I better chime in here. As a former educator, I found sitting back and letting a conversation go on its own sometimes generates more useful info than my tossing in questions. I've also had very limited internet access being at my daughter's home several days a week helping with the grandkids- Dad's deployed. I have been only able to follow some of the earlier parts of this thread. I just saw and handled my FIRST REAL TENKARA ROD about a half hour ago, Santa shipped it USPS. When Fly Goddess responded, I pm'ed some questions to her rather than display my IGNORANCE. I've read and recieved a WIDE responses from those using a single flourocarbon line to furled lines. John and Joni, use different thickenesses of thread. I am a tinkerer and part of my enjoyment is "making a lot of my tackle and flies". Thanks for the info, I'm going to play with some different ideas after the Holidays and know I'll have more specific questions later. Thanks and a Merry Christmas .Randall