As you may be aware, I fish fluorocarbon level lines mostly. But every once in a while I will use a woven line. I have used furled lines from a variety of companies, but I have not ever found one that I really liked -- until recently.
Some woven lines are braided, some are furled, and still others are twisted. Furled and braided lines are common in the US, while twisted lines are common in Japan. Here is what James Hauer says about the difference between furled and braided lines: "Both braided and furled leaders are quite supple and their appearance is similar but there are major differences between them. The manufacturing processes are not at all the same. Braiding is a process resulting in leaders having a hollow air core. Braided leader butts are generally much bulkier than the furled leader butts since they have this hollow core. The air core tends to absorb and hold water, discharging it in a fine mist pattern during each cast. If one sees a small rainbow appear momentarily over the shoulder of another fly fisher while he's false casting, chances are he is using a braided leader. On the other hand, since the furled leader is constructed of densely twined strands, and not braided, the resulting leader butt is entirely solid throughout the cross-section of its diameter and absorbs or holds no water."
Twisted lines are different from furled or braided lines. Twisted lines are very small in diameter and, depending on the number of strands used, can be light weight. They are often tapered and can be customized to fit your need. A tutorial for making your own twisted line has been authored by John Vetterli of Tenkara Guides, LLC. I have a few of his lines, and they are wonderful.
But as far as a commercially produced twisted line, I have only used one. About a year ago I bought a Shimotsuke "Mai Line" (or My Line) Fluorocarbon Furled Taper Line. I have used it on and off, and I must say, I like it. It is a very light line, tightly twisted, that rolls off the spool without any memory. It attaches to the lilian via a loop made of the same fluorocarbon material. It casts smoothly and is easy to keep off the water. I have used mine mainly when fishing dry flies.
Commercially available Japanese twisted lines include the Shimotsuke Mai line and the Fujiyru Tenkara lines. A number of Japanese sources for these lines are available and a couple include Plat and Tenkara-Ya. They are also occasionally available on eBay.
If you've not tried one of these lines, you owe it to yourself to get one and fish with it. I still prefer a level line for most of my fishing, but when I want a multi-strand line, I use the Shimotsuke Mai.
Some woven lines are braided, some are furled, and still others are twisted. Furled and braided lines are common in the US, while twisted lines are common in Japan. Here is what James Hauer says about the difference between furled and braided lines: "Both braided and furled leaders are quite supple and their appearance is similar but there are major differences between them. The manufacturing processes are not at all the same. Braiding is a process resulting in leaders having a hollow air core. Braided leader butts are generally much bulkier than the furled leader butts since they have this hollow core. The air core tends to absorb and hold water, discharging it in a fine mist pattern during each cast. If one sees a small rainbow appear momentarily over the shoulder of another fly fisher while he's false casting, chances are he is using a braided leader. On the other hand, since the furled leader is constructed of densely twined strands, and not braided, the resulting leader butt is entirely solid throughout the cross-section of its diameter and absorbs or holds no water."
Twisted lines are different from furled or braided lines. Twisted lines are very small in diameter and, depending on the number of strands used, can be light weight. They are often tapered and can be customized to fit your need. A tutorial for making your own twisted line has been authored by John Vetterli of Tenkara Guides, LLC. I have a few of his lines, and they are wonderful.
But as far as a commercially produced twisted line, I have only used one. About a year ago I bought a Shimotsuke "Mai Line" (or My Line) Fluorocarbon Furled Taper Line. I have used it on and off, and I must say, I like it. It is a very light line, tightly twisted, that rolls off the spool without any memory. It attaches to the lilian via a loop made of the same fluorocarbon material. It casts smoothly and is easy to keep off the water. I have used mine mainly when fishing dry flies.
Commercially available Japanese twisted lines include the Shimotsuke Mai line and the Fujiyru Tenkara lines. A number of Japanese sources for these lines are available and a couple include Plat and Tenkara-Ya. They are also occasionally available on eBay.
If you've not tried one of these lines, you owe it to yourself to get one and fish with it. I still prefer a level line for most of my fishing, but when I want a multi-strand line, I use the Shimotsuke Mai.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteThanks for this review. I'd never heard of this product before so it's cool to discover something new that's useful. What rod/size do you match with the 3.6 length? Is the delivery time slow? A couple of my previous purchases with Tenkara-Ya took over a month longer than the estimated time to reach me, a full three months.
I have one of the Tenkara Times rods and a Kosansui Fine Mode (I think in 390). I was thinking of picking up the 3.3 length to match it. Does that sound about right?
Thanks a bunch!
;)
My experience with Tenkara-Ya has been a good one. If it's in stock, then I'll get the item in about 10 days or less. If not, then the wait is certainly longer.
DeleteI use my Mai line with either a 3.6 or 3.8 m rod. I tend to fish a line length equal to the rod or slightly shorter, but using this line on a 3.6 m rod works very well. A 3.3 m length for your Tenkara Times rod (360 m?) would work well, especially if your tippet was in the 3-4 ft length.
What conditions do you opt for the furled line? You said dry fly fishing, but are these tiny dries or big wind resistant flies? How does it handle in the wind.
ReplyDeleteI've found wind interferes with me casting/using lighter lines like 3.5 or less Fluoro. So I've tried furled lines but they are too heavy and often sag.
I don't opt for one very often. If i'm throwing air resistant dry flies, mainly. I find the line throws better in wind than a level line, but is not the casting in wind that frustrates me, its the line being blowing around during the drift. I find most all lines suffer this problem when the rod tip is held high. I too find furled lines sag more than level lines, thus they are harder to keep of the water. The Mai does pretty well, but it is heavier than a level line.
DeleteThank you for the review Tom. I experimented with various furled lines following Eddie and John V's kind help and suggestions including making the furling machine of Eddie's innovation. Perhaps like you and others, after plenty of experimentation I settled on level lines. Yet, my favourite tenkara rod, a Nissin Airstage Fujiryu 410, seems to beg to have a furled or braided line such as the Nissin Pals lines. I've used a hand furled horseline, kit supplied by Chris Stewart, and found it a pleasure to cast and fish with. Useful to know about this line too. Kind regards Phil.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your insights, Phil.
DeleteTom, have you tried one of the Nissin PALS twisted fluoro lines? I tried several lengths of the Shimotsuke and decided not to carry them but I will carry one of the Nissin lines (not yet in stock).
ReplyDeleteNot yet. I'm still trying to figure out one would be best for me. I'm confused over the difference between the four different types.
DeleteThe Perfect Line (green package), SP Pro (blue package) and PII and (orange package) are fluorocarbon, and the tenkara basu (yellow package) is nylon. I have tried all but the PII, although I have not tried the soft versions. The PII is twisted with 3 strands, while the Perfect Line and SP Pro are twisted with 7 strands. The Perfect Line and SP Pro have very different tapers. Of the two, the SP Pro has a much longer butt section and seems to be easier to cast. Partially because of that and partially because of the substantial price difference, the SP Pro is the one I have decided to import. I think the 6m line might be a very nice line to go with the Nissin 2-Way 540 or 620 ZX.
DeleteI'm eager to try the 6m line with my 540ZX.
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