Last year, after struggling with casting any sort of distance, I finally realised I was under-lining my rod (using a 6 weight line on a 6/7 rod). After reading some favourable reviews, I purchased a new Barrio floating line WF7.
My initial impressions were excellent. It had virtually no memory out of the box, shot through the rings nicely and sat well on the water. My casting improved, or rather the end result of my casting improved, as I was getting more distance and, using less power, the line and leader were turning over better.
However, less than a year later and the line has deteriorated significantly. It started to sink at the tip towards the end of last year and has continued this year, even though I took the final foot off and re-attached the leader. Unfortunately, I couldn’t focus the camera to take a picture but the line coating looks like it has started to crack.
For various reasons, I didn’t fish as much as I would have liked last year, so I reckon this line had about 10-12 outings before it started to deteriorate. I’m no angel with my fishing gear but I don’t think it has been mistreated and I probably cleaned it, with designated line cleaner, three or four times.
I would expect a line to last longer than this, so I have now purchased an SKB Pitsford Pirate Ultra Floating line. I purchased a floater years ago from the Pirate and while the brand is now under new ownership, if its anything like the previous line, then it will be an absolute bargain for £24.99. I’ll give it a go soon and pop a review up on this blog.
I’ve been using the Barrio floating line for about 2 years now and it still works perfectly. Yes, sometimes the end starts to sink but most of the floaters I’ve used over the years have done the same. Treating the end and using a very small braided loop helps but certain fly types and styles of fishing will always pull the line under and the braid gets water-logged. Plenty of floatant and regular cleaning helps. Mine hasn’t cracked though (you had me worried so I just checked!) and is still very supply and smooth. Did you keep it outside where it may have got frost damage? You could try talking to Mike at Barrio about it, he’s very good for that type of thing apparently.
I’ve had 4 or 5 barrio lines over the last few years and they have all been good. The distance casting lines were excellent (GT125). The only one I had that cracked soon was a pale cream coloured line I used for casting practice, and I subsequently found out that the orange ones have a harder plastic coating than the pale ones and it shows in the much greater amount of work that the orange ones can do compared to the pale ones, before cracking. If you begin you forward/delivery cast too soon then you will cause the end to ‘whiplash’ and this will lead to premature cracking of the plastic coating.
I’ve had 4 or 5 barrio lines over the last few years and they have all been good. The distance casting lines were excellent (GT125). The only one I had that cracked soon was a pale cream coloured line I used for casting practice, and I subsequently found out that the orange ones have a harder plastic coating than the pale ones and it shows in the much greater amount of work that the orange ones can do compared to the pale ones, before cracking. If you begin you forward/delivery cast too soon then you will cause the end to ‘whiplash’ and this will lead to premature cracking of the plastic coating.