How true are Cortland Sylk lines to weight?

Re: How true are Cortland Sylk lines to weight?

feeds@yuku.com (nwdlj) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:37:28 GMT

its been my understanding, not fact by any means, that the level tip is basically is just the transitions length after the taper but before the next line starts as it just turns into the running line of the next taper, hence the variation in the length with no standardization like what the tapers are supposed to be...and I especially note the "supposed to be" as again, the manufacturing process is a continuous flow process...they do not make up individual lines, rather, its a...

Re: How true are Cortland Sylk lines to weight?

feeds@yuku.com (kimk) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:12:40 GMT

It seems that there are two factors being discussed here. First there is the issue of lines being manufactures to specs and the acceptable tolerances of those specs. All manufacturing processes have a certain variability and imprecision. That is why every set of plans is loaded with symbols. I am willing to believe that line manufacturers do a fair job of meeting the specs, but that is only the half of it. Within those specs manufacturers have a fair latitude in taper. This is how the...

Re: How true are Cortland Sylk lines to weight?

feeds@yuku.com (BlackHillsBill) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:06:26 GMT

It is. Raining in the Dakotas, A lot. With a
few of those big swirly clouds round and about.
too. What I can't blame on that, I blame on being
born during The Great Depression. People
seem to make allowances for that a little more
willingly.

Re: How true are Cortland Sylk lines to weight?

feeds@yuku.com (mac7x) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:35:47 GMT

What, is it raining in the Dakotas too? Us Taxachusetts guys got an excuse.

Re: How true are Cortland Sylk lines to weight?

feeds@yuku.com (BlackHillsBill) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:07:25 GMT

DrakeBob wrote:
Oh, okay. I know your type. You're into the sensuality of the experience rather than the science and technology. I'm afraid you'll never make it as a fly fisherman, Bill.

Never? Jumping Jehoshaphat, Bob. I'm 75 in a couple of weeks.
Never say "never" to a guy near three score and fifteen. Shoot,
I can make it to never easily with the sensuality I have in reserve....

Re: How true are Cortland Sylk lines to weight?

feeds@yuku.com (DrakeBob) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:06:21 GMT

Oh, okay. I know your type. You're into the sensuality of the experience rather than the science and technology. I'm afraid you'll never make it as a fly fisherman, Bill.

Re: How true are Cortland Sylk lines to weight?

feeds@yuku.com (BlackHillsBill) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:39:24 GMT

greg hall wrote:
It likely takes him back to his telescoping metal pole days.

And halcyon days they were, too.

Re: How true are Cortland Sylk lines to weight?

feeds@yuku.com (BlackHillsBill) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:37:26 GMT

DrakeBob wrote:
Let me see if I understand this correctly. The first 4 feet of your line are like a leader butt, so if you are using a 12' leader, it's more like 16'. But not really, because it's not leader, it's fly line. On the other hand, those 4 feet don't count toward the weight of the fly line. It's like pretending they are weightless and don't exist even though they are there. So,...

Re: How true are Cortland Sylk lines to weight?

feeds@yuku.com (Zenkoanhead) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:46:53 GMT

With its 16 foot front taper, the Snowbee Delicate Presentation will leave you scratching your head. I finally matched one of mine with a boron rod. The extra speed turns it over. You could just about cast it and have it turn over correctly with only a tippet attached. Don

Re: How true are Cortland Sylk lines to weight?

feeds@yuku.com (greg hall) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:25:41 GMT

It likely takes him back to his telescoping metal pole days.

Re: How true are Cortland Sylk lines to weight?

feeds@yuku.com (DrakeBob) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:08:31 GMT

Let me see if I understand this correctly. The first 4 feet of your line are like a leader butt, so if you are using a 12' leader, it's more like 16'. But not really, because it's not leader, it's fly line. On the other hand, those 4 feet don't count toward the weight of the fly line. It's like pretending they are weightless and don't exist even though they are there. So, those 4 feet are not quite leader and they're not quite line. What is it you...

