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View Full Version : Bamboo and Silk Lines?



Mostyn
11-02-2009, 11:40 AM
Hi All,

I have recently decided to purchase a custom build (Bamboo) Cane Rod from Tim Harris, of Harris-Fly-Rods! It's a : 6ft.3in, #3,weight, 2,piece that should be perfect for the wild Welsh mountain streams that I frequent! The rod is still being built (a work in Progress) but I should receive it just before Christmas. I'm also thinking of buying myself a "Silk Line" to compliment my new Cane Rod! So, I'm looking for some advise on this type of fly line!

There are a few to chose from; but they are all expensive compared to a modern plastic fly line; and of-course there are the Chinese silk fly lines, has anyone tried the "Silk Lines from China" ??? there have been some conflicting reports on the Chinese silk lines; some say they are stiff and take quite a-while to break-in and become supple. Have any of you bought and used the Silk Lines from China? I think the seller of these lines on E-Bay is called Zhu? Anyhow would appreciate your opinion on Silk Lines and particularly the Chinese lines! Here's a phew photos of the progress of me new cane rod!

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/1440/mostyncolours.jpg (http://img524.imageshack.us/i/mostyncolours.jpg/)

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/8532/mostyn3.jpg (http://img101.imageshack.us/i/mostyn3.jpg/)


http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/3063/mostyn4n.jpg (http://img140.imageshack.us/i/mostyn4n.jpg/)

The hardware as just been placed on the blank for purpose of Photographing! Tim, also said he was going to slim the handle down a little more! I'm quite excited; and I'm looking forward to getting my hands on it! But, What line to complement the new Girl?

greendrake
11-02-2009, 01:06 PM
Mostyn,
I do not fish silk now.I did when I was much younger,but no longer want the upkeep required of a silk line.Keep in mind that the old adage "you get what you pay for" is still very much in effect today. There have been several discussions on the Zhus lines at Clarksclassicflyrodforum :@: .yuku.com The consensus was that they are useable lines and not that bad for the money.The biggest suggestion was to order the lines unfinished and apply the varnish and then the dressing(red tin Mucilin) yourself. This seemed to eliminate all the problems associated with the Chinese made lines.
Will

Mostyn
11-02-2009, 04:13 PM
Mostyn,
I do not fish silk now.I did when I was much younger,but no longer want the upkeep required of a silk line.Keep in mind that the old adage "you get what you pay for" is still very much in effect today. There have been several discussions on the Zhus lines at Clarksclassicflyrodforum :@: .yuku.com The consensus was that they are useable lines and not that bad for the money.The biggest suggestion was to order the lines unfinished and apply the varnish and then the dressing(red tin Mucilin) yourself. This seemed to eliminate all the problems associated with the Chinese made lines.
Will

Thanks Will,

I may give one of ZHU's lines a try! But first, I need to pay for my Cane Rod!!

trout-nut
11-02-2009, 05:04 PM
Have any of you tried the cortland sylk lines? I've used them on my other rods and I like it alot ( less upkeep than real sylk. ) I'm going to use 5 wt. cortland sylk on my next project which going to be a bamboo in a Garrison taper. Can't wait to get started.

adam
11-02-2009, 05:26 PM
I would purchase a Zhu's line unfinished and finish it myself before I would buy a plastic line if you are looking for silk and saving money.

If you want a good performing silk line, call Olaf at silkflylines.com and see what he can steer you to.

Personally, there are two choices, either a good plastic line, I use SA with AST coating or a Thebault Silk line. You have to break the Thebault line in but it is sweet casting even stiff.

I really like Phoenix Silk Lines. Make sure to have Olaf weigh it if you are going to buy one. The will last your lifetime if you care for it. They are worth the money and effort in taking care of one if you can afford it.

One day, I will purchase one for myself as a big treat.

Hey, I deserve it.

