Fishing Silk

[Baughb]

So I’m new to silk lines and have one on a sweet 4wt bamboo rod that I have loved with the Wulff long belly line.

Once I put the silk line on, a Thebault DT4, the rod cast effortlessly. I may have made a mistake by only getting the shorter (15 meter?) length because I soon found I could cast the whole line! My buddy’s bamboo 4wt also cast beautifully with it. An addict needs a buddy.

The day at the casting pond (Thank you Pasadena Fly Fishing Club) was a bit breezy with gusts about 10-12 knots and I got to try the rod at different wind directions (around the pond) and I was pleasantly surprised with the results. It did seem to behave in the wind by cutting through more easily. Now I’m not an expert caster and I do practice when I can’t get to the river, constantly telling myself to slow down and stop the rod tip, so results may vary but, I found it to be less effort than using a modern, plastic coated line on the same rod.

I think that the single most positive aspect is the way the line floats on top of the water therefore, when I initiate my first back cast, the rod doesn’t get overloaded and the subsequent strokes are more in control. Although roll casting may take some more practice to be accurate.

Just my experience. So other than the “cool factor”, for those of you who cast silk, what do you prefer about the line? Any tips?

Bob

[SxS]

I really didn't want to go down the silk line rabbit hole. have avoided it for decades. horror stories of maintanance. no one wants to sit out a hatch waiting for a line to dry and be re-dressed. However, thanks to you letting me try your double taper 4wt silk on my John Pickard 764 PHY perfectionist clone two weeks ago, i now realize what all the fuss is about and why the maintenance is well worth it! bamboo simply comes alive when fished with silk! who doesn't want to cast better and even keep the entire line in the air 10 feet INTO THE BACKING!!! yeah, i'm sold, but there goes another grand start up cost.. oh well! next season....

[Baughb]

Well i don't know about a grand... I got the 4wt and 5wt for about $250 all in, used and already conditioned and supple. Now I'll find out how much extra care is involved during day to day fishing but unspooling,, drying, and reapplying the Otter Butter doesn't seem like a big deal and I'll see how much actual "water" time the lines get. When you're headhunting, it's more spotting than casting.

Bob

[SxS]

If I were to get fully into silk i would need a DT6 for the Douglas Duck 209E, a WF 4 for the RA Fick * clone, a DT 5 for the Paul Young and the big stack of Phillipson's and Grangers, a WF5 for the other Phillipson and Granger, a WF 6 for the other Granger and a DT4 for the Pickard, about a grand. I think I'll start with the DT4 for the Pickard and see what happens... I'll put it on that little Milward reel made by Young, it's well ventilated and a sweet little reel for that small rod and it looks really sexy too! The duck loves the Cortland "sylk" in a DT 6 Shoots line a mile and my tailing loop somehow went away! I plan on fishing the heck out of that combo this year when the wind kicks up and i feel under gunned with the Pickard! for bigger water the Granger 8642's are pretty hard to beat in any conditions! better get a DT5 silk line too!

[Baughb]

Ok, spend it!! (and I'll borrow a couple)

Bob

[briansII]

Out of ignorance, I've thrown away some vintage, silk lines that came on reels I bought. Thinking back, some were in pretty bad shape, but not all were junk. Sorry bout that.

briansII

[Baughb]

There's a great read on overmywaders about recovering lines and making them usable again.

I on the other hand, have a half dozen plastic lines that have come on reels that I had bought. Should identify them and make them available.

Bob

[SxS]

I found this to a a great over all summary of silk lines. I think many out here on this forum may enjoy this essay. From my very limited experience, i certainly agree with about everything written here:

http://www.silkflylines.com/index.php?silk