Fly line exchange apparatus and method

A fly line exchange kit for exchanging an existing spool of fly line in a fly fishing reel, comprising:

• a. a temporary reel;
• b. a strap for attaching said temporary reel to a fishing rod having a main fishing reel;
• c. a spool element attached to said temporary reel;
• d. a pull line wound on said spool element, said pull line having a free distal end and being between 10 to 25 feet in length;
• e. a quick connector comprising a ring with a partially extending slot formed on an inside surface that slidingly receives and attaches to the end of a fly line, said ring being sufficiently small to travel freely through eyelets on a fishing rod;
• and,
• f. at least one replacement spool of fly line that replaces an existing spool of fly line in the main fishing reel.

A method of exchanging fly fishing line on a fishing rod having a main reel housing with an existing fly line, a plurality of eyelets positioned longitudinally along the fishing rod, said method including the following steps:

• a. selecting a fishing line exchange apparatus having a temporary reel with a pull line wound thereon with a strap attached thereto for attaching said temporary reel to a fishing rod, and a quick connector comprising a ring with a partially extending slot formed on an inside surface that slidingly receives and attaches to the distal end of the fly line, said quick connector being connected to the distal end of said pull line at a location opposite said slot, said quick connector able to travel freely through the eyelets on a fishing rod;
• b. attaching said temporary reel to a fishing rod;
• c. connecting said quick connector to an existing fly line;
• d. rewinding the existing fly line onto the main reel housing until said quick connector is pulled through the eyelet closest to the main reel housing;
• e. detaching said quick connector from the end of the existing fly line;
• f. selecting a replacement fly line;
• g. replacing the fly line in the main reel with a replacement fly line;
• h. attaching the distal end of the replacement fly line to said quick connector;
• i. rewinding the pull line onto said temporary reel until the said quick connector is pulled through the last eyelet on said fishing rod;
• and,
• j disconnecting said quick connector from the distal end of said replacement fly line.