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hula |
Silk liine? |
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Thinking about trying a silk line with a SB 290 or Orvis Battenkill. Is it worth it or a waste of time? Is the construction of the line from china any good ?
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Berry Point |
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There is an extensive discussion about the silk lines from China here: http://clarksclassicflyrodforum.yuku.com/topic/19202 There are also many, many threads in the fishing and ephemera forums on silk lines in general including the various manufacturers, line care and maintenance, value vs. cost, etc. Try the search feature in each of those sections and I think you'll find what you're looking for. Cheers |
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Marty |
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I will leave alone the long discussion of which line to choose and the viability of the chinese silk lines (the mentioned topic is a lengthy argument/
discussion of same)......
Silk is IMHO well worth the trouble.... My reasons: 1. It floats by surface tension not buoyancy (plastic line floats via buoyancy) it rests on the water not in it and is much easier / quieter to pickup for the next cast 2. There simply is no plastic line that can present a fly as gently as silk to spooky fish (silk is more supple and cast properly unfurls like a feather) 3. Silk is more dense than plastic lines and therefore thinner for same weight as well as being more supple. This gives it far better casting qualities and less wind resistance than plastic. 4. There is a seductive swish sound that is mesmerizing as the woven silk slides through the guides. 5. The feel and history of the natural material is part of the fishing experience I enjoy most (doesn't apply to many) Of course if all of the above were the total story everybody that could afford it would fish silk. The problems with fishing silk are: 1. Quality silk line is expensive... but can last decades if well cared for 2. You have to dry and treat your line every trip (no exceptions silk line stored wet can mildew and be destroyed just like your rod) There are a few dressings but red tin mucillin (the green has silicone and that is a no no) is the accepted standard 3. Once silk starts to soak up water it becomes much harder than plastic to pickup for the next cast. My well broken in lines typically last 6-8 hrs before this happens. Less if I am fishing wet and or rough water. This is why most silk lines are DT simply use the loops on each end and reverse the line at snack/ lunchtime takes me about 3-4 minutes. You can also take a second spool for even faster changeover. If you enjoy sitting in your favorite chair and playing with your tackle in the evening the maintaining of your lines will fit in perfectly and the click of the reel makes a nice background to the TV. For me bamboo started about 10years ago and became the only way I fish in about 5 years. My first silk line was a vintage re-finish and has become almost as much of an obsession as the rods...... My choice in silk lines are those made by Terenzio and Phoenix but you'll have to read think and decide for yourself....... Life is too short for cheap scotch and plastic rods.
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Aransas |
#3 | |||
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I'm a silk enthusiast and Marty nailed it in terms of the pros and cons. I think the consensus on Zhu's Chinese lines is that the silk construction is
good, the line ratings are accurate, but the applied finish is not that great.
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sharps4590 |
#4 | |||
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Regarding silk I can neither add to nor detract from what Marty said. I agree completely. I fish silk almost exclusively for all the same reasons.
As far as the Zhu lines I'm sorry I have no experience with them. I am considering one too. Vic |
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Pete from MA |
#5 | |||
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Hula... I just wanted to let you know you're not going this alone. i just took the leap into my first silk line purchase. I've already made a large
drying reel to store it (along with my other lines) ...But in addition to the drying reel I think I'll follow the example of another board member. He put a
couple pegs on his deck (about 8 or 10ft apart) and when he got home he just looped the line over the pegs and left the line attached to the fly reel (that
rested on the deck). After he let the line dry out for the day he'd wind it on for the next trip. When I'm fishing a lot I think I will try that... but
when my fishing slows down I'll store it on the wooden drying reel I made. Like everyone else I like exploring the different dimensions of the sport, so
I'm looking forward to the silk line (I'm trying a Phoenix line). Good luck with your line & happy exploring. and just so I don't misrepresent
myself, I have no clue what I'm doing when it comes to silk...no clue.
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bow river |
#6 | |||
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i also use alot of silk line , my choices are the same as marty's , just the other way around in my pickings ,
i have a friend who has 4 of zhu's silk line , to get them any good at all he had to stripped them down and do another dressing on them of the varnish mix , they turned out ok but again they don't hold a candle to the other 2 makers , alot less money , i guess you get what you pay for , i have a guy here now on a trip and he has a zhu line that he got from a forum member that has been redone , it's alot better then zhu's coating but again still stiff , silk line should be soft and very supple , he;s going to run it over a wooden chair leg to try to break it in , IMHO , i think for a starter silk line , try to find a good used one , deals can be had , i just got a brand new ashway in the round hard plastic case in a 6 wt ,dt , and it's a light redish brown , don't know how old it is but it's still soft , less then $100 , going on a reel for my dana gray rod last year got a brand new phoenix 5 wt dt for $100 , so deals can be had , just keep looking , i think if you tried a zhu line first you would not like silk lines and miss out on what it really feels like or should feel like when useing silk line
Rich
For vintage fly reels & bamboo rods , guided float trips on canada's # 1 best trout river , i have a special for our bamboo forum members www.bowriveradventures.com |
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cross creek one |
#7 | |||
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For what it's worth, for those that want some of the advantages of silk for somewhat less $$$ and less maintenance, Terenzio offers synthetic braided lines
(of which I have no experience), Cortland has the 444 Sylk (IMO supple, but not a great casting line, little floatation, and fragile finish), and S.A. has the
Sharkskin (supremely supple--casts perfectly and doesn't tangle at all--ever, unsinkable, tough--S.A. claims three times the normal life of plastic, and
lands/picks up like a feather). I still want to try silk, all things considered, but for now I can settle for a selection of DT Sharkskins.
-CC |
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hula |
#8 | |||
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I ordered a DT5 wt of the Zhu line to check it out. Sounds like some work involved breaking it in. The Terenzio sounds interesting also. I'll incorporate
what other members have done to break theirs in and see where it goes from there. Where did you pick up used silk line at?
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Marty |
#9 | |||
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Watch ebay.... I have also in the last couple of years found several in odd antique stores/ yard sales....2 unused kingfishers and one unused hardy....I have
also at various fff clubs (I have moved a lot in the last few years for work) let it be known that I collect old tackle/reels/rods/silk lines and have had
various people approach me with stuff to sell. I have a separate little stash of cash I carry for when I find a deal.... Also worthwhile for fly tying
supplies etc.....
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sharps4590 |
#10 | |||
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I like the Terenzio I bought late last winter. It's taking a little longer to break in but it's getting there. I love his silk leaders and the fact
that his lines come with loops braided into them. My other silk lines are Thebault.
Vic |
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Marty |
#11 | |||
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I useTerenzio's silk leaders as well on all my silk lines (his and phoenix as well as the old lines) makes for a great casting delicate system and they
last a looooooonnnnnnggg time.
20-80 year old rods, reels, 30 year old lines, new lines that will last 30 years....you'd think we'd have no need for anymore stuff since you just about can't wear out the good stuff..... scratch that now's a great time to buy I think I'll keep going....I have no intention of being buried with my rods and reels (the next guy should have as much fun as me fishing them) but the goal is to have enough that if that's what I wanted a coffin wouldn't do they'd have to build me a pyramid..no chariots please just lots of rod racks and reel shelving and a big tying room...... |
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Salish |
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Pete from MA wrote: |
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