I spent the entire last season casting 65# spiderwire invisibraid or stealth. The color labeled as translucent.
the start of this maddness was here…Line Comparison
I like it so much I have not fished furled leaders or Level line.
What I like about it the most is its visibility. It is whitish, and I think Chris Stewart has noted that white tends to be stealthy as the sky probably reads as white to a fish. What is also interesting, is because it is translucent, it is brighter when back lit. I fish the bookends of the day a lot, so that low light angle that can make other lines hard to see, actually makes this line a touch easier. White in general is the best in my opinion. No matter the season or the backdrop. The only caveate is in winter, but the line against the water is plenty visible.
This line acts like a sighter. I think that is why I like it so much. That and I dont need to straighten it.
I tend to fish a shorter line when I am in tight quarters. A foot under rod length with a 4’ tippet. I fish a 3.8 meter rod a lot and I have casted up to 4.5m lines on it. The conditions have to be right…no or low wind.
I have had different people test this line and some have noted that it has the casting qualities of nylon.
The other thing that is nice about it, its cheap, it floats, and doesn’t seem to hold water. I have bought different weights from 80-50# in both Invisibraid and stealth. The stealth is slightly less diameter for the Lb test.
Last summer I was able to buy 150 yards of stealth for 5 bucks on amazon. Usually the prices fluctuate…and top is about at $20 for that length…but really thats like a lifetime supply of different lengths,. bargain.
the 80# is interesting but I prefer 65#
I have tested the 80# and prefer to use it in my tapered line as noted later below.
this is how I build my lines.
I fish a girth hitch so I use some red 65# power pro…you can use any line you want for this. Its just what had laying around and I like the aesthetics of it.
I use an improved alrbright with four wraps down and four back. This is a perfect knot. Leave the tags long for your rod connection loop.
wet the knot and tighten down
I use a double surgeons knot to close the loop and then burn/melt all tag ends with a charcoal lighter or match. The burning will ball up the endts. I like this as it makes it easier to pull loose the girth hitch. I cut and burn all my tags, but you have to be careful not to burn your mainline…it will just melt or weaken. You have to play with the distance from the flame.
If you burn the opposite end you can make a stop for your tippet.
I prefer a tippet ring. There are a number of manufacturers. Some better than others. Stonfo is one most people like. I have also used umpqua and anglers image. I am not sure if these are anglers image, but that brand puts their rings on a snap swivel. I now put all my rings on a snap…it makes it easier to store and install.
I use an improved clinch to attach the mainline to the tippet ring, then trim the tag, and burn the remaining fibers of the tag…
Recently I buddy of mine was raving about tapered lines. I own an insane number of furled leaders. Frankly, I am done with trying new lines. I have tested so many and own so many that I cannot buy yet another $20-$30 4 meter line. I have probably spent more on line than rods. I have an illness. With my experiments above, I just do not see the point. Its like trying every rod under the sun. If you are content with what you are using…what is another rod gonna help with your fishing?
anyway. So I built a tapered length of spiderwire at 4.5 m and at 3.9m. I used the well documented 3 segment tapered leader formula. Lengths from heavest to light…60% - 20% - 20%.
I used 80# stealth - 65# invisibraid - 50# stealth.
each connection started by burning the end to produce a stop.
then I nail knoted the lighter segment on…then repeat for the last segment.
I have cast these tapered versions and fished them yesterday. I like them. They cast rather nicely and think the longer lengths cast better than the single diameter versions of each. That taper down to 50# is really nice and delicate. The fly turns over nicely.
I did some google searching recently and noticed our very own David Walker beat me to the punch over half decade ago. I am not sure if I was even fishing a tenkara rod at that point. It is definitely worth a read.
https://www.tenkarausa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5004
I hope you guys find this info useful and if you want to try ones of these lines, I can mail you one.
