Starting this week and continuing for the next several months, I’m going to feature the fishing tackle writing of one of my all-time favorite writers, Dixie Carroll (Carroll Blaine Cook). These famed pieces of tackle were featured in his great book Fishing Tackle and Kits. They are fascinating write-ups of the tackle from a contemporary perspective. Below is Dixie’s write up on the Joe Welsh "Telarana Nova" leaders. Telarana Nova is Spanish for "new spiderweb," as these were made from Spanish silk gut. As seen in the picture below, the name was retained in the post-war era with Nylon leaders.
TELARANA NOVA LEADERS
Telarana Nova Leaders.— Imported by Joe Welsh, Pasadena, Calif. The Joe Welsh Telarana Nova Leaders are wonders in the leader line. They are made of one length, without a splice or knot in it, and any fisherman knows the value of this feature alone in a leader. They are quality goods and wear till the cows come home; they carry more strength in their make-up than one would expect in a leader and you never have to worry about leader troubles when using them. Besides the strength and durability of these leaders, they have a color that blends in with the water and are practically invisible; they throw no reflections whatever and seem to blend in with the water in such a way that they cannot be seen at all. I have one of these leaders that has been used two years and it has not shown up any weakness, fraying or bad spots; it should be good for another season or the openers anyway. They come in sizes for most any kind of fresh and salt water fishing and can be had up to nine feet in length without a knot. When you figure that you can use a Telarana Nova Leader all season you gotta admit that it is some leader. Without a doubt this leader is the greatest development in the leader line since old Daddy Walton was in the game. When the water is crystal clear and the light brilliant and you have tried the ordinary gut leaders, throwing their reflection like a bright streak in the water, just tie on a Telarana Nova Leader and note the results in the creel. For their strength, the fact that they are knotless and that they are practically invisible in the water these leaders are recommended as being right and they should be carried by every fly-fisherman.
-- Dr. Todd
It's so wonderful to find this page! Joe welsh was my great grandfather and also my grandpa. and I remember watching my grandpa tie these when I was a litte girl. I fly fish and have a stash of these leaders that I still use today.
ReplyDeleteAgain, thank you for the post- part of my family history!