Fishing Q&A

Fly fishing?

I bought this new fly line a few days ago to replace some cheeper line I got with the pole. The new line is White River Fly Shop™ CV2® Fly Line from Bass Pro http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_25195_175003001_175000000_175003000_175-3-1. It's 2x as light as my other line and half the diamiter and its tappered. I made sure its the same weight as my other line and my pole wich is 5wt. I'm having a much harder time casting the new line compared to the old line. I am thinking I need to break it in. What do you think the problem is?

Public Comments

1. There are several factors in play here at to what the problem could be. First off, you original line is also tapered, either as a weight forward or as a double tapered line. If you closely examine it while you pull it through your fingers you will see the tapering effect. So, check it out to see if it is a double taper or a weight forward. The weight forward will have all of the weight up front, first there will be a short 6 inch to 12 inch small piece then the diameter will increase rapidly as you go back down the line then it will taper down to a smaller running line diameter and it will stay that way all the way to the end of the line. A double taper will be the same at both ends. It starts off thin then slowly builds to a fuller body which continues until you start tapering back down at the other end. Confirm that you purchases the WF-5-F line, 38-425-044-05 and that they didn't accidentally send you the 3 weight line. If it is a 5 weight line then check your fly rod again to make sure it says it is a 5 weight rod. After checking all of the above, then what you are looking at is one of two things. Either the line is made too light for the stated size (not very likely) or the rod is designed to be very stiff and needs a heavier line to load the rod. Most lines are made by one of two or three manufacturers to the specifications of the company buying the line. Not all fly lines are the same. Some fly lines will not work on a given rod but a different companies fly line will work. Without a fly shop around, it would be hard to find a good line for your fly rod. Your fly rod is most likely the 'culprit'. I guarantee that not all rods are made the same. I have cast some that were broom sticks, making them very difficult to cast. Every company has their idea of what a fly rod should do and how it loads. That is why it is nice to have a fly shop to go to so you can try out fly rods to see which ones fit you better. First off, go back to your original line. Measure the line and mark it with a black marker, just a thin line, showing where 30 feet is on the line. Do another one at 40 feet. Now strip out line so the 30 foot marker is at the tip of the rod and cast with it. Don't let out anymore line, just make some false casts. Does the rod load up? Does the weight of the line cause the rod tip to bend as you go back and forth. Remember to stop in each direction, so the line can shoot forward and load the rod tip. Now let the next 10 feet out so the 40 foot marker is at the tip of your rod. Does it still load up? does it feel better than at the 30 foot mark? How much is the rod bending or loading? Take that off and put on your new line. Measure out 30 feet, but don't mark it if there is a chance you have to send it back. Just don't let anymore line go out. Now false cast with it. What is your rod doing? Is it loading up as much as with your original line? Is the rod loading up at all? Stop and measure out another 10 feet and false cast with that. Does it feel the same or does the rod load up even more? If you decide that the rod doesn't load up very well with your second line then that line is simply not going to work with that rod. I would suggest you hang onto it for when you buy your second fly rod :). Go back to casting with the original line that came with the rod. If you know of anyone else who is a fly fisher and if the happen to have a 7 weight line (not a size used by many people), you could borrow their 7 weight line to see how it feels on your rod. Many people will have a 6 weight rod and line. It is not uncommon to oversize or sometimes undersize the fly line for a rod, depending on the rod and how you are fishing it. You may need to look at trying out a heavier line. Possibly a 6 weight, but if the 5 weight line you bought doesn't load the rod, you may need a 7 weight line to do the trick. Larry
2. from what you are saying ......."it's a 2x " ............"my pole which is 5x". A 2x line on a 5wt rod dosen't cast worth a damn ! send it back if you can and get a 5wt Line for your rod. A 2x is usually a tippet measurement not a flyline measurement. Flylines are 3wt , 4wt, 5wt, etc. not x's.
3. a 5 wt line should weigh in at 140 grains, with a tolerance of 134 at the low end and 146 at the high end. This is according to AFTMA standards. If the fly line you purchased is twice as light, it cannot be deemed 5wt line. Weigh your old flyline and your new flyline, if the weights match, then it is 5wt line, if they don't......... Sagefish has a valid point. Not all flylines work well on every rod. I know from personal experience which ones work best on my rods. This has to do with the company's manufacturing techniques and how they taper their lines. Not all weight forward lines are tapered the same way. Also: "It's 2x as light as my other line and half the diamiter and its tappered." Ok..........you may have put the line on backwards. If you did, the rod will not perform. Try taking the line off the reel and respooling it reversed, this may solve your problem. Reason being is that you said the line is 1/2 the diameter of your old line. Weight forward lines are naturally thicker in the front section and have a long "belly" of thin diameter line to the end that attaches to the backing.
4. Pretty dang good answer Larry! Without seeing the askers form and assuming its good I'd say you have the best answer. Asker, if you have as good fly shops as I do around me, take your reel with you to one of them and ask them to show you rods suited to what youre after. Ask them if they have a demo casting area and try the rods with your setup to see what kind of results you get.
5. Based on what your saying in the question, the line is VERY different from the old line. The rod that came as part of the package was chosen to be able to load the rod sufficiently to cast it. The new line may not carry enough forward weight to load the rod I've found that going a line weigh heavier than the rod weight eliminates that problem.