Hi everyone,

I'm fairly new to the sport and just wanted to know if there are any advantages/disadvantages to heavier fly line, like 7-8 line.

Thank you

Hi jonnyboi,
It is important to match the weight of the flyline to the AFTM rating of the rod.This is a method of rating the tackle manufacturers use to ensure that you get the best out of the rod. For instance if you have a rod rated for a 6/7 line that means it will handle lines of six or seven weight.This ensures that the rod will not be overloaded and will cast to the rods best advantage.
There is no disadvantage to using 7 to 8 lines neither is there any advantage, match them to a rod that will handle those weights of flyline and they will be perfectly good for purpose.I fish mostly reservoirs and stillwaters and use six and seven weight lines most of the time.
If you intend to fish smaller rivers or streams then scale down to perhaps a 7'6" 3/4 weight for streams and perhaps an 8'to 8'6" 4/5 for larger rivers.
Hope this helps a bit.
Cheers
tynteboy

As tynteboy60 has pointed out, but i would say that 7/8 lines are pretty heavy for most flyfishing work, on rivers you really only need upto a 5# and most still waters 5-7# 6 being what most seem to prefer, i started with a 7-8 # rod but soon found it heavy on casting, so now stick to a 5-6 or if windy a 7# it does help alittle in the windy conditions, one thing i found works for me is the rod line weight will have two numbers ie: 7-8 i take the higher number as a weight forward line and the lower number for a double taper line as it will be alittle heavier, that way you shouldnt over stress your rod, but if you can stick to a 6# as most of yer fishing if still waters , this will surfice quite happily in a 9-9.5ft, if a resy the perhaps a 10ft 6 or 7#, it will really depend on were you are likely to do most of yer fishing

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It all depends where you are fishing, if its a small stillwater you would be better with a 8 ft 6 or a nine footer with five lines,
you get a beter fight on lighter lines.
On rivers if Fishing for Trout and grayling you can drop to Three or Four lines.

I think you'll find that a 9ft 6" #6-7 weight rod matched with a #7 weight-forward (WF) line suitable for most reservoir/large still-water fishing.

For small still-waters a 9ft #5weight rod is ideal.

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Will captivate a greedy mind - Isaac Walton.

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You're getting towards single handed salmon and predator work here. A heavier line is required when you go up to larger fly sizes in order to turn them over effectively. As has already been said #5 to #7 will do you for most river / reservoir work, unless you want to maul out something like a mop head. Then go to your #8 to #10.......................birdsnest

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Fear not if I steal from your side, as of yore, from paradise streams to fish Teifi once more.
BN based in Wolverhampton

4lb fish go like stink on my 9' #5 Hardy Demon & I only fish small stillwaters.
Trouble is, I often use my own heavily leaded nymphs & these do need a heavier line to cast properly. Therefore I also have a 9'6" #7 x-flite which I take along as well.
It all depends on how much you can spend & what style of fishing you do.
I suppose a 9'6" #6 is a good compromise if you're in to compromises.

As a couple of the guys have indicated, the biggest factor in the choice of rod weight is the fly. If you are hurling heavy lures to the horizon, or chucking 6inch-plus pike flies, then you need a rod rated towards the higher end of the scale.
For general trout fishing, you won't go far wrong with a 9ft rod of 5 or 6 weight.
Once you become proficient you can always use a lighter line and aerialise a bit more, or a heavier line and aerialise a bit less.
It's the weight of line outside the rod tip while casting that matters, so unless you can carry 30 feet or so of line in the air (this is the length which is weighed to give a line its rating) then you will probably find it easier to over-line your rod by one weight -- say a 6wt line on a 5wt rod.
Cheers,
Angus