[wtex50]

I just purchased on ebay a 7' .....5 wt made by Earl Taylor from an old H&I rod. (Doug McNair's Bamboo article turned me on to Earl - he does beautiful work) I have used my WF5F line with a Battenkill reel and seems to cast ok..I wonder if a DT line would be better. Anyone out there with Bamboo experience and any recommendations of a line that is good with bamboo and any reasonable priced reel recommendations....I don't like a large arbor with the bamboo.

Also...I have a Phillipson Paragon 8.6' 3 piece.... It says HDH on the line which according to what I could find on Orvis website indicates 6 wt Double Taper. I am assuming that means Silk. Am I ok using a DT5F or WF5F synthetic line?

Any help or guidance would be most appreciated as I am new to the Bamboo experience

[Salmo Nella]

Originally Posted by wtex50

Anyone out there with Bamboo experience and any recommendations of a line that is good with bamboo

I have several bamboo rods that I fish (thanks to dearly departed relatives) and I have a Double Taper Cortland "Sylk" line appropriately sized for each rod. These lines cast very well with the bamboo action and pick up very nicely from the water.The Full Creel Sells them......try this linkhttp://thefullcreel.com/product_info...roducts_id=258I think Doug M did an article on this line about 6 months ago also.You might try searching the archives for it.

[wtex50]

Thanks so much...I thought DT was the way to go...but wanted to confirm from an ardent Bamboo fly fisherman....I will get with Steve on the Cortland Silk.....If the rod is marked HDH (6 wt true silk) ....do you think 5wt DT in syntehtic is OK? also....do you have a recomendation on a light weight reel?...I ...in general....don't car much for larger arbor reels.

[Salmo Nella]

Originally Posted by wtex50

Thanks so much...I thought DT was the way to go...but wanted to confirm from an ardent Bamboo fly fisherman....I will get with Steve on the Cortland Silk.....If the rod is marked HDH (6 wt true silk) ....do you think 5wt DT in syntehtic is OK? also....do you have a recomendation on a light weight reel?...I ...in general....don't car much for larger arbor reels.

there are many other people on this forum that have better informed opinions than I on Reels. I still use Pflueger medalist reels that are 50 or more years old.
One comment though, you may find that bamboo rods are heavy enough that you do not need a really light reel to balance them.

[mojo]

Hey guys, I think the best thing to do is to use as many (brand) lines as you can, beg, borrow, steal and try one to your liking. WF, DT, TT.
. A lot of older 'boo rods (expecially in the more affordable lines) are made for wet fly fishing. Just go with what loads the rod the best.

MOjo