Fly Fishing Line
in fly fishing, what is the significance in matching the weight of the fly line to the weight of the fly rod?
and what resultant difficulties would arise if the wrong weight fly line (either too heavy or too light) was matched with the wrong weight fly rod?
It is the weight of the line resisting the rod during the backcast that forces the rod to "load" energy for the forward cast. Too little weight (i.e., too light of a line) will fail to load the rod properly. Excessive weight will overload the road beyond its limits.
Really, you can figure this out on your own by using just one line (preferably the line the rod is rated for). Line "weights" are assigned according to the weight in grains of the first 30 feet of line. Casting a shorter length of that same line will underload the road, giving a similar feeling to casting a lighter line. Drastically exceeding that length will overload the rod.
Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately...) there are no real standards in place, other than the traditional rating system. Rod makers today have made their rods appear powerful to the uninitiated by simply underrating them; that is, it is common for a 5-weight rod today to effectively be a 6 or 7-weight under the old standard. The newbie strings up the rod and fires cast after cast with ease with the overly powerful rod. This just adds to the confusion.
With time, you can tell when a particular line weight lacks the resistance to bring life and power into the rod, or when the line is so heavy that it strains the rod to the point that it can no longer carry the line in the air.
As far as difficulties....
With too heavy a line, the rod will lack the stored power to fully straighten the line. It will typically fall upon itself, making a mess. Headwinds/crosswinds will further exaggerate this.
With too light a line, the rod won't be as efficient at delivering the fly. It won't translate a "feel" to the caster, he himself whom feels somewhat disattached to the casting. It will just feel different.
The "too" heavy/light is relative, though. A more accomplished and skilled caster will have a greater ability to make a rod work well when it is over- or underloaded.
Like so many other things about fishing, it's:
10% science
10% technique
80% opinion
|
|
Hobbs Creek fly fishing alloy reel with spool 2 lines & boxes trout ready $33.99 |
|
|
Rio Lake AquaLux wf5i fly fishing line boxed $39.13 |
|
|
White River Superior WF8 Floating fly fishing line boxed $12.64 |
|
|
Daiwa Osprey '9' carbon trout fly fishing rod line 5/6 $45.83 |
|
|
Drennan Oxford Light Line trout fly fishing carbon fly rod $77.43 |
|
|
Irideus New 2012 6 wt 100ft Pro Floating Fly Fishing Line Steelhead Salmon Trout $18.71 |
|
|
Cortland Flat Casting Line, Flat Mono, 30 lb, 200 yds, Fly Fishing Line,Fly Line $6.99 |
|
|
BRAIDED FLY FISHING LINE 30lb/300yd HIVIS FREE SHIP! $19.79 |
|
|
Rio Nymph WF5F Fly Fishing Line $25.00 |
|
|
Rio Nymph WF6F Fly Fishing Line $25.00 |
|
|
Rio Nymph WF4F Fly Fishing Line $25.00 |
|
|
Scientific Angler Nymph WF6F Fly Fishing Line $25.00 |
|
|
Scientific Angler Nymph WF5F Fly Fishing Line $25.00 |
|
|
Rio Windcutter II WF4F Fly Fishing Line $25.00 |
|
|
Rio Windcutter II WF5F Fly Fishing Line $25.00 |
|
|
Scientific Angler Nymph WF4F Fly Fishing Line $25.00 |
|
|
Brass antique London silk fly fishing line drier folding wood handle c1905 $99.99 |
|
|
FLY FISHING LINE DT3 DOUBLE TAPER LINE NEW UK ! 100FEET $15.79 |
|
|
Rio AgentX Fly Line Cleaning Kit Fly Fishing $10.95 |
|
|
Fly Logic Fishing 4 / 5 Wt Rod Reel Royal Wulf Line Combo Kit Sock Tube Pouch $199.99 |
|
|
CORTLAND CROWN FLY ROD FISHING POLE 8.5 FT. MODEL #532 4 .25 OZ LINE SIZE 7 OR 8 $89.99 |
|
|
Scientific Angler Expert Distance WF5F Fly Fishing Line $25.00 |
|
|
Scientific Angler Expert Distance WF7F Fly Fishing Line $25.00 |
|
|
Scientific Angler Expert Distance WF6F Fly Fishing Line $25.00 |
