Hans-
Thank you for all the information and the website for
the US distributor. Once again, you are a veritable
fountain of ff information. Thank you for including
the information on the making of the lines.
Fascinating.
-John
Oregon
--- Hans Weilenmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> John,
>
> My favourite line for use on cane rods are modern
> silk lines. To be
> more precise: Phoenix Silk Lines, were made by a
> gentleman in the UK
> by the name of Noel Buxton. Production has now been
> taken over by
> another Brit, Mike Brookes, who relocated the
> production to France.
>
> Why? Well:
> + thinner diameter than 'plastic' lines of the same
> line size.
> + beautiful taper.
> + extremely fine point, allowing me to have thinner
> diameter butts
> and getting away with shorter leaders.
> + which in turn gives me better accuracy.
> + longer lasting.
> + optionally turns from floater into an intermediate
> line.
>
> Downsides:
> + not exactly an inexpensive line ; (
> + for it to float high, it needs to be dressed.
> + does not float so well/long in 'dirty' water.
> + noisier
>
> Distributor for Phoenix lines in the US is a Philly
> based company
> called Belvoirdale (www.belvoirdale.com)
>
> When the Phoenix lines were still manufactured by
> Noel Buxton in the
> UK I had the opportunity to meet with Noel at his
> home and witnessed
> the lines being braided. Fascinating!
>
> Traditionally silk lines required considerable care
> and attention.
>
> Things are not nearly this bad with 'modern' silk
> lines. Much has
> changed as can be seen when one reads the
> instructions which come
> with the Phoenix lines.
>
> Here are the relevant bits:
>
> + Prior to a day's fishing you apply the (Red
> Mucelin) grease in the
> traditional manner. Run the line out and apply the
> grease with a soft
> cloth, allow to 'air dry'.
>
> + At the end of a day's fishing you wipe the line
> and reel dry and
> remove any grit.
>
> + During the close season the line is hung in loose
> coils, preferably
> in a warm, dry area. Prior to opening day clean the
> dust and old
> grease from the line with a soft cloth LIGHTLY
> dampened with
> turpentine.
>
> And for your enjoyment/information, from
> 'Introducing the Phoenix
> line':
>
> ...
> In producing... this (the silk) is wound onto "cops"
> ready for
> braiding. These "cops" are then loaded onto a
> braiding machine where
> the taper is built into the line as it is braided.
> To give you some
> idea of the skill and care that this requires, it
> takes 45 minutes to
> braid the 4 foot tapered sections of a double
> tapered line and the
> tips of a size 5 line contains 120 ends of silk.
>
> ...
> ...
> The lines are then impregnated, under pressure, with
> linseed oil to
> ensure that every strand is penetrated and are hung
> to dry. They are
> then impregnated again with other
> oils to completely fill the braid and again hung to
> dry, this time in
> controlled, heated drying cabinets. Now they are
> ready for varnishing
> and when the last coat is on, they
> are left to mature, before finishing and boxing. For
> a trout line,
> this has taken eight weeks from braiding to boxing.
> ...
>
> And how do I think they compare with modern
> synthetic lines? Well,
> they do not constitute my line of choice for the
> majority of my
> fishing, but there are times and circumstances where
> I think they are
> superior to plastic lines.
>
> Because they are thinner in diameter, especially in
> their tip, they
> work very well over shy fish and into a wind. And
> because of this
> smaller diameter, they go very well with (classic)
> cane rods which
> tend to have smaller guides fitted compared to most
> graphite rods.
>
> Cheers,
> Hans
>
>
>
=====
The River-
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You move and change,I move and am the same;
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