................Silk Lines seem to suit Cane Rods and Small Streams..................
Cane Rod from Tim Harris, : Little Vixen. 6ft.3in,#3,weight! So, I thought I'd better go the whole Hog; and get myself a Silk Line! But which one? and what's it going to cost me? Well, I might not like using a Silk Line! So, after getting lots of advise on what was the best; and realising they were not as inexpensive as the normal plastic type! I decided to buy one of Mr, Zhu's Silk Lines, at one third the price of the cheapest silk line sold in the UK.

I was a young lad of 16, years, when I last used a silk line; and way back then, I never used any grease or dressing of any kind on the line, just wiped it with a cloth every so often! I didn't take good care of it; and eventually it rotted away!! Anyhow, I now have one of Mr, Zhu's Lines, and I made the mistake of buying it in a fully prepared condition! it came in a very nice box with a large tin of silicone wax (grease) although I'd been warned by the many silk line users on this forum, Not to use the grease that came with the line!! I have followed their instructions! I bought 3, tubs of RED Muclin. Best thing for Silk Lines! Or so I've been told.

Now here comes the tough bit; these lines are not so easy to prepare! But I've asked lots of questions and made a start at getting it ready for March. Actually I started preparing it at the end of December! When your Zhu silk line arrives it's extremely stiff! Anyhow, after speaking to someone (over on Clark's forum) who was using a couple of Mr, Zhu's silk lines! I followed his instructions! Firstly, I needed to break-down the surface coating on the line, to achieve this I had to pull the line over the towel rail in the bathroom, pulling it backwards and forwards in a sawing motion! I continued doing this for a few weeks, then I started to apply the Muclin, coating the line and rubbing it in to the line! I must admit it's a hell of a-lot softer than when it arrived! I've been doing this every few days, although I don't think it's quite ready yet? Maybe some of you could tell me if I should put the line on the reel and fish with it for a while, in the hope softening and creating a far more supple line from regular use! I've been told that it takes quite a-while before a silk line becomes soft and supple; and the best way is through regular use and continual cleaning drying then re coating with Muclin!

What experiences has anyone else had with Silk Lines? And, do you think a Silk Line, coupled with a nice reel and a Cane rod, is worth all the work that goes it to the preparation? I'm so looking forward to using mine for the first time!

Mostyn

Hi Mostyn,i also bought one of the chinese lines which i have yet to use.Mine is a 4 weight to go with my cane rod.
I have pretty much prepared mine the same as you,and it seems to be getting a bit more supple.
I managed to knock up a line dryer,which seems to work well.
Just waiting now to try it out,im not bothered at all with drying it out or regreasing it between outings,providing i feel silk makes a real differance,otherwise its back to plastic!
Best tip i came across was to tie a very large loop in the backing,so you can pass the reel through if you want to turn the line round during an outing.
Really liked the subdued honey colour of the line.
Not long now,be trying the lines out soon,dont like the look of the weather forcast though!

Steve

Mostyn,
I only use sink lines for all my fishing now, been the case for about 12 years or so. In some respects they do need a bit more TLC than PVC lines but it's well worth it. To be honest I have only heard bad things about the cheap chinese lines so I would give them a wide berth. I use Phoenix Lines and they are as near perfect as you can get, I fish larger rivers like the middle Wharfe with both cane and carbon rods and my lines suit both types of rods and the numerous tactics I use. I also fish the upper Ribble and Eden with just my 7ft 4 weight Cane and a Phoenix line. Take a look at their site, and judge for yourself.
Silk Fly Lines and Leaders
I can vouch for their customer service as I had a problem with the coating on one of the lines and they replaced it with no problems dispite it being a few years old and fished very hard.
Terenzio also do great lines which you can find on Phil Bailey's site
http:
//www.flyfishwithme.net/page5/page5.html
Phil rates them very highly, never tried them myself but Phil's word is good.

Hi Steve,
yes, I like the colour of the Zhu line! Are you getting tired of pulling the line through Muclin? I can't wait to go fishing with it. Here's a tip that a guy on Clark's forum told me: When your fishing with a silk line always take a small hand towel with you to wipe the line dry; and if your having a coffee or when your having lunch, hang the line over a tree branch to dry out a little! Steve, what sort of loop are going to use at each end of the line? I was thinking of turning the ends of the line in to a loop and whipping together with tying silk, then applying a spot of super glue or fly-head varnish to finish!

Anyhow, hope the weather is kind to us during March!!

Mostyn

Hi Bob,

I know the Phoenix and the Terenzio silk lines are the way to go! But at a cost. So I decided to give the Zhu Line a go! I have the #3, DT, line; and I would quite like to get a DT#4,weight silk line, I may go to a Phoenix or Terenzio for my next silk line! I'm really looking forward to fishing with it; although, I think it's going to take several outings fishing with the Zhu silk line, before it becomes really soft and supple! Does fishing with and regular use of the line, help to soften and help make it supple? looking at it now, I think it's going to take me a full season to break it in.

Thanks for the links Bob!

Regards

Mostyn

Hi Mostyn, made loops in either end in exactly the way you were thinking,seems to have made a nice neat loop.
I did look at the Pheonix lines,and there is no doubt they are far better quality,but they were well out of my price range.
However if i take to the silk,i could see me buying one in the future,it would be interesting to bump into someone on the bank fishing with one.
Anyway back to the Muclin!

I am using a Thebault #4/5 paralel/level silk line for a season now and I wont consider going back for a modern plastic line on my cane rods. Im only so pleased with the feel, the look of the subdued honey colour , even the smell of my silk line on a cane rod and its 100% practical and functional for any flyfishing style . The line comes with a JP Thebault own version of grease . I dont have any problems with the line . I didnt feel the line stiff even on the first day fishing with it, but the advice on the Thebault site is that the line will need 50 hours of light use on the water to start to perform at its best. All I can say is that following the instructions and applying grease five times /not all in a one day , but before the first usage on water / , the line was already softer and pleasure to use on my cane rod. The minutes spend for greasing it before fishing or the drying it after use dosent bother me at all. I also tried and cast Phoenix and Zhu lines with cane rod but didnt have a chance to fish with these lines. Havent tried Terenzio lines yet.
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Nice picture of rod and I do like the look of that reel! but time is running out, so best get back to putting some muclin on my Zhu silk line!

Hi Mostyn I've had one of the Chinese Silk lines for over 18 months now, after polishing it for 6 weeks it eventualy became supple enough to fish with.
At the price it cost I cannot fault it.
As for backing /leader connections I bought 2 silk tapered leaders from Phoenix, one for each end, also is easier to swap ends, I then attach my tippet length usually about 4ft, it casts and turns over great no splash or disturbance what so ever. Grease it and it floats clean it and it sinks slowly.
Well worth investing in.
Hope my 2p's worth helps....
Martin....
Furled and Braided Leaders

Hi Martin,

Did you buy one of Zhu's silk lines ; Treated or Untreated? What did you use for the six weeks polishing; and did you use any mild abrasive to break up some of the stiff coating? I bought my line on eBay, it took almost a month to arrive from China. Do you think it's worth getting a couple of those Silk leaders? and do you have a link for the purchase of them? I know, lots of questions! Thanks for posting; and yes it was helpful!

Regards

Mostyn