Artificial Horsehair Line - Fluorocarbon Alternative to Furled MonoArtificial horsehair line solved the only problems with horsehair tenkara lines. I love to fish with horsehair lines. The only problems are that in the weights I like to cast, they aren't very strong, and although they're generally pretty easy to see, they really aren't hi-vis. The artificial horsehair lines were made with multiple strands of a light fluorocarbon fishing line (similar in diameter to horsehair) and constructed with the same method as horsehair line. The "hybrid" lines blended the best features of both horsehair and hi-vis fluorocarbon. They cast well and settle to the water softly. Because they are tapered, many people feel they cast better than level fluorocarbon lines. Because they are fluorocarbon, and fluorocarbon is denser than mono, I believe they cast better than furled lines made with mono. Fluorocarbon is expensive, though, and because it takes a lot of line to make a furled tenkara line, no one in the US makes one. They are available in Japan, but even there they are expensive.
The lines were made from the a bright pink fluorocarbon. To keep the hi-vis line a bit further away from the fish, the last segment was made from a fluorocarbon that is almost clear (slight blue tint). Many other fluorocarbon fishing lines are available in the US, but none of them have the same hi-vis qualities. The pink line isn't quite as hi-vis as the TenkaraBum fluorescent orange line. Unfortunately, that line doesn't come in the diameter I used for the artificial horsehair lines. To those who might question fishing with a knotted line when knotless lines are available, I would say that the advantages of fluorocarbon outweigh any disadvantages of having knots, and the goal is to fish a light enough line to keep most of it out of the water anyway. I often fish with knotted lines and haven't found them to be a problem. Sold out. My supply of the line I used for artificial horsehair is now gone. To the best of my knowledge, I will not be able to replace it, at least not with a hi-vis fluorocarbon in the same diameter.
Update November 1, 2010I have made a prototype of the line I expect will replace the artificial horsehair line. It is constructed of a thicker diameter line - thick enough that it's not really artificial horsehair anymore.The concept will be the same, though. It will be a tapered, fluorocarbon line made up of a number of segments knotted together. The taper will be created by having a different number of strands in the different segments. That is the same as the artificial horsehair lines I made from the pink fluorocarbon. Aside from using slightly thicker diameter line than the pink artificial horsehair, the main difference is that the line will be constructed from the same hi-vis fluorescent orange fluorocarbon as the TenkaraBum level lines - just a much thinner diameter than the size 3 or size 4 level lines. Once the thinner strands are twisted together, though, the finished line becomes even more visible than the level line. I fished with the prototype last weekend, and the results are very promising. I need to make - and try - lines for the different length rods, and probably a heavier taper for the Yamame and Hane, but it's going to be a very nice line. Update September 30, 2011I still have not found a taper that I am satisfied with using the thicker diameter orange fluorocarbon. I have made some lines for people who wanted heavy lines for cutting the wind or for stiffer rods, but I am not happy with the results for lines light enough for most tenkara rods. Back to the drawing board. At this point, I think I will have to sacrifice some of the hi-vis qualities in order to get a line of the right weight.If you have questions, please go to the
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