Cross Creek
11-02-2009, 06:14 PM
Terenzio offers both natural silk and a braided line of synthetic fiber. He says his synthetic lines cast and handle very much like natural silk without as much required care. I wonder if they really are as good as Mr Terenzio says--never talked to anyone who'd tried one. The downside is they cost almost as much as his silk lines ($130 vs $160).

I have been pleased with Scientific Anglers Ultimate Trout (Sharkskin) lines for their lack of memory, handling, floating, presentation, and durability. They are also pricey, though ($100 at full price). For $30 less, the new Rio Trout LT (or the discontinued Selective Trout II) is superb. I don't like cheap lines, although I've used most of them (and still do) and they can be nice--for a while.

One thing that has kept me from pulling the trigger on a real silk line is that most of the old fisherman (even older than me), who used silk when that was all there was, went to plastic lines without hesitation when they became decent alternatives in the 60's (Air Cell and 333), and I haven't met one who'd consider giving up their modern lines to go back to silk. On the other hand, many of them don't have any lost love for bamboo, either, and I find quality modern bamboo to be exquisite and requiring minimal care. Silk is attractive for its handmade, natural composition, if nothing else, and no one disputes its casting qualities. I'll probably get one if I happen onto a really good deal, then I can try it side by side with the best of the modern synthetics.
-CC

greendrake
11-02-2009, 07:32 PM
If you want a really good deal on a silk line,frequent flea markets where fishing stuff is sold or look for a reel on ebay that has "old line sill on it" from the seller description.Especially the old skeleton reels.You can occassionally find a silk line on these reels that is still in good shape. Reed Currys' website www.overmywaders.com (http://www.overmywaders.com) has a great tutorial on restoring old silk lines.
Will

Mostyn
11-04-2009, 10:49 AM
Hey Guy's,

Thanks for your in-put re, Silk Lines, it's given me an in-sight of what to look for and consider when deciding to buy!

Thank-you!!

Mostyn

flyfishwithme
01-01-2010, 08:33 AM
Terenzio offers both natural silk and a braided line of synthetic fiber. He says his synthetic lines cast and handle very much like natural silk without as much required care. I wonder if they really are as good as Mr Terenzio says--never talked to anyone who'd tried one. The downside is they cost almost as much as his silk lines ($130 vs $160).

I have been pleased with Scientific Anglers Ultimate Trout (Sharkskin) lines for their lack of memory, handling, floating, presentation, and durability. They are also pricey, though ($100 at full price). For $30 less, the new Rio Trout LT (or the discontinued Selective Trout II) is superb. I don't like cheap lines, although I've used most of them (and still do) and they can be nice--for a while.

One thing that has kept me from pulling the trigger on a real silk line is that most of the old fisherman (even older than me), who used silk when that was all there was, went to plastic lines without hesitation when they became decent alternatives in the 60's (Air Cell and 333), and I haven't met one who'd consider giving up their modern lines to go back to silk. On the other hand, many of them don't have any lost love for bamboo, either, and I find quality modern bamboo to be exquisite and requiring minimal care. Silk is attractive for its handmade, natural composition, if nothing else, and no one disputes its casting qualities. I'll probably get one if I happen onto a really good deal, then I can try it side by side with the best of the modern synthetics.
-CC

I have used the artificial silk lines from Terenzio for over 3 years. They are a fantastic line so much so that I now offer them as one of my specialist products. I have them in 3, 4 and 5.5 weights but the 3 weight gets used the most. I would probably average 4 days a week on the water and the lines have become extremely supple. I have yet to reverse any of the lines and not one of them has been taken off the reel. Absolutely fantastic. I have plastic lines for clients to use and once I start to fish I swap over.

MikeM
01-29-2010, 07:13 PM
I use Terenzio's 3wt. natural silk on my bamboo rod. It is an excellent line for the type of water I fish and as an unexpected bonus: it 'sings' beautifully through the guides. I don't mind tending to it; drying/dressing. It did take some breaking in, but it is now very, very supple. It was also a great excuse to fish a lot more than normal - "honey, I've got to break in the line!" Laying out a good cast with it gives me a little shiver 'cause it is so stealthy, barely a whisper on the water, which, again aids in the type of super clear creeks I like to fish with it. I think that would be the biggest single advantage, for me anyway.

