Hello All,

Did you notice Cortland is selling a WF-5.5-F?

Personally I like this approach and hope the other manufacturers follow suit. I have a hard time following along with which lines are on the heavy side (i.e. grand, GPX, etc).

I wonder how far this will go??? maybe a WF-5.25-F and a WF-5.75-F???


My .02,

CG

Cycly guy,

I dislike this approach entirely. The manufacturers have 2 choices. Either (1) stick to the standard AFTMA weight system and follow it for all lines or (2) show the grain weight profile (preferably) of their lines. Right now I can pick up Mastery, 555, and Polyfuse lines in the same line weight, weigh them out, and they will all be different. Chances are two will be within specs and one will be out. I understand manufacturing variation, but planning a line that is a little heavier to compensate for fast rods is something else altogether.

Alternatively (and my preference) would be to label at least the grain weight of the head section of the line. A weight profile would be nice, though unnecessary. Maybe 3 points (20', 40', 60'?) along the line where you know the grain weight from there to the tip.

Also just as important would be an accurate (and objective) rating for rods. An 8 wt XP has much different power than a GLX 8 wt and a TiCr 8 wt. If all were measured on the common cents system then fishermen would have a set standard to go by when they want a rod of particular power. From that point you just match the rating on the rod with the rating of the line and go. There is more resolution than with the current system and there is much less subjectivity in describing a rod.

Thanks,
Casts

By offering half weights it would seem to me like a Marketing ploy to sell more flyline. I personally do not see the reasoning behind this.

Ron

i dont understand this either. i will just stick with what i have been doing

It's already being done, it's just not advertised as being so. Two I can think of being 1/2 weight or so heavy are Scientific Anglers GPX and the Rio Grand. This half weight idea really isn't that bad. Todays faster rods will work with the rated line weight, they just work easier for some with that added oomph.
I would much rather have this than the 4/5, 6/7... that Wulff finally abandoned.
My two centavo's

I like it! Now there's a line for me to fish on my 5.5wt.!

Hello Again,

With all the different choices of lines these days and all the different tapers and plays on weight, purchasing a fly line can be rather confusing. I would not like to see the rating system that everyone is familiar with totally abandoned, but instead some adaptation or supplimentation could be useful to consumers.

As casts-by-fly points out, all of these can be and are described as 5wts - Rio Nymph, Ultra DT or WF, Wulff TT, Rio Grand - however if you start looking at 10' increments they are all very different, and only come together into a generic grouping at 30'.

Can you say "antiquated"?

CG

Cycle guy,

Antiquated isn't quite the word I had in mind. it is still a decent system if the line manufacturers would follow it or at least explain how a particular line deviates from it. The Rio grand and GPX are on the heavier side of the spectrum for a given line weight. At least say that in your marketing on the package. Instead of saying 'will turn over lots of shot' say 'is heavier than the line wt standard by x grains at y feet". Then at least the user would have a better idea.

Even better still would be going with the common cents system. For anyone not familiar, here's how it works. Rods are rated by hanging pennies from the tip of a rod that is securely mounted in a level position. You deflect the tip downwards until the deflection equals 1/3 the length of the rod (i.e. 9' rod means the tip goes down 36"). You coun how many pennies it took to hit that deflection and compare to the chart of pennies vs ERN (effective rod number). The effective rod number is a rating system that keeps every rod standard. The rods would be rated almost the same as they currently are with an ERN of 5.5 approximately equal to a 'perfect' 5 wt. I say approximately because there is no such thing as a perfect 5 wt. An ERN of 5.5 is just that- an ERN of 5.5.

From there you can also rate lines the same way. The common cents system has a simple fly line analyzer that gives the ELN (effective line number). Also you can convert to grain weight. Using the convention ELN = ERN you can find a line that is a match for that rod.

There are variables to consider. The convention ELN = ERN is based on the average caster and at 30'. If you are a really good caster, build up a lot of line speed, and are throwing longer distances you might line to say ELN = ERN - 1.0, that is put a 5 wt line on a 6 wt rod. The reverse holds true as well for a sub par caster and short casts. That input though can only come from the individual caster's preferences. For most people and post instances though, ELN = ERN is a dead match for what feels good.

For instance, when the common cents system first came out, a lot of guys went back and measured rods that they just couldn't quite find the right lien for. Maybe it was that 'fast' 5 wt that never seemed to load right. Suddenly the CC system says the ERN of that rod is 8.25. Now the person can start with an 8 wt line and viola!- it casts beautifully! Each person would find in short order what ELN/ERN correspondence they prefer for their fishing.

Then consider that a ELN of 5.5 is the center of the 5 wt grain wt range and you've got an easy way to somewhat relate between the two systems.

Thanks,
Casts

This half weight stuff is confusing. For example: when (not if) Sage decides to come out with half weight lines, will the half weight of the 00 be 00.5 or 0.5?

Hi Y'All...

Frankly, My Dear Friends - just give me the Buckskin colored 5-wgt.

Just my antiquated 2 cents wurff but I, and most newbies, can find more fun things to do than attend 2 semesters of Techincal School and three weeks of Advertising Dementia all to accomplish nothing more than find a line that will work on our flyrod. Furthermore (said the Antique) I am less likely to check and compare flylines in 10ft. increments than I am to gain Sainthood. I might do a salutory comparison of 90-ft. lengths but even that is a long shot.
IMHO, The neurotic proliferation of flyline "models" is guerrilla sales tactic pure and simple, and one of the grossest, most greedy disservices the linemakers have ever foisted on their customers.
And anyway, if I can't cast a flyline unless it is matched to my flyrod down to the 11.4th decimal, I need to start using Daiwas.

"Buckskin" please.

Best,
5/0

Hi guys,

That's the beauty of the system. If you don't care you don't have to. If you want to put a 5 wt line on your 5 wt rod just grab a line labeled 5 wt and go. You don't have to know that your rod has an ERN of 6.3. The company called it a fast and powerful 5 wt. In reality it has a moderate action and it more in line with a 6 wt for power. However for people that want to fine tune their system there is now a way to do it.

No, your rod doesn't know what line is being cast. And no the actual numbers in the system are meaningless until you apply them. However, if you have any kind of casting skill at all you can tell the difference when a rod is a 5.1 or a 5.3. If you've compared fly rods at a shop (cast them) and noticed how one 5 wt has a little more power than the other, or how one feels better with 30' of line out and the other doesn't get good until it hits 40' of that same line. Those are the differences the system measures. It does action too in a separate number.

I suggest reading about the system first before you dismiss it. Once you have a reference point for what you like in your rods (I know that I like my trout rods a little under powered (like a 5.3) for a given line and my 'longcast' rods about a half size over (like a 9.0 8 wt)) it is easy to compare across manufacturers to find what you want. The questions on this board about 'how does this rod compare to that one' would be answered much easier.

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/r...ilding/ccs.html

Thanks,
Casts

5/0,

Is that a dinosaur you are sitting on? Ha Ha

CG