Understanding Fly Line Weights with Tom Rosenbauer 

Thanks for a lifetime of informative publications. Great video from a trusted source.

I recently went to my outfitters looking at a new rod and line combo and I asked about over lining and the salesman (a fly casting champion) took me outside with a 2 weight ESN rod with a 5 weight line through it, I was stunned at how sweeeeetly it cast a dry fly. Don’t be fooled folks do your homework on grain weights and types of line.

Great examples of rod & line compatibility.

Outstanding video. Very well explained and presented. Glad ya got your hat back too!!

I always use an 8wt line through my Sage 10' 7wt - & have done for years. I often use big flies and lures for Pike, & imitation foam bread & biscuits for Carp. The set-up is also used for summer sea fishing - Bass, Pollock, Mackerel, ect. I did try the rod with a 7wt line - but everything loads-up & feels better on an 8wt line ( im using the 'more weight to hump the end tackle out there' principle) The rod copes just fine being overloaded by an 8wt. However a 9wt did make the action of the rod feel sloppy & a bit 'flat' on the final punch of the cast, - and was obviously too much. I use weight forward & tarpon taper lines & typically 15-20' leaders. The set up works for me.

Nice video Tom 🎣👍. And great exportation of, line weight & rod capacity 👍

I agree with Ya Sir it depends on the rod ! I have an 8ft / 8wt med fast rod that does surprisingly well with a 7wt line / big bass bugs. That smaller line will outcast a 8 or 9wt with the same fly on that specific rod. Now My medium action 9ft/10 wt rod prefers a 10wt line only . Thanks for sharing so much Your wisdom and knowledge in Your videos ! Bonjour de Louisiane Mes amis partout !

Nice video with some good information! If I might ask a couple of related questions and add explanation why I ask them. Besides actually casting a variety of lines with a particular rod, how might one go about determining the proper line weight for a particular rod if it is not marked with the recommended line weight? I think somewhere in the distance past I have seen a chart that measured the rod deflection with some recommended weight hanging on the rod tip? Also, how would one go about determining the weight of a line? And do you have a recommended system for marking a line to record what weight it is after you purchase it or something similar? Too bad the manufacturers don’t mark the lines! Yes, I have a number of rods and lines of unknown weight but even if I cast various combinations and paired them up I still wouldn’t know their weights.

I fished my 8ft 4wt with a 3 wt line because my 7ft 3wt broke part way through the season.. maybe not quite as extreme as putting it on my 9ft 5-6.. but it fished just fine.

The problem is not all lines and rods are made to exact spec of what AFTMA weight they are or should be. Not only the cheaper ones but also expensive rods can be off, although they will work with their own lines. When you weigh those though they aren't the weight they are 'supposed' to be for that line class. Its really a trial and error thing to find out what line works for your rod.

Question from a novice. I have a 9ft 5/6 wt rod. So I assume you can use 5 or 6 wt line? Over sized would be 7 wt line?

Orvis Rods cast their recommended lines like a dream. Others are much different when it comes to line size and weights. Things change from rod length to action and makers. There seems the standard is up to the rod makers judgement and boy that is different for all of them. Thank you for the video it was fun watching. 🙂

Спасибо.

U need to keep in mind “setting the hook on the fish also!

The moral of the story: you can make it work.

name of the fly rod plise