Ive, been reading about balanced tackle in a magazine,
about test curves and leaders ,just how do you balance breaking strain of leader to your rod??

for instant my two rods are a 7t8wt and a 6t7,, i would like know what test curve the rods are ,and what leader strength to use.

Most of my coarse rods have this written on them max line strength and hook length
,not so on my fly gear, keith

Anyway an 8# rod will be happy with leaders 10-6lb.you'll get away with heavier but not much lighter.
I was always told as a youngster that 2lb above or below rod rating would be just fine.
This does not work for salmon rods.

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

i have two rods one is a 6 -7 wychwood truefly, other one is a airflow delta is a 7-8 wt ,i also have a 6 wt orvis but daughters got that,

so why the query confused?? i dont have the ash key sign for weight,i use a mac

Means nothing to me and i'm sure too most other forumites.

But this explanes everything.
What I said still applies.regarding leader ratings

Jim

__________________
The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

Hi

I agree with Jim. My teacher was a bit tougher though ('twere an 'ard place, Govan) and didn't allow quite as much leeway - 1lb under was all I was allowed.

Malcolm

use whatever tippet to suit the conditions, fish attitude, you can easily land big fish on an 8wt rod with 3 or 4lb leader if you watch what you are doing

Think fish,why would you want to increase the risk of a breakoff.

Don't fish as light as you can,fish as heavy as you can get away with.

Jim

__________________
The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

did I say fish as light as possible? I actually said fish to suit the conditions and fish's behaviour

IM,used to match fishing using light lines, and as weather gets colder lighter still such as 3 lb and 1-1/2 lb hook lengths,
i fish heavy in summer months on the pole for carp ,but would not use more than 10lb ,and i feel sure a four or five pound carp definitely fights harder than a trout same weight,ive watched a few biggish trout caught,,the poor fish had no chance of a fair fight they were just dragged in,


i must say ive not yet caught a trout, but i will

Having caught quite a few of both on the fly over the years I'd say that this is open to question as the fight given by the two species is totally different. Carp are far more powerful in terms of stamina and pulling power by some margin but also more predictable, having none of the acrobatic qualities of a rainbow. Sudden lunges and movements from rainbows are more pronounced and common and as a result you are, in my experience, more likely to get broken by one than a carp using lighter lines.