Cane and Silk

        Silk fly lines have been around since the late 19th century, these ultimately replaced older horse hair and linen lines. Initially these lines had an enamel finish which wore very quickly and seldom lasted a full season. A coating process was developed in which oil and varnish was applied to the braided silk. Traditionally this is a mixture of linseed oil and varnish which is applied to the braid under vacuum as this allows the finish to permeate into the silk braid. Several coatings of this oil  finish is required to ensure the entire braided surface is covered. This process prooved to be superior to the older enamel coating and is still the standard for coating silk lines today.  Silk fly lines are inherintly an intermediate line as they are heavier than water because of this they require a bit of extra care to ensure they float well. In addition this is a natural material and there is a tendency for the line to rot if stored improperly. After each outing the line must be thoroughly dried and dressing re-applied before using, if the line is intended to float. This extra care may seem cumbersome in today's fast paced world, but is worth it as there is something special about the relaxing rhythm of casting a bamboo rod with a silk line.

 

I am offering new silk fly lines, they are available in two colors: goldenrod and dark green. There may be some slight color variation as these lines are hand dyed and polished one at a time.

 

Currently I have double taper lines in stock in the following weights: DT-3-I, DT-4-I, DT-5-I and DT-6-I

 

Each line comes nicely packaged with a tub of red label mucilin and care and maintenance instructions

 

Price : $60.00