I do have to mind having the proper leader (overall length/segments) as it will not aid in turning over a poorly proportioned set-up, especially when casting short. However, when it is right, it is REALLY right. Plus, it came in a really cool handmade box.

MikeM

wrknapp
01-29-2010, 11:37 PM
Back in my bamboo days I had a quality silk line I got on a reel in an estate sale. It was new and appeared to be just like the Phoenix lines. It was supple easily dressed with red tin mucilin. It was on my small stream rod and was a double taper line of about 100' as I recall. I took the line and cut it in half. I would fish one half in the AM and the other in the PM with the wet line left to dry in camp and then retreated with mucilin before fishing again. It was still work and I finally sold the two halves on eBay along with the rod and went back to fishing my old glass rods and air cel lines. I was more into the fishing than the tool. I think everyone ought to at least try a quality grass rod and silk line. I just wanted something simple with effortless maintenance. I guess that is why I am so happy with my TenkaraUSA Ayu rod.

Randy

flyfishwithme
02-02-2010, 02:38 AM
Some good thoughts there Randy. I haven't progressed to Glass rods and probably won't. I use artificial silk lines with my cane and carbon rods for all of my fishing. The artificial silk lines requires a lot less maintenance and works a treat on my rods. I am out on the water an average of 4 days a week (I am a guide) and probably use the same line most of the time. I have them in 2, 3, 4 and 5 1/2 weights to match my rods. The 2 and 3 weight lines are balanced to 10' plus rods and used for traditional North Country style fishing. I have some information about the lines on my web site (www.flyfishwithme.net (http://www.flyfishwithme.net)) if you are interested in learning a little more,
BTW, I only need to dress the line once each day, I never remove it from my reel and I have yet to reverse it after 3 years of constant use.

Philip

Mostyn
02-03-2010, 04:07 PM
Mike, I'm in the process of breaking in the Zhu Line I bought - But I made the mistake of buying it in it's finished state! I'm regularly coating it with line dressing (Muclin) and it appears to be working it's way in to the line; and slowly it is becoming a little more pliable! I think it's going to take me a full season fishing with it before it becomes really soft and smooth! Any tips or suggestions on speeding up the process a little?

One month to the star of the trout season!!

keep-em-Tight

Mostyn

MikeM
02-03-2010, 06:49 PM
Well, here is what I did: Terenzio supplies this 'goo' in a little bottle. It is his homemade dressing I think, and I've used it mostly over the Red Tin mucelin. I am no expert on the nuances of dressings, I just prefer his goo.

I turned on the Grateful Dead, got two paper bags and sat one on either side of me and coiled the new line in the bottom of one bag, pulled up the end, and started working the line/dressing through my fingers, depositing the dressed line in the other bag. I used bags to keep the cat away from the line and the dressing from picking up stuff off the carpet. And my wife insisted. Then, I got to the end and ran it back the other way, working the line very thoroughly. Back and forth... American Beauty, then some contemplative Lucina Williams. It was very meditative. It made the line useable. However, there is no substitute for casting it, catching fish with it (stretching), etc. It took at least a dozen outings for it to really start to shine. I've had it for a couple of years now, and as stated, love it; the feel, the sound, the performance. It casts well in a breeze too.

This was probably a stone-age approach, but it worked for me.

MikeM

jared
02-04-2010, 12:02 PM
The Phoenix line is expensive...but the perfect combination with cane. Yes, there is
more maintenance with silk lines, but thus far I don't mind the extra effort. The result
is well worth it. Silk makes cane sing!

Mostyn
02-05-2010, 06:10 AM
Thanks Guys!

Looks like I'll just have to keep plugging away at it!