Fly Line Head Weights
- This topic has 20 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated Jul 18, 2011 at 1:39 pm by
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Does anyone know where I can find the head weights for SA lines – the Expert Distance WF5F in particular?
Gentlemen:
I’m trying to identify new lines for two of my rods – a Winston BIIX and a Scott S4. Both 4 piece, 9 wt, 5 weights. Unfortunately these days it’s a trial and error process to determine the right line with so many different types of rods and all the new complex tapers in lines. (Yes, I’m old enough to remember when a 5 weight line was a 5 weight line!) Suffice it to say that buying $75 lines to ‘try out’ on my rods is not the optimum methodology. So, I decided to do a bit of homework first.
What I’ve tried on the rods so far:
Line
Zach is dead on with the “by feel” comment. Hence, my need to cast a bunch of lines. Especially when one ads the third variable – casting style.
Michael, wulff TT and winstons go together like peanut butter and jelly
did you try a GPX taper or half size up taper on the scott? that might help but sometimes a heaver front head makes for hard presentations
Another vote for the GPX on the Scott S4 #5.
Comparing head weights is one thing, but are you casting an equal length of line each time you test the different tapers?
Another long distance line to consider is the Barrio GT140 which has an 88′ head ( :o) http://www.flylineshop.com/barrio-fly-lines.html
Best Regards,
Beechy
Zach- thanks for the welcome. I enjoy the content and found the articles pretty interesting.
Michael’s numbers are interesting. Below are the grains per foot of head.
Line Head Length Head Weight Grains/foot
Rio Gold 47′ 228 4.85
Rio Trout LT 47′ 240 5.11
Wulff TT 40′ 192 4.80
Rio Windcutter 43 190 4.42
SA Expert Distance 69 310 4.49Most are in the 4.5 to 5.0 grains/foot range. My point about line rating being determined by the first 30 feet is that the standard is at a fixed distance on the line, not by head length. Given how close the weight/length of the heads are, at 43′ (the shortest head length of the bunch) I would guess that most of the lines still have a comparable weight. Michael’s table shows that it quickly changes beyond that point. As Chris hinted, maybe a better comparison is looking at differences in the weight of the line at the point that Michael typically carries.
As the articles mention, this is only one element in the equation. Interesting discussion.
Because the line tapers and varies in diameter, you cant assume a uniform Grains/Foot metric. Only level lines maintain a constant grain/foot number.
Chris nailed it by saying:
Comparing head weights is one thing, but are you casting an equal length of line each time you test the different tapers?
The AFTMA Standard for line weights was developed to keep things simple. Once you start considering head weights, things get way overly complicated because 90% of anglers are not fishing the entire head but more likely within 30′ mark (hence the standard). Of the remaining 10%, only half of those are fishing distances beyond 50′. Obviously members of this board are above the average angler, but I highly doubt many of you are consistently making 50′ casts for rising fish. If you are, consider getting a bit closer to your target without scaring it and I will guarantee your catch rates go up.
Obviously, rods are getting faster which is leading to lines getting heavier – which can lead to some confusion on what to buy. However, all major line manufacturers are calling out which lines are for ‘fast-action rods’ and which are not. You’ll see things like, .5 heavy or 1.5 heavy. Shooting heads are the only lines that really need to be classified in terms of head weight because it’s the only line that anglers consistently use the entire head every time they cast (which is still only about 30′ – they shoot the rest of the line). Hence why our Streamer Express series is classified in grains and not WF #.
I work with customers every day to help decipher the best line for their new rod. Never do I give them the head weight or even the grain weight within the first 30′ because this just confuses people in the end.
I am fishing a somewhat unique situation here. The Delaware River system (West Branch and Main Stem primarily) require casts to rising fish of 60-70 feet with #16-20 dry flies. Any closer than 50-60 feet and you will never see the fish again.
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