FLYMPH FORUM

Kelly L. wrote:It shows a pic of plastic spools. How much is that in US dollars if you know per one roll of Gossamer?

I ordered four spools, and the total with shipping was $18. They were on the wooden spools. You can contact him and see if he has the thread you want on wooden spools. I picked up ash and gray. I don't believe ash is made any more.

You will find that the dyes that were used a generation ago were 'vegetable' based thus giving a different and inconsistent shade. While we want the old traditional colours Pearsall's don't just cater for fly fishermen. The bulk of their trade is in embroidery.

A few years ago I won some old silk ,wooden spools, on ebay from a fellow in GB. Then I contacted him and ordered more than I won. Anyway when the silk came in there was a difference in 6B in three of the spools. I stripped off a layer or two and the color was the same so even back then there was a difference in the dye shades.

Hank, thanks. So their price is comparable. I am going to have to think this over. Either going with older Pearsall's, or trying YLI, or Clover.

Or you can try Pipers Silks here in the UK. Quality is exceptional but you need a colour chart to match up etc:
http://www.pipers-silks.com/UsefulTools ... tsMain.htm.
You will have to re-spool though and some of the threads are finer than Gossamer.

Ah, thanks. Decisions decisions. I will look at all of these later today, thanks.

Ash is no longer made, but I looked at that chart Ray had on Pearsall's. Wouldn't the Grey which is a silvery grey be the closest? I think I have two spools of grey. I won't know till I order white. Last night I ordered a few colors. *I found I had purchased a Naples silk before. I think those are mainly for rod wrapping aren't they?*
Anyway, I have not used that yet, but I think I prefer gossamer. I also bought two spools of YLI just to try out and see what I think.

Ash and gray are two entirely different colors. Ash is a very light tan.
Naples is used for salmon flies along with rods but you can unwrap the the twist and use it single strand or double.

narcodog wrote:Ash and gray are two entirely different colors. Ash is a very light tan.

The only color Pete Hidy used more than Primrose was Ash—especially with bodies made from natural Hare's fur. Like Narcodog says, the Gray is different, almost bluish-gray. But Kelly, I doubt the trout would complain if I used it instead of Ash. They might even like it better! But the Pearsall's Ash has this history, and mystique, especially now that is it discontinued.

Thanks for more thoughts on the silk issue. I appreciate it all.