I ended up buying an unsigned / unmarked 8'6" 3/2 bamboo DeBell / Phillipson rod this morning. It is in great shape, with no damage or repairs. Now I
need to rig it up. I was told it was a 5 wt, but have also learned that this length could be 6wt. How can one tell without buying several weights of line to
test it out? Can some measurements be taken? Please help a newbie!
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help with choosing correct line weight
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 KevinP |
help with choosing correct line weight |
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Posts: 3 06/25/2009 13:39 |
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mer |
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Posts: 3110 06/25/2009 13:52 |
Do you currently have a 5 or 6 wt DT line on a reel? If so, go outside and string up the rod with it. Pull off 38.5 feet from the reel (giving you 30 feet
outside the tip guide) and lay it out straight on the grass in front of you. Without hauling or letting out more line false cast a few times. How does it feel?
If the line is a 5, strip off 10 more feet (giving you 40 outside), if it is a 6 pull in 10 feet (giving you 20 outside). False cast again. Does it feel better
or worse? If the line is a 5 and it feels better with 40 ft of line, you may want to use the rod with a 6. If the line is a 6 and it feels better with 20 ft,
it may be a 5. If it feels better with 30 ft, then use that. One could say that "it's whatever line size works best for you at the distances you are
going to fish it", so this exercise isn't exactly as pointless as it sounds.
If you have calipers or a micrometer, measure the the size of the male ferrules. Often that is a clue to the line size. I don't know what the measurements would be for the different sizes, but if you can get them, someone here can probably help. |
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KevinP |
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Posts: 5 06/25/2009 15:42 |
mer--Thanks, that sounds like a very sensible solution. But, I will have to try it with a WF5F Rio Gold, as my only other line is a DT4F Cortland 444.
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mer |
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Posts: 3111 06/25/2009 17:25 |
Ok, the Rio should be close enough to 140 grains for the first 30 feet, so pull out 30 feet of that and false cast. Then to simulate a 6 wt, pull out line
until you are at the back taper (probably about 42 feet or so, rioproducts.com has good info) and false cast that. About 45-50 feet of the DT4 would be close
to a 6wt at 30.
The best thing about line weights on bamboo rods: they're a starting point. For your style and normal fishing distance you may want up or down a weight; don't let anyone tell you "it's wrong". |
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KevinP |
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Posts: 6 06/26/2009 12:35 |
So, I played around using the Rio Gold WF5F today. It seemed to cast fine in short casts, but I had a very difficult time trying to keep the whole head of the
line in the air during false casting. I worked on my casting stroke and tried different things, but could not seem to keep more than about 30-35 feet of line
up in the air. On shorter casts, it was beautiful. Keep in mind, I am new to all this--my longest casts are about 50' with my fast, graphite
8'6" rod, but I have no trouble picking up and laying down about 40' of this same line with it. I haven't learned how to haul yet, and plan
to learn that soon. Anyway, I realize that 30' of line with a 9' leader and the rod length puts the fly out about 45' from me, but any thoughts on
what's going on? Any tips for keeping more line up? Is this too much line for the rod? (I may need to try it with my DT4F next time; I didn't have a
chance to try that yet.)
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mer |
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Posts: 3114 06/26/2009 14:08 |
"Fast graphite" that's the problem.
 Most bamboo rods you need to think slower, feel the rod working. Try casting with your nondominant hand or
your eyes closed. Try and feel what the rod is doing, don't force it. The fast graphite lets you get away with punching it hard, forcing the rod. Bamboo
wants you to work with it, it may take a while for you to retrain the muscles. I wouldn't bother with the 4, just keep working with the 5. On longer casts,
think "longer stroke" that often works.
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- Members Corner
- Forum Announcements
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