Hi, wonder if anyone can help. I have recently renovated a cane rod that had been badly renovated a few years earlier. However during the earlier renovation the original owner removed the decal that obviously had the line weight on it. So how do I go about estimating the line weight to use with it. at a guess I'd say it was between a 4 and an 8, it has a half wells handle and is 10 foot long. Is there a technique to find the line weight?

Not that I know of. The only way is to find a line that suits, starting with the 4 and working up till you find the one which suits the rod.

__________________

ukflydressing A UK based fly tying site packed full of flyting tips and photographic step by steps. Now with added fly fishing section.

In order to estimate the line weight required, attach a fixed spool reel loaded with nylon. Start casting small lead weights, increasing the weight until the rod feels right. This is easiest to do if you tie a small bag to the line and put the weights in the bag.

When it feels right, which is easy to determine, as it will cast easily and a long way with the right weight, follow the instructions below.

Too much weight and it will start to feel sluggish, and wont cast as far. Too little and it wont cast very well either. This is very easy to feel.

The optimum weight = the maximum distance.

Weigh the weight you are casting, divide it by three, and compare it to the following table;



If you are casting one ounce, then 1 oz/ 3 = .333r oz you have a #5 weight.

If you are casting 1.5 ounces, then 1.5oz/ 3 = .5oz you have an #8 weight

If you want to be much more accurate then go here;

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

The article of main interest to you is this one;
http://www.common-cents.info/part3.pdf

EDIT A 10 ft cane fly rod is most likely to be in the #6 to #8 range anyway, and most likely an #8.

Unfortunately the board software reformats the weight table. But it should be clear that the last figures in the table lines are ounces. A #5 weight will cast a full five weight line weighing
0.96 ounces. Dividing by three gives you the (rough) weight of 30 ft of #5 line, which is 0.32 ounces.

EDIT. Tried to reformat the table properly, but it wont work, so I plugged the table in as a picture.

The original decal would probably have not been much use to you anyway, as older cane rods use the old silk line system which was dependent on line diameters, ( silk always weighs more or less the same for the same diameter). As a matter of interest, you can find them here;
http://www.orvis.com/detail.asp?subj...oup_id=&bhcp=1

TL
MC

You could measure it using the CCSystem.
From the result you will be able to accurately match it to an AFTMA line weight.

If you need more info. drop me a PM.

Dave.

Isn't this place brilliant, I know now.

__________________

ukflydressing A UK based fly tying site packed full of flyting tips and photographic step by steps. Now with added fly fishing section.

cheers! he's like a walking encyclopedia of fishing....right need a small bag and loads of split shot!

You can use coins, marbles ( if you still have them! ) or anything really. It does not have to be lead. You just need to know the weights.

Quite a few people come around to my house wanting rods checked, especially old cane rods, and throwing weights is the easiest and quickest way to do it. It is also pretty accurate.

The Common Cents system is extremely accurate.

TL
MC

mike, i can't find the article in FFFT, can you give me a referance to the common cents system,

jim

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

FFFT ? No idea about that. Here is the link to ( Dr.) Bill Hanneman´s system;
http://www.common-cents.info/

TL
MC

This incidentally is extremely germane to the description, properties, and appraisal, of any rod, most especially modern ones. Indeed, it will allow practically anybody to become an instant expert....................

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

TL
MC