Not too long to wait ...

As the opening of the new trout season draws ever closer, my thoughts turn away from Grayling and are redirected towards those beautiful wild trout of the Yorkshire Derwent - and the 'tackle tart' within me reaches for the glossy catalogues which drop through the letterbox on a daily bases, in the hunt for even more gear to hide from my wife - you'd be amazed at how many order we deliver to work addresses!

If I were to select just one item of equipment that I think has rekindled my passion for fishing our local small streams, it’s the use of a silk line - I’ve found nothing better for presenting small flies on long light leaders, and it really does put the ‘art’ back into casting.

I started on my own silk route early last year and it has completely changed the way I feel about fly fishing.

Don't get me wrong, I still love plumbing the depths with nymphs for Grayling, but when it comes to small streams and even smaller flies I instinctively reach for my silk line - the presentation is so much better, and it just makes me feel much happier! They are also very simple to care for (see below).

Don't think that to get the best out of a silk line you need a cane rod - just try one on a medium action carbon rod - or better still a glass rod - there really is nothing better.

I'm sure that at some point in your fly fishing odyssey you have contemplated using a silk line, if so:

Read on McDuff ...

What better way to prepare for the upcoming season than with a silk line, especially when said line is made right here in the UK, Sheffield to be precise, by a guy called Ian.

These silk lines have been designed and made with a 'fine tip' which effectively means they have a very thin 'built-in' furled leader, so you just attach a level piece of tippet to the end.

Ok, so why should I use a silk line then? We're glad you asked:

• They have no memory - completely limp
• There's no stretch - improved hookups
• They are denser than plastic fly lines and therefore much thinner, and thinner lines mean much less wind resistance
• They float better than plastic fly lines - they float on the water surface, not in it making roll casts and mending line much easier
• You get 3 lines in one; When fully greased it's a floating Line, grease everything except the tip and you have a midge-tip line, don't grease it and you have an intermediate/sinking line
• They can last a lifetime - so long as they are cared for and stored correctly a silk line can last a lifetime - and indeed will get better with age

We've just received a parcel here @ Barbless Flies HQ - direct from Ian in Sheffield and it's full of silk fly lines - we've now got these stunning full-length silk lines in the most popular weights (DT3, DT4 and DT5) and colours (Light Straw, Burgandy & Black).

Each of our Silk lines are sent in a handy box (to keep them in when not on the reel), a pot of floatant grease, a microfibre cloth (to clean/help dry them) and full line care instructions.

These lines are made in the UK (in Sheffield, Yorkshire to be precise), by Ian Moxon and are great value for money, these fully finished lines are now available for immediate delivery, only £99.99 - which for a silk line is great value.

For Today Only: As an added incentive, if you order a silk line today, we will even send it to you 1st Class at no extra cost tomorrow. We can't say fairer than that.

*** We've only 3 or 4 of each weight of line - and no more stock arriving until June, so if you would like one, you will need to be quick ***

Please Note: We do realise that silk lines may be very new to some of you, and you will have some questions. Please either reply to this email, or give me a call on 0330 66 00 587 and I will answer them as best I can.

A Message from Iam Moxon (the maker) about traditionally made Silk Fly Lines:

“My new silk fly lines are usually a bit stiff and a bit rough to start with (and that is normal for a properly made silk fly line). The line will become softer and more supple over the course of the first half dozen fishing trips and nothing should be done to try and accelerate that process. Before each fishing trip apply a thin layer of line grease. After your fishing trip pull the line off your reel in loose coils into a cardboard box to dry (or put onto a line dryer if you have one). Never grease a wet silk fly line as that will trap the moisture inside and prompt rot. Occasionally a silk line will become sticky/tacky for no apparent reason (usually due to old line grease/residue) and if that happens wipe the line down with white spirit."

"All my line are made from unbleached raw natural reeled silk (reeled silk is the best grade of silk followed by spun silk and then bourette). The raw silk goes through the following processes - skein washing (to remove the serracin, also known as degumming), dying if applicable, bobbin winding (various deniers), braiding (tapers are constructed by braiding), loose ends trimmed and burnt, vacuum impregnation with traditional varnish (essentially linseed oil and natural resins - various coats), polishing, leader loops added, weighed and measured and finally coiled up."

"Because my lines are constructed in the old tradition way, there my be some very small lumps / bumps and small cosmetic marks. However, each line has been inspected inch by inch (by me) and no lines go out which won't cast well and catch fish. As with any maker's traditional silk fly lines, they always become softer and smoother over the course of the first half-dozen fishing trips and nothing should be done to try and accelerate that break-in process. All those lines have very fine tapered tips and my own micro braided leader loops attached."

They're Flying Out Of The Door ...

We've just had to reprint our 2023 River Fly Anglers Almanac, so if you've thought about buying one over the last few days and saw they were out of stock - they're not now.

We've just received more and they are looking for new owners, they're really easy to look after, just turn a page every now and then and they're happy: