If you flyfish, you will understand the benefit of being able to change out your line without the hassle of rethreading your rod -- especially while you're in a float tube or pontoon boat. Learn more about this product by surfing over to the manufacturer's site.
The Rapid Line Changer™ by GuideRunner™
by Dean Isaacson
There is a new product on the market that is truely new - the GuideRunner™ Rapid Line Changer™. Those who have discovered this time, pain and money saving device swear by it. The problem is, however, that most people have never seen anything like it and therefore have no idea how it works or how to use it.
How many times have you been standing in the river or fishing from a float tube and wished you had on a different line? Maybe you spotted a nice little pool and wanted to swap out your floating line for a sink line. Or maybe you wanted to leave the pool and go back to the river. As you think about what to do, your mind plays you a video of the contortions you will be in as you try to thread the new line through the guides of a ten foot rod. Or, maybe you remember the last time you tried it you lost half of your six hundred dollar rod to the water. So you resign yourself to continue fishing with the wrong line rather than risk the physical pain and loss of equipment. But what fun is that?
This is where the Rapid Line Changer™ by GuideRunner™ can enhance your fishing experience. The Rapid Line Changer™ is a small, inexpensive tool that is used to trade out the old line and automatically re-thread the new line through your rod's guides.
Let me show you how this works:
First, using the Velcro™ strap on the Rapid Line Changer™, strap it to the grip of your rod just ahead of your reel. Make sure the face of the Rapid Line Changer™ is exposed to the same side of the rod as the handle on the reel and that the patented line clip is pointing toward the guides.
Hopefully, you have not reeled your line in - you don't want to do that yet. Right now, with your old line extended through all the guides, you want to grab your leader. While you hold the leader in your right hand, take hold of the Rapid Line Changer™ clip with your left and take a look at it. You will notice the hole in the clip is a teardrop design. At the head of the teardrop you see a wedge-shaped slot. This slot is designed to accommodate various size line and grip it securely as it feeds through the guides. Now take the line in your right hand and thread it through the teardrop opening in the clip held by your left hand. Slide the line over to the wedge-shaped slot. Fold the line over the clip to meet the rest of the line on the other side. Grab both portions of the line and give a light, quick jerk to set the line in the slot.
If your leader is very thin, you might want to tie an overhand knot near the end. This will create a stop action as the knot hits the clip to prevent the line from slipping through.
With the leader firmly set in the clip, reel the leader and fly line back on the spool. You will see the clip and the backing line from the Rapid Line Changer™ feeding backward through the guides. Stop when the clip is about a hand width from your reel.
To remove the line from your clip, place your thumb on the clip at the pointed end but facing the round end. With your thumbnail behind the leader, push the line forward, removing it from the slot.
You are now free to remove the spool from your reel and replace it with another. Hopefully, at this point, you will find the spool in your vest pocket or with your gear and not discover you left it back at the truck!
Feed the leader from the new spool through the Rapid Line Changer™ clip and cinch it in the wedge-shaped slot, just as you did before.
Rotate the finger recess in the Rapid Line Changer™ clockwise, reeling the new line back to the Rapid Line Changer™. If you have any resistance, strip some line from your reel and continue rotating the Rapid Line Changer™ finger recess. Watch how easily the line threads through the rod guides. No more contortions!
You don't have to reach up to feed your guides or watch the top half of your rod float down the river because you dropped it after pulling it apart. No more setting your reel in the sand, or mud - and you won't be losing the bottom half of the rod to the river. Since you don't have to bend the rod toward you, you won't be breaking the tip either. Your rod never leaves your hand. Life is good!
After you have reeled the clip back to the Rapid Line Changer™ remove the leader using your thumb as before. Then remove the Rapid Line Changer™ from your rod and put it in your pocket or in the pouch provided.
Lastly, tie another fly to your line and - Go Fish!
The Rapid Line Changer™ takes the pain out of having more options - it makes it fun again. You will be thrilled to use the GuideRunner™ Rapid Line Changer™. Retail price is only $23.99. That is a small investment compared to a damaged reel or lost rod. If your fly shop does not stock the Rapid Line Changer™ ask them to get one for you. You will be doing the both of you a favor.
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