Fly Line Dye?

[Karel]

I got early this season the new Rio Nymph line which I like for the most part, but I can't help myself feeling that the long bright orange fluorescent tip "bothers" trout. Well, it definitively bothers me.

So I was thinking if I could dye the tip to a more natural/muted color and if so, what dye to use without damaging the coating of the fly line? Did anybody do that before?

Cheers & tight lines,
-K

 

[eddavidson9]

hmmmm...sounds like a losing battle there. interesting thought, wish i had something to offer. i doubt the line bothers the fish as much as it does you, if thats any consolation.

 

[jcstikfish]

Try a Prismacolor waterproof marker. That should work, and you can always touch it up after a few trips out.

The orange Rio nymph tip is also quite short, you can always chop it off. The line will still perform fine.

~James

 

[Karel]

probably true that it bothers me more than the fish, lol.

I was thinking about using a sharpie, but I think they are alcohol based and I didn't just to go ahead and damage the first 3 feet of fly line.

However, the stupid loop at the end also starts bothering me, so I might shorten the tip a bit and use the zap-a-gap leader connection. The longer my leaders are the more I come to hate the loop system that keeps haning up in the tip top.

-K

 

[jcstikfish]

probably true that it bothers me more than the fish, lol.

I was thinking about using a sharpie, but I think they are alcohol based and I didn't just to go ahead and damage the first 3 feet of fly line.

However, the stupid loop at the end also starts bothering me, so I might shorten the tip a bit and use the zap-a-gap leader connection. The longer my leaders are the more I come to hate the loop system that keeps haning up in the tip top.

-K

I cut the loops off of all lines anyway. Well, all but shooting head systems.

~James

 

[Bamboozle]

Rit fabric dye will do the trick.

The end color result will probably look a little like the insides of a squashed caterpillar, but it least it won't be as bright.

I know a few guys who have tried it and their lines were not damaged in any way although I haven't asked them recently how they are holding up. I also asked the folks at SciAnglers about it and they told me they didn't know of any problems with doing it, although you may want to ask Rio the same question.

Here's a link with step by step instructions:

International Fly Fisher

Another thing that MIGHT work is Plastic Worm Dye used by bass fishermen to dye plastic baits. I know how well it works on plastic lures so I've always wondered if it would work on plastic fly lines, but I don't have any to try. The color choices aren't so hot but considering any dying will only change the existing color, not replace it; it may not matter that much.

Good luck!

 

[Karel]

Rit fabric dye will do the trick.

The end color result will probably look a little like the insides of a squashed caterpillar, but it least it won't be as bright.

I know a few guys who have tried it and their lines were not damaged in any way although I haven't asked them recently how they are holding up. I also asked the folks at SciAnglers about it and they told me they didn't know of any problems with doing it, although you may want to ask Rio the same question.

Here's a link with step by step instructions:

International Fly Fisher

Another thing that MIGHT work is Plastic Worm Dye used by bass fishermen to dye plastic baits. I know how well it works on plastic lures so I've always wondered if it would work on plastic fly lines, but I don't have any to try. The color choices aren't so hot but considering any dying will only change the existing color, not replace it; it may not matter that much.

Good luck!

Thanks so much - I actually shot an email today to Rio about safe dye. I will also check out the links you posted.

As always, tight lines!

-K

 

[theartoflee]

Karel,

You might also want to check out Art Lees book fishing dry flys on trout rivers and streams. In the book he covers dying leaders. Perhaps some of the information can be applicable to dying lines. The hardest part about using rite dye will be the temperature at which you will need to boil the dye at in order for the fly line to accept the dye.

 

[Karel]

Rio got back to me with the following:

"RIT brand dye with a luke warm water solution is fine to use on the line."

I will give it a shot and will let you know how well it works. I guess I'll use some blue dye to change orange to a darker green. I will be sure to test it first.

Tight Lines, Karel