Hi

I just wondered if anyone knew the reason that so many rod makers use intermediate ratings such as 5/6 instead of making it solely a 5 or 6#. As there are so many of them I am guessing there has to be a reason?

Many Thanks
Dan

Well one huge reason for any company is going to be the economics of manufacturing 6 different weights of rod, as opposed to 12 or more different weights. Not only would they have to buy many more types of blanks but would also need potentially different or more machinery if the volumes they produce warrant this.

The other reason, more on the fishing practicality side of things is that most rods WILL take at least two weights of line so what's the point.... in a blunt kind of way

i would take the heavier rating as the "main" rating ,as stated above rods will take differing line weights , 1/ rating below making your rod that bit faster, 2/ the main rating, 3/ 1 rating above making your rod that bit slower, if im wrong im sure someone will put it right

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Close. the weight of line being case doesn't change the action of the rod (where the rod bends in proportion), but it does change how it feels (how much it bends overall).

Fly rods are designed to cast a range of weights. They have to because fly lines change their weight as you let out more or less line. Fly line weight standards are based on the first 30' of line. If you're casting 40' of a 5 wt line, that is the same weight as 30-35' of a 6 wt line. So to the rod, there is no difference between casting 40' of a 5 wt line and 30-35' of a 6 wt line. At the same time, you could cast 45-50' of a 4 wt line and have the same amount of rod flex.

When manufacturers label a rod with a line weight, they are saying that we expect this rod to fish well with this weight line in the intended fishing situations. There are a lot of assumptions in there. For now, let's assume the lines follow the standard weights to eliminate one. The manufacturers are then assuming a usage for that rod. For some rods it is straightforward. If you have a 7' 3 wt, chances are you're fishing smaller streams for trout or panfish. You're throwing 10-30' of line. So they will design the rod to feel good and flex with 10'-30' of a 3 wt line so that when an angler uses it in those conditions they are happy with the performance. The problem comes when the manufacturer's uses and your differ. A 9' 6 wt can do a lot of things. It can be light saltwater, medium freshwater bass, a great lakes steelhead rod, or a heavy trout rod. Each has different requirements. As a saltwater rod it is probably going to be a light bonefish rod and casting 40-80' all day. A freshwater bass rod could be that, but on a shorter distance range. A GL steelhead rod is more roll casting nymphs and indicators. Heavy trout- who knows? So which do you design it for?

To partially get around that, you label a rod with two weights. One weight for fishing shorter lines and one weight for fishing longer lines. If I want a 5 wt for fishing small streams, I'm more than likely going to pick a 4/5 or a 5 and not a 5/6.

It also is a point of marketing. A rod with two ratings looks more versatile to someone who doesn't understand that fly rods cast a range of weight anyway.

Thanks
Rick

Cheers for that Rick, very comprehensive answer!!

Many years ago, in a book that I read (cannot remember which book or by whome) it read that a fly rod rated 6 weight will cast a double taper 6 line, but will also manage a weight foreward 5 line. This is down to the belly of the fly line. The weight foreward has the belly at the front end of the line so a lighter line can be cast quite comfortably.

I think you may have that backwards. The first 30' of a DT or WF are about the same. However a DT doesn't have a rear taper- it stays belly for the length of the line so when the WF is slimming down and adding less weight per inch you let out, the DT isn't. So 50' of a DT are going to be a lot heavier than 50' of a WF.

Really, it all depends so much on the line itself too. One of the things we 'assumed' above in my post is that the lines conform to the ATFMA standards. That isn't always the case, especially when you start talking about radical taper designs. Longer, slim tapers like cortland's spring creek taper are a bit lighter than standard in my experience. The beginner lines are almost always heavier than standard. Everything else is hit or miss. Fortunatly, fly rods are designed to cast a range of weight and line so it doesn't matter as much. It will make a difference if you get used to one particular style and then move to another. I don't like the spring creek tapers at all because they don't load well enough for me on my rods. I would need to fish the 4 wt line on my 2 wt rod to load at the distances I fish. Maybe if I were throwing 50' of the SC line it would be better, but that's not when I'm fishing a super delicate taper.

Thanks
Rick

In my armoury there is a Mackenzie Philps 10 footer rated 5-9 ,and it does do all it says ,ok not as well as a more specific stick .
Were it not a 2 peice it might just sit in the boot of the car for that odd ocaision when a rod is needed ,and you dont know where you will be .
Loaded with a wf7 it is a good allrounder with a forgiving action ,for long line nymphing with a DT 5 great,and a #9 shooting head goes a long way .

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