Hey, they are cheap! Buy a WF Sylk, probably fit. http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/wink.gif
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Hey, they are cheap! Buy a WF Sylk, probably fit. http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/wink.gif
Has anyone heard of the saying "A job worth doing is worth doing right ?
Put a little backing on it, get a short factory WF line and be happy !!
Bump de bump - My opinion, forget about hacking up the Silk line. To make sure you are on right path, go to Global Dorber an FAOL sponser, order a DT or WF line, it will set you back a whopping $14.40. They have a 30 yard version and this should tell you how the reel should hone up to an approiate configeration. Don't invent the wheel, the wheel is for sale on FAOL.
[This message has been edited by Jonezee (edited 23 May 2006).]
If a 5wt SYLK doesn't fit than the reel must be small.
Take JC's advice, if the 5wt DT almost makes it, a WF5 SYLK probably will fit. Tell him to try a regular WF5 just for a comparison to see how close he can get knowing that the SYLK is considerably thinner. The price of the SYLK is pretty reasonable IMHO.
Thanks for all the comments... I forwarded the thread to my friend.
One thing I suggested was to mark the line at the midpoint with a marker, and lawn cast to see if he could live with that short a line... if not, then cast out till he got a comfortable distance, and mark the line there.
Then take off the line, and put back on the spool with the tip to see if the new distance fit (and if it did... maybe add some backing... I think he should have some backing).
again, thanks for all the comments and suggestions.
Sylk lines are a bit smaller in diameter than other Cortland lines, except maybe for the Clear Creek, which is also small diameter. Your pal probably bought the DT thinking that it is more fitting on a vintage rod, which is true. However, trading it for a WF Sylk is the best move in my opinion. He will then get some backing under the line and if need be, he can cut some of the running line from the BACK, not the front.
Also, the Sylk line has a built in long, level front tip ahead of the taper. Don't cut this as it is critical to the casting properties of the Sylk line.
Good Fishing,
Les Johnson
I really do not understand the problem the person is having.
My 7 weight Cortland Sylk, is the same diameter as my 3 weight Scientific Angler PVC. The Cortland Sylk, should fit on the appropriate reel, with plenty of room for backing line. ~Parnelli
Have you actually miked your 7wt Sylk? I've miked 2-4 weight Sylks and compared them with SA GPX, Ultra 4, and XPS in the same sizes. I didn't see a huge difference, except that the Sylk and XPS had much smaller tips (which also sink better). I certainly didn't see anything approaching your 7wt/3wt comparison, which is beyond even the difference with real silk. Sylks get their slightly smaller diameter due to a smaller core (15lb vs 20lb in some sizes). That's not going to make a huge difference in diameter, especially as the line weights increase, but it will make the lines more supple, perhaps making them feel thinner.
I did not mic my lines, just and eyeball comparison. The reason Sylk Line by Cortland is thinner, is because it is suppose to replace the original Silk Line, that was on the Split Cane Rods, which had very small diameter stripping guides.
Which is why most old split cane fly rods were retired. Not because they were no longer effective, but because the Silk Line was either no longer readily available or too much bother, compared to the newer (back in the 50's)PVC Line.
My 7 weight Split Cane, the SA PVC, barely fit through the red agate stripping guide. Now with the Cortland Sylk Line, the fly rod is singing again. 50 years in a closet, collecting dust on its case, waken from the long slumber to go fishing again.
I cut mine at the backing end to have more backing which is more critical to me than a 90ft fly line. Not a problem. I've done it with other lines also including real silk.
Randy