Re: How true are Cortland Sylk lines to weight?

feeds@yuku.com (BlackHillsBill) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:00:37 GMT

Cortland's Clear Creek (an excellent WF) has the longest level tip of
any of their fly lines, Sylk included. It is advertised by some retailers
this way: "The 4-ft level front section is like having a built-in butt-
section . . ." It is called "the ultimate in a spring creek fly line." It is
also, I've found, nearly without coil memory and remains supple.

Here's the rub. I fish it, like it, even prefer it--not an endorsement,...

Re: How true are Cortland Sylk lines to weight?

feeds@yuku.com (DrakeBob) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:46:56 GMT

In a lot of the old literature you'll read about "a 5.5 oz. Leonard" (substitute whatever you'd like). I can't recall (but my memory is now severely in question) ever seeing "a C line Leonard."

Re: How true are Cortland Sylk lines to weight?

feeds@yuku.com (RonT1) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:40:06 GMT

Is it true that some old classic rodmakers just noted the weight of the rod in ounces and left the line determination to the new owner? "I want it all and I want it now....!"
R

Re: How true are Cortland Sylk lines to weight?

feeds@yuku.com (DrakeBob) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:54:21 GMT

Hi Mike, I agree that's why the long tip is there. I'm just baffled that I've never run into (as near as I can recall) the "not including the level tip" language in the AFTMA standard. Everything seems to talk about "the first 30 feet." But it's really not the first 30 feet. Huh... old dog learns new trick.

Re: How true are Cortland Sylk lines to weight?

feeds@yuku.com (mer) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:48:22 GMT

Bob, poke around in the old literature, where they talk about silk lines. It may have been in one of Knights books, but the issue of a "long level tip" has been around for a long time. In fact, the "answer" was much the same as it is today: cut it back to no more than a foot or so. I think the idea behind a long tip was so when you needed to change butt sections of a leader, you didn't have to worry about cutting some of the line off.
There is a big difference...

Re: How true are Cortland Sylk lines to weight?

feeds@yuku.com (DrakeBob) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:33:50 GMT

That's excellent information and seems to be supported by what I've now been reading.

I haven't yet heard from Cortland, but it appears that I stand corrected… In addition, John was kind enough to send me the direct quote from the pamphlet he mentions above.

This is from the Fly Rod & Reel web site by Buzz Bryson and Paul Guernsey:

Re: How true are Cortland Sylk lines to weight?

feeds@yuku.com (nwdlj) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:18:18 GMT

I once worked on a project about 3 wt rods and different 3 wt lines, mixing and matching 6 each of them...so the line dealers sent us examples of their lines, I won't name manufacturers as I signed that right away...anyway, one company sent a very detailed report on how they manufacture lines and how their Quality Assurance process works to ensure that their lines are in the range as specified...basically, their manufacturing process was a continuous flow process where the tapered outer...

Re: How true are Cortland Sylk lines to weight?

feeds@yuku.com (DrakeBob) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:22:05 GMT

I always cut the tips off of my lines to one degree or another. They're just too flimsy to adequately turn over a stiff butt leader like Maxima which is what I mostly use. I know that delicate tips are supposed to make for delicate presentations, but I try to make my casting take care of that.

I've sent an email inquiry to Cortland asking if the tip is included in the first 30' for weighing purposes. I'll post any response I receive.

Cheers,
Bob

Re: How true are Cortland Sylk lines to weight?

feeds@yuku.com (mer) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:21:01 GMT

To my knowledge, lines that fall in between two line weights can "legally" call themselves either of the two. Say you have a line that weighs 130 grains. Is it a heavy 4 or a light 5? The manufacturer can call it either. Some have started to take advantage of this; I'll offer the RIO Grand and the SA GPX as examples. The advertising copy for both state "Made half-size heavier to better load fast-action graphite rods and deliver terrestrials, nymphs,...". That indicates...

How true are Cortland Sylk lines to weight?

feeds@yuku.com (moregrayling) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 06:49:53 GMT

Hi All,

Are the Cortland Sylk lines light, heavy or true to their designated weight? Thanks for your input.

Best,
Chrsitian