Dye a line…

Posted in How To by Jim Williams on July 4, 2012 10 Comments

Having posted on Facebook recently an image of a #3 Barrio fly line I’d dyed, Andrew Parker got in touch and asked for a ‘How To’… this ones for you Andrew – hope it helps.

Barrio #3 Fly Line

The exact process followed to secure the above colour in the fly line using Rit Dye – Dark Green No.35

Rit Dye

1 – Wipe clean fly line area to be dyed with a minute amount of fairy liquid on a damp cloth.

2 – Run hot tap as hot as it’ll go – in my case circa 50 degrees centigrade, and fill bucket with 5ltrs.

3 – Empty sachet of Dye into bucket of water and stir until dissolved.

4 – Put required part of fly line to be dyed into bucket.

5 – Bring one kettle full of water to the boil and add to bucket, move fly line to one side whilst pouring.

6 – Using anything (Excluding your best cutlery or finger) gently agitate/stir the water around the fly line to be dyed until desired shade achieved, the change in colour happens quite quickly so don’t take your eyes of it for a moment.

7 – Once happy with shade remove it immediately and rinse the fly line in cold water.

8 – Finish by wiping with a cloth. (I didn’t treat afterwards)

I am still using this fly line regularly as you’ll see in recent blog post pictures, the coating is still perfect, it floats as it did when I bought it and is still bullet straight.

This method works for me every time and has done so on 6 other previous occasions with absolutely no issues… these include RIO, Wulff and Snowbee fly lines.

Choosing to follow this method is at your own risk. I’ll not be responsible for how your fly line ends up nor any burns you acquire whilst doing it ~ Best of luck then!

PS: I’ve not tried on any mono core fly lines, only braided ones.

Read 10 Comments about this post
Comments
  • Steve Manton:

    Hi Jim,
    Brilliant, have some old fly lines I can use for this.

    Thanks for sharing – will let you know how I go

    Steve CA

  • Andrew Parker:

    Thank you Jim. I will be trying that soon.
    Andrew

  • KP:

    Where did you get the dye from Jim

  • Andrew Parker:

    Finally did it today Jim. Dyed the heads of a Barrio SLX #5 (Orange) and a Rio Gold Hi-Viz #5 (Orange) using the Rit colour Cocoa Brown. Splendid results following your instructions! Thanks matey.

    I also did a few tapered leaders (Hardy and Stroft); these look cool.

    KP: I bought my Rit from an eBay seller.

    Next project is to try to turn a white Michael Evans line to a Hi-Viz Rit Lemon Yellow: I think I might struggle with this one ;)

    All the best, Andrew

    • Jim Williams:

      Hi Andrew,
      Great stuff… Pleased it worked for you.

      That Rit is cracking stuff… Try mellow yellow man, it’s cool :-)

      Best
      Jim

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