|
|
Scientific Angler Expert Distance WF4F Fly Fishing Line $25.00 |
|
|
Flextec Fly Fishing Kit, 10' #7 Rod, Reel, Line, Sunglasses, flies $158.01 |
|
|
Scientific Angler XPs WF4F Fly Fishing Line $25.00 |
|
|
50 BUGS N GRUBS BRAND NEW HAND TYED TROUT FISHING FLIES FLY rod reel line BN X $17.38 |
|
|
Scientific Angler XPs WF5F Fly Fishing Line $25.00 |
|
|
50 ASSORTED FLIES TROUT FISHING FLY DRY WET NYMPH HAND TYED for rod reel line X $18.35 |
|
|
Flextec Fly Fishing Kit, 10' #8 Rod, Reel, Line, Sunglasses, flies $158.01 |
|
|
Airflo 40+ Forty Plus Fly Fishing Line Di3 WF8 $39.49 |
|
|
FLY FISHING REEL WIDE ARBOUR NEW Fitted AIRFLO LINE NEW $31.59 |
|
|
NEW Scientific Anglers Mastery Tarpon Fly Line WF12S Clear 110-ft Fishing $12.56 |
|
|
Airflo 40+ Forty Plus Fly Fishing Line Di5 WF8 $39.49 |
|
|
Used SCIENTIFIC ANGLERS SA SYSTEM 2 45-L 4/5 wt lines fly fishing extra SPOOL $19.99 |
|
|
SAGE SAGE Z-AXIS 7136-4 SPEY FLY ROD Line 7 13'6" New in Tube Fishing Ret. $950 $549.99 |
|
|
Sage Z-Axis 8129-4 Line 8 12'9" Spey Fly Rod New in Tube Fly Fishing Ret. $775 $549.99 |
|
|
Windcutter fly fishing Line and tips USED $24.99 |
|
|
NEW Sage Click IV Fly Fishing Reel for 5 weight line $320.00 |
|
|
Irideus New 2012 8 wt Fly Fishing Line Running line Steelhead Pro Shooting Head $38.99 |
|
|
Irideus ZEN SPEY Casting Switch Fly Fishing Rod Shooting Head Fly Fishing Line $19.84 |
|
|
Used ORVIS ODYSSEY IV fly fishing reel w/lines $149.99 |
|
|
FLY FISHING LINE Intermediate line WF7 Premier Quality $12.63 |
|
|
FLY FISHING LINE Intermediate line WF8 Premier Quality $12.63 |
|
|
FISHING LEADER LINE TIPPET TRU BLOOD KNOT TYER FOR FLY FISHING $6.99 |
|
|
FLY FISHING REEL CRYSTAL RIVER-CAHILL LINE SIZE LINE #: 5,6,7 $12.99 |
|
|
UMPQUA Russ Peak's Line Dressing fly fishing lines NEW $9.50 |
|
|
Fly Logic Center Line Disc Drag Flyreel 5 6 7 Weight Fishing Reel Made in USA $74.99 |
|
|
J C HIGGIN AUTO FLY FISHING REEL WITH LINE WORKS NICE $14.24 |
|
|
Fishing Rod 10' Shakespeare AERIAL Fly fishingrod Hi Modulas Carbon line 7/9 $42.65 |
|
|
Vintage Unmarked Expandable Fly Line Dryer Fishing $49.00 |
|
|
SOUTH PACIFIC TR 690-4 FLY FISHING ROD for line & reel $349.00 |
|
|
VINTAGE ALUMINUM DISPENDING LEADER BOX - FLY LINE CLEANER TIN FISHING TACKLE $8.49 |
|
|
Irideus New 2012 8 wt Fly Fishing Line System Running line Skagit Shooting Head $38.99 |
|
|
Silk Fly Fishing Line DT 5, Braided at 27 metres $32.00 |
|
|
Irideus Steelhead Nymph Lateral Line Epoxy Hares Ear Fly Fishing Flies Trout Fly $8.99 |
|
|
25 CORK FLOAT,1/2"BOBBER,FLY ROD FISHING Strike Line Indicator,TROUT RIGS;Ice * $7.99 |
|
|
Hook, Line and Thinker book Fascinating philosophy for angler, fly fishing $1.99 |
|
|
Vintage Fly Fishing Aluminum Beltline Belt Line Bait Box Fredd Mfg. $9.99 |
|
|
ROSS ESSENCE FLY FISHING OUTFIT 9' 4 pc. 7/8 wt. Rod, Reel, Line MINT $99.99 |
|
|
CASTING FLY REEL FISHING ENHANCED 6/5 LINE BF800B 116G $11.50 |
|
|
Vintage The Gordon 3 1/2" fly fishing reel Sharpe's of Aberdeen fly line incl $49.99 |
|
|
6 Babine Specials Fly Fishing Flies Steelhead Salmon Spey Rod Reel LIne Alaska $7.99 |
|
|
Blue Moon Marabou Tube Steelhead Fly Fishing Spey Flies Salmon Rod Reel Line $10.99 |
|
|
FLY FISHING LINE ORANGE TROUT SALMON WF-7F 100 FT $7.99 |
|
|
5 PCS FLY FISHING LEADER LINE 5X 9FT TROUT SALMON $0.99 |
|
|
Handmade PRO STYLE Fly Fishing Lanyard Line Rod Vest!!! $19.99 |
|
|
Large Arbor Fly Logic 5 6 7 Weight Fishing Reel Flyreel Center Line Disc Drag E $149.99 |
|
|
Aluminum BF1000A Line Freshwater Fly Fishing Reel Z2 $4.95 |
|
|
Fly Fishing Fly Line Cortland PreciDyna Tip WF5F GREAT $65.00 |
|
|
MUSTAD© Mason© Stren© Scientific Anglers© Line & Leader $2.19 |
|
|
Ross Evolution LT 0 Fly Fishing Reel Black with a free line $265.00 |
|
|
Ross Evolution LT 1 Fly Fishing Reel Black with a free line $275.00 |
|
|
Ross Evolution LT 1.5 Fly Fishing Reel Black with a free line $285.00 |