While I use fluorocarbon level lines for 99% of my fishing, I always like to experiment with different materials to see what applications they might have for tenkara. Last year, I wrote a post about using Cortland braided mono running line and many people seemed interested in it. However, I recently discovered that that line is being discontinued (rule: if it’s good, it will be discontinued). Luckily, I recently got a small sample of Calcutta Ultrabraid from fellow tenkara angler David Walker and and after some experimentation, think it might make a good (possibly, better) substitute for those who like braided level lines.
Superficially, the Calcutta line looks a lot like the Cortland line. It’s thick, yellow, and, well, braided. But a couple of things differentiate the two. First of all, I wrote in my review that the Cortland line was “kinky”. You couldn’t really get the kinks out even by stretching the line. The Calcutta line seems much suppler and doesn’t kink.
Secondly, The Calcutta line floats. In fact, it floats almost as well as a PVC fly line. This is due to a coating that the company says is applied to add durability and prevent fraying. I don’t know if the fact that the coating makes it float is an unintended consequence or not, but it sure does float well.
The line comes in a variety of diameters, but the one David sent me is 130 lb. test 0.024″ (0.61mm) and that seems to be a good general size for tenkara. And because of its thickness, it’s extremely easy to see on the water.
The line can easily be attached to the lilian with a simple girth-hitch connection.
The Calcutta line casts very easily since it’s heavier and thicker than other lines used for tenkara. The extra weight loads the rod more than a traditional furled tenkara line giving good haptic feedback during the cast; however, the added weight means that you can’t keep line off the water the way you can with a fluorocarbon level line. So I think it’s fair to say Calcutta Ultrabraid is more suited to people who like to fish more of a Western style but with a tenkara rod (think Yvon Choinard rather than Masami Sakakibara). Your line will be on the water and you’ll need to make more of a Western 10 O’clock 2 O’clock cast than a traditional tenkara cast.
Overall, this is an interesting material that could have many applications for tenkara. I think it would be a good choice for those who want to fish dry flies, fish in stillwaters, or those who need a line with a little more punch to toss larger streamers.
Click here to see all the diameter options, color options, and for more info.
Calcutta is now called Kolkata. There are bait fishing like stream fishing, but no tenkara fishing
It may work well, but a 300 yd. spool is way too much.
I wonder how a smaller pound test such as the 65#, 80#, or even the 100# line would cast. It should reduce the weight of the line and make it easier to hold off the water. Just not sure how it would cast. The 65# and 80# can be bought in 150 yard length. I may have to give these a try.
Like Michael, I too am curious about the performance of lighter test lines… However, given the size of the trees I’ve caught, I better stick with the 130 lb. test… 😉
I am curious as to what line you are using to make the link between the lilian and the tenkara line? DK
Hi Dick, David sent the line to me this way with the loop already attached. It’s also Calcutta Ultrabraid, but green and in 100 lb. test: http://www.calcuttafishingstore.com/products/lines-and-leaders/ultra-braid-line-100-pound-300-yardsgreen-ub-100-g-300.htm
You could also use standard fly line backing such as Micron 20 or 30 lb for the connection. That’s typically what I use since it’s cheap and has a good grip. Hope that helps.
HI all, I emailed Jason earlier today after he alerted me that he had made this post. First I just happened to have this line. It wasn’t purchased for Tenkara line. I originally purchased it for backpacking. It was light , strong and visible. Great for extra line for stringing up tarps and such while camping. I could carry 80 ft of extra line the size of a large Bic lighter. It was on sale at West Marine when I was on the coast 4 years ago. Secondly I choose this line for tenkara just because it is approximately the same diameter as the 30# and 20# braided floating fly lines from Cortland or Airflo.
After experimenting with this line some over the winter I have pretty much concluded it is too heavy for my taste, though it does cast a nice tight loop. It cast nicely but sags to much for me.
