You may or may not know that I have an artificial silk line from Terenzio. I suppose now that you do know. You may or may not know that I have treated my line, not with fancy products, but with the sort of respect one accords dog poo on the leather sole of a Sunday afternoon drinking session at one's local.

It doesn't seem to have made any difference. I largely didn't treat my line because I couldn't find the bit of chamois is use to wipe it down and I largely didn't take it off the reel all winter because I had more important things to do, such as drinking gin.

I did grease the silk leader this morning though, and got icky stuff on my fingers.

So, a couple of lessons:

A silk line will last forever;
A silk line will not make you the catchingest fly-fisher in the Home Counties. Sigh.

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Wanted: A polarised monocle.

Now Marmalade, remember this is an 'Artificial' line you are talking about so it will not rot like a silk one. Mine have been on my reels for 4 seasons now and are still okay. All I do is run a bit of dressing along the tip of it each outing and away I go.
On another forum, there was discussion about natural dressings for lines and someone suggested that coconut oil was a great waterproofing agent. I am going to look for a block of it and try it.
As for fish catching, no it won't help you but it may make the cast look better.
Cheers

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"A traditional wet fly addict"

Uk representative and Instructor for Fly Fishing Masters - www.flyfishingmasters.co.uk

Distributor for Terenzio Silk and Artificial Silk Fly Lines - Pay distributor retail price.

Hey Guy's!

What ends do you use on the silk fly line! - Do you use a Braided Loop? OR Do you Whip a Loop at either end of the line? Or maybe create a mono loop and attach it to the silk line? I've still not used or even put on a reel yet, the Mr, Zhu line I bought (It's going to take a fair bit of breaking in!

Any help or suggestions? Sensible one's M, as I know it's not a Terenzio!

But I think the Zhu Line will be very nice if I knew how to prepare it properly! I've used red muclin, so much so, that the line is extremely greasy! Should I give the line a soak in warm water and wipe some of the muclin off? This line is very slow to soften!

Handily the Terenzio comes with loops so nothing further has to be done.. I have a Terenzio silk leader at either end so it's just a matter of getting a tippet on.

As to the newness of the line, I'd be half tempted to put it through a cold cycle or two (or ten) of the washing machine and then grease it.

However, you're probably better off using it a few times just to see what you need to do with it. Because it didn't cost a fortune you can afford to experiment a little. I wouldn't worry over much about trying to soften it - it'll happen eventually and you may find on short casts in gusty weather the stiffness actually helps.

Phil - I think beeswax would be an excellent waterproofing agent. Which is handy, because I have a ton of the stuff and can't be bothered to make candles..

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Wanted: A polarised monocle.

Mmmmmmm Mostyn,
All the reports I have had about these is not good as they are a fairly stiff line and are really difficult to soften up. A few of the lads have them on this forum so it will be interesting to hear what they say.
As for the loop. On a Phoenix line I had in Oz, I nail knotted a piece of leader to it. From memory I added about 18" and then blood knotted the leader to that. Eventually it will get to the point where you will need to replace it but it should take a while before you upset the taper of the line. I suppose you could also as a Perfection Loop and use that.
Try all of the suggestions and once you have become frustrated, call me

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"A traditional wet fly addict"

Uk representative and Instructor for Fly Fishing Masters - www.flyfishingmasters.co.uk

Distributor for Terenzio Silk and Artificial Silk Fly Lines - Pay distributor retail price.

And another thing Mostyn - just borrow Phil's (flyfishwithme) Pass-Round Terenzio to see what yours should end up like: it'll allow you to see what they should fish like.

:-)

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Wanted: A polarised monocle.

I have a terenzio artificial silk and there was no problem in getting it softer. In fact i have bought it for ver little money as previous owner was not happy with its wire like feeling. Couple of fishings and that was all it took. It is not cotton rag soft, but it casts and roll casts great. At the moment i am using terenzio dressing but that coconut idea sounds interesting. Tried mucilin (not recommended by terenzio) but terenzio dressing is better.

I wouldn't have thought coconut oil would have the necessary adhesion or anti fling or whatever. The linespeed would soon have it out and you'd have to re-dress.

Getting something floaty and liquid is all very well, but you need viscosity too. Somewhere on this forum there's a rocket scientist who could probably explain using real science rather than my cod stuff..

Chain-wax for a motorcycle might be good - if the additives don't rot the line. Ditto marine grease.

Beeswax on its own would be too stiff, but mixed with the right solvent (turps is natural isn't it?) might work.

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Wanted: A polarised monocle.

Hi Mostyn
Just a quick note to ask how you got on with the Zhu line and how you attached leaders, etc. The reason I ask is that I have been using a Terenzio for a while and would like to add some more silk lines to my rods and get rid of the PVC's. At £115 a go, the Terenzio's are expensive, although will probably outlast me, so I thought of trying one of Mr Zhu's lines which are a third of the price. Any info you can pass on would be very much appreciated.

All the best

Mark

I'm now the owner of two Terenzio Artificial Silk Fly Lines!! A DT #3, and a DT #4, Been using them for a short while now; and so far I'm very pleased with them! To be completely honest, I cannot tell the difference in the Artificial and the pure silk fly line!! They look the same - cast the same - lift off the water the same; but they do-not need as much attention! The cost is a wee bit expensive, although they perform better and give more pleasure when using them, than a conventional plastic fly line. Worth that bit extra. IMO

M