Marking flyline or backing without damage?

[TomK]

What would one use if you wanted to mark your flyline or backing?

For example, if you wanted to mark the head/taper or taper/running line transition points. The thought is to be able to quickly have the optimal amount of line out of the tip top while standing at the ready on a flats boat.

Another, and potentially more frivoulous, reason would be to mark the backing at 50 yard intervals to get a real sense of how much backing is really taken on a run. I hear much about 150+ yard runs but that is a football field and a half.

The mark on the line would only be about an inch long but the one on the backing would have to be longer so that it can be noticed as the backing comes off the reel.

So, has anyone done this? I imagine that the chemicals in a Sharpie may damage either the flyline coating or gel spun backing? Is there something better than a Sharpie? There is some writing on using Rit clothing dye which would seem less reactive than a Sharpie's solvent base.

Any amateur (or professional) chemists out there?

Thanks.

Tom

[Redfisher]

Tom

I've been marking my fly lines with a permanent marker for years and the marker has never damaged the line. I mark my lines at 60' and 75' as these are the lengths I normaly fish. I mark the lines with 1" marks. 3 for 60' and 4 for 75'. The multiple marks are easier to see.

Mark away!!!

Dan

[C. GIll]

I tie a bright colored piece of mono with a nail knot back about 35' or so, depending on which line it is (floating or int.) and which weight/rod (8 or 10). I don't get real scientific, I just cast the line in the yard and pick the spot where the rod starts to load up. The nail knotted mono gives me a visual clue about how much line is out, and also a tactile hint when fishing at night--I can feel the nail knot tick through the guides when feeding line on the cast or when retrieving.

I have also been marking lines with their weights with a Sharpie for quite a while and never had the Sharpie damage anything. I've never tried marking the backing.

[loon]

Ditto the nail knot. You want to feel the marker, not be looking down at your hands (even in the day).

[TomK]

So Sharpies are OK. Appreciate the insights. The colored mono nail knot is interesting, particularly for those who fish in the dark or need a tactile marker.

My needs are less sophisticated/critical as I just to make sure I have the head and rear taper off the rod tip when in the ready position. Using a pale blue line makes it tough to visually gauge line diameter against a blue sky.

Thanks to all responders.

[JGH]

Sharpie has worked for me. I mark every 10' beginning at 50' (one mark for 50', two for 60', etc.), which helps me judge distances when sight-fishing.