However, I do have one line I rather like on very windy days. 1.5 m of 200# Calcutta line + 2.5m of 130 # Calcutta line + .5 m of #4 LL. On windy days when I would have trouble keeping a FC level line on the water this tapered line works pretty well. ( I might try making a similar taper line from 100# line + 80# line or 80# line + 65# line. But yellow 100# line is difficult to find in stock in 150yd or 300yd spools, usually in stock in 1500yd spool though )
The lines I mare are made somewhat imitating a 2006 post by Yuzo Sebata. 4m line + .5m of #4 LL.
http://www.ukeikai.com/a_others/tenkara_t/t04/tenkara_t04.html
He uses 3x tippet. I don’t . I use 5x tippet, so I have played around with the the LL extension, using either 3 or 3.5m LL in lengths of .5 m to 1m to make the line roll out better.
I like using the 80# calcutta line, it is .48mm in diameter. It holds off the water pretty well about like #3 LL , and thus far it seems to cast about like #3 FC LL. What is lacks in cast-ability in wind it makes up for in visibility. Against dry brown leaves on the ground in the back ground, the yellow line is just more visible than Orange or Pink LL.
I find a 4 m length + .5m to 1m length of 3.5 FC level line on the end works well. Really I like making a 1m line with loops on each end, and the second part a 3m line , also with loops on each end, + the FC LL extension. Thus I can quickly change the line from being 3.5 m to one being 4.5 m just be removing the Lillian loop, attaching the 1 m line with loop to loop connection and putting the Lillian loop on the top.
For me this was mostly just experimenting with lines. Now I no longer have to take someone else’s word for the advantage of LL over other kinds of lines. I know from my own experimenting what the differences are.
As Jason mentioned for me most of the time FC LL will be the way to go But there are some situations where I will use these other lines. Also on ebay I was recently able to find and order the same Kencraft ( Airflo) Maestro Shooting line, as shown on the Sebata webpage, though I found the 20# line same as he mentions on the text, I have yet to play around with it.
Oh, and since sending that line to Jason last Nov, I have learned how to tie the connection loops much smaller. Sorry about the long connection loop.
D
You might note Jason made a typo with the metric size of the 130 # line. it is 0.61mm not 1.61mm. Though the imperial size of .024″ was correct. I suspect Jason used the full 6 m of line I sent. I wouldn’t recommend anything over 4.5m at most. I can tolerate a little of the end of the line being on the water, but not long lengths , this line does absorb water too. And I sure don’t recommend Yvon Choinard’s method of Tenkara. It has about as much in common with what I consider Tenkara to be as the movie Noah has with the original story, not much. At least his method holds no interest for me and I wont be ordering his book. His color of tenkara has no appeal to my taste.
I had to go back to Jason’s twitter post on Nov 27 to recall what lines I sent – I sent 5m of 30# Airflo Miracle Floating Shooting Braid, 6m of 200# Calcutta and 6m of 130 # Calcutta. So Jason if you would like to try some of the 80# line let me know. I think it has some possibilities in some conditions.
Michael Prybis,
maybe you could sent your mailing address to Jason and he could forward it to me. I would be glad to sent you 6 m of 80# and 65# yellow line to play with. Though I found 65# line really light and 4m of it didn’t cast very well, it might work in a tapered line with 80# line above it. I can also send 6m of 100# line too if you’d like but I only have it in green. I have 300 yd spools of the stuff, its not like I’m going to use it all before they plant me in the ground. Let me know if your interested.
FYI Calcuttal UB line
100# = .53mm .021 inches
80 # = .48m dia .019 inches ( about size 8.5)
65# = .38mm dia .014 inches ( just above size 5 FC level line)
50# = .310mm dia .012 inches ( same diameter as #3.5 FC LL, but it is much lighter and getting close to being thin enough for a big fish to cut your hand. I really don’t think it will cast worth a darn.
Thanks for the correction on the diameter David. I’ve updated the post.
David,
Thanks for the offer but I will pass. I prefer using FC LL for tenkara. Just knowing the line diameter for the different lines sizes helped out big time. Thanks again for the offer.
Mike P.