Hi All,

As I understand things there is a scheduled weight (measured in grains) for a designated line weight. For example, a DT 1 should be 60 grains, a DT 2 should be 80 grains and DT 3 should be 100 grains. My questions are as follows:

1. Do WF lines carry the same grain weight; and
2. I would be grateful if you would post any grain weights for 3 and 4 wt lines that you know of (to the extent that different manufacturers vary in weight).

Thanks.

They're listed on the CCS information site. It's the standard AFTMA chart from 1962. Still the same.

3 = 100 grains

4 = 120 grains

This is measured on the first 30 feet of line, both for WF and DT.

Line manufacturers do not always abide by the very standards that they rate their lines by. You can weigh them yourself just to make sure.

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WF and DT line carry the same weight in grains for the first 30 feet of line.
This length is accepted for all fly line and the rods for casting them.
Attached are the weights from a common website can't remember which one, but they are not a secret.
If line manufacturers go outside these accepted standards they should note the deviation in their description. SA GPX 1/2 line heavier than accepted, RIO Grand 1/2 line heavier heavier

AFTMA Fly line weight ratings (grains)

Weight Grains Tolerable Range
1 60 54-66
2 80 74-86
3 100 94-106
4 120 114-126
5 140 134-146
6 160 152-168
7 185 177-193
8 210 202-218
9 240 230-250
10 280 270-290
11 330 318-342
12 380 368-392
Grains are weighed over front 30 feet of line.

Remember that rods are not rated by any AFTMA (or other) standards. A rod rated for casting say, a 5-weight line, may require 200 grains (or whatever) to load. The length of line required to easily load a fly rod is not set at 30 feet. On some rods it may be 15 feet, on others, 75 feet. This is why rods from different companies that carry the same line number may possess greatly different amounts of inherent power.

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Hi, Thanks guys. Makes sense. I just built up a new high end 3wt blank. I had SA XPS 4dt loaded on my reel (this is the line that I thought I would use on this blank all along), so I took it our to the park and had a few casts. The rod loaded very nicely, but it just lacked something...it seemed that something was wrong. Then I put another reel on with Airflo Technical series freshwater DT3 - totally different rod. Transformed a blank from a very nice blank to the best blank I have ever cast!

I'll make sure to use only a 3wt line on this rod, even loading in close was more comfortable with the 3wt line!

Thanks again,
G

I endorse Tom Kirkman's comments. I have a 9 foot fly rod rated as a 5 weight which I was using for shad fishing. I was using a #5 WF - F line which weighed 150 grains in the first 30 feet. I had the very devil of a time achieving any distance with this set-up. When I put a WF-F line weighing 195 grains in the first 30 feet on this rod the rig cast beautifully.
I have noticed that over lining slower (more parabolic or more full-flex rods) creates a more noticeable improvement in casting performance than over lining rods with faster tips. Can anyone confirm or deny this observation?

Too much weight on a fast action rod will overload the tip, although with a timing adjustment you can work with this. Generally, a fast action rod will handle a wider range of line weights than a slower action rod.

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