Coarse fishing rods are test curved.... by using a spring balance and judging the maximum 'bend' figure.... How is an aftm measured? Reason? I have cast 3 lines with a 6 rated rod... I have cast 4 lines with a 7 rated rod.. I have cast 3 lines with 7 rated rod..... we may talk of balancing leader to line ratio's too... but, having a flyline of say 30lbs bs (aftm3?).. then a braided butt section of an even greater bs..... tied to say? 4lbs tippet tapered down to 1lbs-2lbs... hmm?? balanced?? Anyway, enough to be going on there.

Martin,

Take a look here:

http://globalflyfisher.com/fishbette...eads/aftm.html

Also explained here:

http://www.sexyloops.com/beginners/lesson2/aftm.shtml

Unlike in coarse fishing where the actual rod is rated, it's the line that governs the rating for fly rods. The line comes first, then the rod is matched to the line.

Kind regards

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Phil Holding
www.flytyingboutique.com
Airedale, North Yorkshire

The AFTM of a line is worked out from the weight of the first 30 feet of line in grains



The line rating of a rod is determined by testing the rod with different AFTM lines and seeing how they load up

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You could try the Common Cents approach.

http://www.common-cents.info/part3.pdf

This is supposed to be pretty accurate for people building their own rods from unrated blanks.

The full text on the method is here.

http://www.common-cents.info/

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Don't worry, be happy.
Sandy
Carried it in full, then carry it out empty.

thanks gents good posts!

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an interesting mix of apathy and panic

Clive M

line manufacturers standardise lines by the weight if the first 30 feet, icky's chart shows the weights of respective lines, the weight should balance the casting strength of the respective AFTM rated rod.

an interesting point is that any given line, ie. a #5 can become a #6 or more with more line out or a #4 with less.