Hey guys, First post, have been gleaning info for a while. I have a question that I hope I'm on the right forum to get answered. I used to do a lot of fly fishing and recently got back into it after a 20 yr. sabbatical, my old rod was a Sage 2 7wt. I have taken an interest in creek fishing and built myself a 5 wt rod on a Batson rx7 blank. The trouble I'm having is casting the rod. I have to have absolutely perfect timing to get any distance at all, if I'm out even a sliver of timing the cast just falls flat on it's butt. I realize that it is just a five weight but I thought for sure that it would be a little more forgiving than that. My brother gave me a Gloomis 6wt rod to try and it was night and day difference, a little flick of the wrist and zip it was out there. So my question is would it be worth it to try a different line, I'm thinking of going to a 4wt and see if it would make a difference, problem is I don't know anyone that has a 4wt and I don't want to waste money, I figured you guys would have way more experience than me and might shed some light on this for me. The rod feels really quick in my hands, but when I cast it, it seems to be a noodle. I'm not trying to disparage the blank, just seeing if anyone has any ideas, maybe I'm expecting to much? Thanks for reading Denis

More than likely you don't have the right line on the rod for the distance you're casting and fishing.

If you think it's soft or has too little power, try a lighter line. Conversely, if you can't seem to get it to come to life, move up a line size.

When you have the right amount of weight on rod, it's easy to cast. The key with a fly line is to remember that as you more or less line beyond the tip, you change the amount of weight you're hanging on the rod.

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Thats my question. WHat weight line and is it sinking or floating?

Kevin Knox
ANGLER'S ENVY CUSTOM RODS
QUEEN ANNE, MD 21657
#_#_#_#_#
www.anglersenvy.com

Doesn't matter which line, I have a floating and a sink tip. As to Toms comment, might be a clue. It feels really good with a short line but as soon as I try and push the distance, unless my timing is perfect, the line just gets blown done by the slightest breeze. It just feels weak with a long line? That's the best way I know how to explain it.

I fish Batson RX-7 blanks and i love them. I would try a lighter line. DId you spine the blank properly when you built it?

Kevin Gross
Many men will spend their whole life wondering if they made a difference. Marines dont have that problem - Ronald Regan

Not an expert by any means,first build, but I did a ton of reading and I'm pretty sure I did it right. I'll try and find someone with a 4wt line to try out. What are the chances I got the wrong wt blanks shipped to me and how would I know?

The best thing is to as Tom stated try different lines

A blank has to have the right amount of weight to load it to - spring - the weight forward Weather it is line or lure it is still weight

You can call the Batsons and ask about what you got They will be glad to help

Try that 6 wt line of your friends and see how the blank handles it

Bill - willierods.com

If you have a fly shop near you, ask to demo some different lines, with your rod. Most will have reels lined for the various rods that they sell.

George Forster
Fort Collins, CO

Denis,
I am inclined to think the rod is under-rated and requires a heavier line.
I've had rated 5 weights that didn't cast well until an 8 weight line was utilized.
If you give the rod blank specs ( butt dia, tip dia, length, weight ) I could give a suggestion for proper line weight.


Eugene Moore

I had the same experience as Eugene, their 5 weight carried 70 feet of 8 weight line in the air with ease for me...I'd try a 5 or 6 line on it.

Check to make sure you have the line on the reel correctly. I went fishing with someone and we discovered his fly line was on backwards. He was trying to cast the level part of a weight forward, instead of casting the thicker belly.

The lines are on correctly one has a different color sink tip and they both have a little bump when the WF part ends. I've tried my old 7wt on it but don't remember what it did, that was in the fall. I'll have to try my bro's 6wt and see what that does. The rod is 9' witha .365 butt and a 4.5 tip. weight is 1.74 Thanks for the help guys.

Denis,
Calculations suggest the rod is a fast action 6 weight. Not really that far off.
You might also need to up the casting tempo to put more power in the rod.

Eugene Moore

Try the 6 and 7 just to be sure

Bill - willierods.com

If you're up to speed on the CCS, you can take a simple measurement and know for certain how much power the rod has and then figuring the right line for any distance is pretty simple.

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Where would I find this information, I saw some numbers on the mud dog sight and thought that might be useful, but where would I find out how to measure. Thanks all for your replies!

Very interesting, went on the common cents info web site and studied the document for 2 hrs last night. Set up a test for the rod this morning, turns out my 5wt mod fast rod is a 4wt mod bordering on slow rod. Cents 40 = ern 4.9/ AA 60. Quit useful, as it fits with what the rod was telling me, timing had to be perfect and no reserve power. Any comments?

The RX7's are not the quickest sticks out there either so your casting stroke may need to be adapted a bit. If you are getting ahead of the rod, you won't get it to load properly and hence the dud. Good luck.

You are correct Todd, as I said if my timing was not spot on everything just kind of fell. Problem was by the time my backstroke was straightening it was also in the grass.