Line Weight Standards – A Thing Of The Past

Here is a look as to why the majority of fly lines that are available today do not mean industry weight standards. See why this is happening and what it may mean. Plus, some helpful insights you may not have known.

“Many fly fishers don’t realize that the majority of fly lines on the market today no longer conform to industry line weight standards. Check the front 30′ of ten different 6-weights, and you may find them running from 160 grains (the standard) up to 235; that’s actually a 9-weight according to the standard. I found 8- and 9-weight lines that tipped the scales as 11-weights. Many fly fishers are shocked to learn that some 5-weight lines are heavier than standard 7-weights.

If you’re a beginner, you should still probably buy a 5-weight line to go with your first 5-weight rod—it’s a reasonable starting point. But if you want to become a proficient fly fisher, you should understand how variable line weights can actually be, and how that affects your results. If you don’t understand the differences, it can lead to poorly balanced tackle, and render tackle discussions or recommendations useless because you’re not making apples-to-apples comparisons. Once you comprehend these not-so-subtle differences between fly lines, it will help you make better purchasing decisions, and put you in a position to use the best fly line for the job.”

Read more at FlyFisherman.com.

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