Cane pole line help?

[Rapier]

Here is what you were thinking of, but note is is antique silk line and the spool is a collector's item today.

http://advertisingantiques.com/merma...ng-line-spool/

I switched to clear nylon 5-10# test back when I was a young man, just kept it straight by cutting it about 2 inches short of the pole length and putting the hook into the end of the pole when it was put up. I usually carried two poles with me to the lake, a split shot with a cork (bottle cork) and a float / swim pole. Oh, used black sewing thread to catch minnows on a 3-4 ft pole made from the tip, just split a worm in 4 pieces at the end and the minnows would grab the split worm and hang on until dropped into the minnow bucket. Catch minnows in a ditch. Bass and Specs love them.
Ed