Help- damaged fly line

[ctchchromeeateyes]

Flyfishers- anyone had experience with this? I just finished 2 days at the Deschutes with my 14 ft 10-wt spey rod fitted with an Okuma spey reel and the Rio Wind Cutter (think its called "versatip") fly line. Its been a great set-up for 2 years now. I know its heavy, but it sure works great in those Deschutes winds.

Had a good trip - 4 cookie-cutter fish in the cooler, but on the evening of day one, while I was inspecting my fly line and leader after a hook-up, I noticed that my fly line line (floating tip) was cracked, around the entire circumference. I re-tied my leader butt section after clipping off the damaged part of the fly line, and continued fishing.

Day two- same scenario, but this time the line is not only cracked, about 6 inches above the butt section, but the two ends of the yellow line shell are separated by about half an inch (the braid, or whatever they use inside the shell is of course still intact)! When my buddy inspected my line, he found several other cracks in the fly line.

I'm somewhat new to spey casting, and not very good at it yet, and sometimes when I cast, I hear a loud CRACK - I'm "bullwhipping" the fly line, which I'm fairly sure is the reason for the line damage.

Couple questions-
1- Is this what you think happened?
2-anyone else had this happen?
3- What's wrong with my spey casting to cause the bullwhip, and how do I correct it? I've been using the double spey cast almost exclusively.

Thanks for any help guys.

Steve

[MikeT]

Steve, that line shouldn't separate like you described even with terrible casting mechanics. I've heard of that problem with Rio spey lines before. Give their customer service line a call and tell them what's going on with the line. You may get a new line out of the deal. Worst case is you can buy a new floating tip for that line for around $20. As for the casting problems, I'd get an instructor to spend an hour or so with you and get his help. Another way to get some help would be to take advantage of this: http://www.westfly.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=576397#Post576397

[Mo Outdoors]

Rio will waranty that line and you should be able to return it to the shop you bought it at for a new one. Sounds like the final coating process over heated and became brittle.
No one is good at spey casting without lots of practice or lessons, that's what makes it fun.

[Nuchal Rouge]

If you were wearing cleats you could have been stepping on the line possibly. Also sunscreen can often ruin a line. I agree with above to call Rio. If the line is "bullwhipping" you need to slow down your cast, it sounds like you are pulling out your anchor on the set up. When in doubt in two handed casting slow down and lighten your grip.:twocents:

[Orange Heron]

Just give RIO customer service a call. They will probably have you package up the tip and send it back to take a look at it. RIO doesn't require fly shops to do an over the counter replacement on possible warranty issues.

Rich

[ctchchromeeateyes]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.