All I can tell about it is that is comes in the TenkaraBum’s 3 favorite sizes, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 号.
It is fluorescent Pink. Comes on 30m (98ft) spools.
The price is listed as 1,600 yen. So proabably about $22 here.
And it is listed as finished in 軟中調, soft medium tone or stiffness.
If this line is received as well as the Nissin rods it ought to recieve good reviews. If anyone decides to sell it here or it becomes available on-line.
I have already asked my supplier about it. It looks to be a very light pink (and I have already tried and rejected several light pink lines). I will get some in for evaluation and then decide whether to carry it.
My favorite sizes would probably be 1.5 and 2 but no one makes a hi vis line in 1.5 and 2.
Cool, about the line and the line size. My 62 y.o. eyes have a difficult seeing the smaller 2.5 line, no matter what color. But pink or orange or chartreuse is ok above 3.0 when conditions are good. Otherwise a thicker line. I played round back in the spring with a yellow braided line. The light stuff cast about like size 3, but is more visible to me than the orange or pink against dry brown leaves on the ground in early spring.
The previous post of sizes 3, 3.5, 4 as favorites was based on the TB line page. 3.0 for 5:5 and most 6:4 rods. 3.5 for most everything else. 4.0 for beginners and windy days. I suspected from recent trip reports that your opinion may have changed.
Well you know with the modern internet websites it is close be being an Alice’s Restaurant World where you can get anything you want. ( but often not at a price you are willing to pay)
The Nissin Pals level line has been available for just over 2 months on at least two English language web sites ( predating the troutnews post) : Plat and Esoterictackle in the UK. However, this line is not at the top of my list of next lines to experiment with. I have just recently obtained 4 different lengths of the Fujino tapered lines to play with. There is no question that the Fujino lines are highly visible. Hopefully not so bright as to be frightening to the fish.
The orange Fujino Soft Tenkara lines in :3.3m, 4m and 5m. And the green Fujino Midi line in 4m. I wanted to be able to compare the softer orange line and the slightly stiffer midori lines in the same length, 4m.
My comment was not with respect the PALS line, which of course you can get. It was with respect to recommended line sizes. No point recommending size 1.5 and 2 lines when you cannot buy hi vis lines of those sizes. You can’t get anything you want if no one makes it.
Well, then. Sorry for confusing the availability of the Nissin PALS LL , and other high viz lines in sizes 2 or 1.5.
My disclaimer is I stated the the internet is “close to being an Alice’s restaurant”. The internet is the place across the street - with a more limited menu. ;)
But speaking of unavailable lines : Paul Gaskell posted about meeting Go Ishii while in Japan and of Go’s generosity. Go Ishii stated that it is almost impossible today to find level lines that have enough wiry stiffness, properties that he believes necessary for the lines to cast smoothly and accurately and that they are rarely available today especially in sizes smaller than size 3. He then gave Paul and John two of the last spools of some level line, now discontinued, that Masami Sakakibara had made to his specifications several years ago. Though I don’ t recall him mentioning the size of the line. I seem to recall reading about this line on Oni’s old blog. Though I wasn’t quite sure if he posted about lines specifically made for him or if it was only line he was testing for one of the line manufacturers at their request.
I find the current TUSA level line softer than the Sunline level line. And tend to prefer the stiffer line. Though I can cast either one, and really work to develop the skill to cast either one well, but I don’t think I have the casting skill to be able to describe the subtle differences between how the two different lines cast. Or under which situations one might be a better choice than the other. As with most things each has an advantage or disadvantage depending upon how they are used. Long or short line, the type fly used or the rod they are used with.
I obtained the Nissin PALS line in sizes 3.0 and 3.5 in September from Oleg at Tenkara Times, and fished with the 3.5 line several times during a week in late October. I like the line. I would judge it to be a little stiffer than the TSUA level line, but not quite as stiff as the Sunline from Tenkarabum. The line is not hi-viz being pale pink in color, but I had no trouble seeing the line. Perhaps fishing with the line in the fall with the sun low in the sky improved the visibility.
I only fished with the 3.5 line because most days were pretty windy so I stayed with the heavier line. It is a very easy line to cast. Perhaps that was helped by the rod I was using. I fished the entire week with the new Tenkara Times 4 meter Watershed rod, using a 5m line + 1 m tippet, it is a very good rod. It is light , well balanced, with a comfortable grip, and I would say it is one of the best casting rods I have.
