Tenkara Furled Leaders - Horse Hair

[Deleted]

For any forum members whom furl there own leaders, I have recently come across the following article which maybe of interest to some of you:


eclecticguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Horeshair_Fly_Lines_PowerFibers_Issue_36.pdf

Once I can find a good source of good quality horse hair I will be giving it a go.

Has any one on the forum had any experience furling horse hair?

Kind Regards

Dorsettenkara

[marcouns]

Tenkarabum does horse hair kit on his web site. I have waiting in my in tray waiting to be made! Need a hand if u are answer my pm

[Paul G]

Yeah, we were fortunate to be given a hank of horse hair each by Hirata-san (he of the mamushi skin kebari) on our way to Itoshiro. He gave us a quick demonstration of hand furling.

We may be putting his demo on a new DVD after we get the current 2 DVDs complete.

[custheyder]

Very interesting article. I have access to horse hair although it won't be pure white I might be able to make some interesting mottled lines for myself to play with. Now can anyone generate more hours in a day?

[Deleted]

I have managed to source some horse hair, so will be try furling some leaders tonight.

I will keep all updated on my progress

Kind Regards
Dorsettenkara

[cm_stewart]

Nov 6, 2014 14:33:49 GMT custheyder said:

Very interesting article. I have access to horse hair although it won't be pure white I might be able to make some interesting mottled lines for myself to play with. Now can anyone generate more hours in a day?

I think Thomas Edison made some progress in that area.

[custheyder]

Thank you Chris... most helpful!

[Paul G]

Oh, just as an aside; the guy who showed myself and John how to make horse hair tenkara lines just did it in his fingers and we've made some lines back at home like this too.

It works really well.

Paul

[cm_stewart]

The Italians, who use horsehair lines for pesca mosca Valsesiana, also twist their lines by hand. That's how I have always done it - except for the first time I tried to make one, when I used the jig I used for furled thread lines and repeatedly broke the horsehair. It will not stretch when dry.

I would suggest twisting the lines by hand. It is pretty simple and works well.

[adric]

looks interesting. Can you get horse hair from violin bow suppliers?

Richard

[phil]

I've furled lines according to recipes from Eiji 'Eddie' Yamakawa from flurocarbon tippet and hand furled a line from the horse hair kit supplied by Chris Stewart (Tenkara Bum) ordered by Steve Cheetham (Tenkara UK).

I let anyone who has booked an instruction day with me the opportunity to cast a horse hair line and fish with it if they like. They are amazing lines, so different from thread constructed furled lines. Alas, I think the mastery and knowledge of their construction may be on the wane.

From my conversations with Renato Gonetto, an elder of Pesca alla Valsesiana, the nuanced construction of a line to match the waters and conditions at the time to present the most optimum cast is yet another skill that we perhaps are only scratching the surface with. Much like the skills to by found in tenkara.

After my experience with horse hair I researched suppliers in the UK and came across the following family business based in Yorkshire:

Sowden

All fascinating stuff. I'd like to spend a whole year just fishing with one horse hair line and kebari combination just to explore this in a little more depth.

Cheers and happy tenkara

Phil

[hiyabarney]

Hi there Don't be put off by the price on Micheal Snowndens site for horse hair, on Steve and Phils recomendation I contacted Micheal and managed to secure some 42" special horse hair from a split pack at a very good price. So give him a ring and I'm sure between you, something can be worked out.
I must say its very therapuetic furling sections of line ready bo be joined! Or am I just a sad git.!!!
Martin........

[Paul G]

No I defo think its inherently fun to see the strands twiddle up together. Like magic :-)