tragedy that so refined and gracious a
gentleman should be forced to fish alone for lo these many years in
anticipation of his eventual estrangement on ROFF's accursed shore. You
cheesed*cks oughta be ashamed of yourselves.

Wolfgang
somewhere beyond you.

"Randy" wrote in message
...
You guys are the reason I fish alone...

Oh dear. What an inestimable tragedy that so refined and gracious a
gentleman should be forced to fish alone for lo these many years in
anticipation of his eventual estrangement on ROFF's accursed shore. You
cheesed*cks oughta be ashamed of yourselves.

Wolfgang
somewhere beyond you.

Wolfgang wrote:
"rw" wrote in message
m...

Wolfgang wrote:

"rw" wrote in message
.com...


riverman wrote:


EOT4me. Thanks, Tim.

EOT is Wolfgang's signal to get in a last deceptive, assholish

dig,

and


if you reply you are slammed for being inconsistent.


Hm......is that your last word on the matter?

No.


O.k. What else have you got to say?

"No." Can't you freaking read? Sheesh.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

Wolfgang wrote:
"rw" wrote in message
m...

Wolfgang wrote:

"rw" wrote in message
.com...


riverman wrote:


EOT4me. Thanks, Tim.

EOT is Wolfgang's signal to get in a last deceptive, assholish

dig,

and


if you reply you are slammed for being inconsistent.


Hm......is that your last word on the matter?

No.


O.k. What else have you got to say?

"No." Can't you freaking read? Sheesh.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

"rw" wrote in message
m...
Wolfgang wrote:
"rw" wrote in message
m...

Wolfgang wrote:

"rw" wrote in message
.com...


riverman wrote:


EOT4me. Thanks, Tim.

EOT is Wolfgang's signal to get in a last deceptive, assholish

dig,

and


if you reply you are slammed for being inconsistent.


Hm......is that your last word on the matter?

No.


O.k. What else have you got to say?

"No." Can't you freaking read? Sheesh.

Well, from here it looks like there was more after all.

Anything else?

Wolfgang
see what i mean, myron? there is ALWAYS something more to
learn........let's see if he does......o.k.?

"rw" wrote in message
m...
Wolfgang wrote:
"rw" wrote in message
m...

Wolfgang wrote:

"rw" wrote in message
.com...


riverman wrote:


EOT4me. Thanks, Tim.

EOT is Wolfgang's signal to get in a last deceptive, assholish

dig,

and


if you reply you are slammed for being inconsistent.


Hm......is that your last word on the matter?

No.


O.k. What else have you got to say?

"No." Can't you freaking read? Sheesh.

Well, from here it looks like there was more after all.

Anything else?

Wolfgang
see what i mean, myron? there is ALWAYS something more to
learn........let's see if he does......o.k.?

"rw" wrote in message
m...
Wolfgang wrote:
"rw" wrote in message
m...

Wolfgang wrote:

"rw" wrote in message
.com...


riverman wrote:


EOT4me. Thanks, Tim.

EOT is Wolfgang's signal to get in a last deceptive, assholish

dig,

and


if you reply you are slammed for being inconsistent.


Hm......is that your last word on the matter?

No.


O.k. What else have you got to say?

"No." Can't you freaking read? Sheesh.

Well, from here it looks like there was more after all.

Anything else?

Wolfgang
see what i mean, myron? there is ALWAYS something more to
learn........let's see if he does......o.k.?