Overloading...

[cchobot]

Sitting in the shop today when the topic of overloading the fly rod w/ a heavier line came up... Any thoughts? What have been your observations with this process?

[doyle007]

I think that a lot (not all) of the people that need to overline their rods are poor casters trying to use tools to make up for their shortcomings. A poor technique will never get better without practice, and very few people practice their casting. Instead, they throw on a heavier line, and get some extra distance.

Another reason that people overline is that rod ratings are arbitrary, meaning that company A's nine weight would be considered a ten weight with company B, and maybe an eight weight at company C. For instance, I've measured a few of my rods using the Common Cents Rod Rating system (google common cents to find out more), and a 9 weight came in as an 10.64 weight rod, a ten weight rated about 11.75, and an six weight came in about 4.75. What this means is that my 9 wt would cast better with a 10 wt line, my 10 wt would cast better with a 11 wt line, and my 6 wt should have a 4 wt line. You can check the ratings of a lot of rods if you get yourself to the Super Bob site (again, google it).

With all of that being said (or typed), there are many situations in which you would want to use a heavier line, as well as using a lighter line. However, you shouldn't just throw on a heavier line to make up for poor technique. Use the right tool for the job, and you'll be happy.

I hope you enjoyed my two cents.

[cchobot]

Great Post, That's what we want to see on here. Here's the links to some of the resources Doyle was talking about:

Common Cents

Super Bob

[FishHawk]

Agree, everyone has a different casting style. It's probably the biggest problem today is matching your rod to the proper. For example, I have a T&T 9wt Horizon II and it can cast several lines very well. I use a Airflo 400 grain line on the rod and it's a cannon. It will also handle a 325 line with no problems.
Where I get my problem is with the floating lines. If I use a 9wt line it doesn't cast that well for me. There are many factors and one of them is my style.
I do think that saltwater floating lines are much stiffer than fresh water lines and that might contribute to the problem. FishHawk

[ron-fish]

Fishawk- Since you say you have no problems casting what amounts to an 11 and 12 weight line with your rod you might want to check the weight of the "9wt" floater's head. A 9wt line should be about 240 grains for the first 30', but many of the lines are alittle longer therefore they weigh slightly more. I have a 9wt SciAngler floater with the 45.5' head and it weighs in at 330 grains. If I can get the entire head out of the rod tip my rod feels loaded. Sometimes its diffficult to hold that much line in the air, so I've opted for the SciAngler 10 wt with a 37.5' head and weighs in at 330 grains. The only way to really know if the line is going to match the rod is to weigh the line, especially if you like the way one line casts with the rod and know its weight. The line scales aren't that expensive and they save alot of expense on our part.
I also have a 10wt rod that threw a nice line(floater), but when I replaced the line the rod cast like garbage. I weighed the new line and the old line and the new line was 280 grains and the old line was 330 grains both with the same length head, but different companies. Sure makes things confusing. Ron

[greenie]

I bought a scott sts 9wgt 9' 3pc. and had a lesson with it. When I went to buy line, I told the orvis store I was looking for line for my new 9. I boght orvis depth chage in 9/300 grain and 9 wgt clear intermediate. Cant feel the intermediate load. Will try to throw the depth change this spring. This year boght a TFO 10' 4pc 6wgt to use for trout and bass, and in the salt estruaries. For that rod, the advice was line up 1, so I got a 7wgt floater and intermediate.

It a shame there is no way to set up with a line and be sure of the performance. I cannot afford to by lines until I ht on the rght one.

[greenie]

took up fly fishing last year. got a scott sts 9wgt (a fast rod) on closout. Went to an orvis store and got 9wgt floating and interdiate. only used the intermediate, but cannot feel it load.

This year, got a TFO 10' 6wgt 4pc med fast action. Dealer said upline it 1. and did so with a floater

One cannot find shops with a variety of l ines to try to see whats best for the strok.