Brown fly line

I have an old shakespeare reel that has been in my basement for 8+ years. someone gave it to me. It has a brown(on the darker side of medium brown) fly line on it. I've never seen a fly line this color. I got it out and cleaned it up yesterday. It is a 90 ft double taper probably a 4 wt. This old line looks to be in great shape, no cracks or damage. I'm wondering who made it. The guy who gave it to me fished Alaska a lot. I've lost touch with him. Does anyone have any idea who made it? It seems to be a quality line. Maybe Canadian?

sounds like a sinking fly line color

I have an old cortland DT sinking line that is a brown color. Probably bought in the 70's. That may be a possibility.

Beaver

My first fly line was a brown colored floating line that I bought from the Montgomery Ward Catalog back in the mid 60's. I think it was a wf.

The fly line is a floater. I thought it was sinking line too, tried it in the creek and it floats. Dave, I can't believe it's that old but who knows.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by oldster

I can't believe it's that old but who knows.

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I have the first line I ever bought, 7 wt. level Cortland purchased in the late '60, it's green, that is very fishable. There are a couple of discolored spots but still soft and pliable.

My first outfit was a Scientific Anglers system 6 ( with a 7 reel). I purchased them new in the mid 1970's. The line was a brown DT 6 floater, and I still have it.

Some of the old nylon lines were brown. Shakespeare also marketed there own brand of fly lines. Could very well be a Shakespeare

I have a old, old Shakespeare sinking line that is still in the original package. The color is a deep brown, and as with yours, in good fishing shape. Try tossing some of it into the tube, see what it does.
Mike
OOOPS - tub, not tube!

Thanks for the info guys, I'm gonna try casting it and maybe fishing it too.