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AFFTA official fly line specifications & weights

The American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) provides standardized weights for fly lines, which you can find below. While most anglers simply use the general line weight measure when matching a line to a rod, occasionally more detailed information is useful. The table below provides the official measurements in both grains and grams. This may also be useful when trying to determine what line weight an unmarked line is, as you can simply place it on a precision scale.
STANDARD SINGLE-HANDED FLY LINES
(Weight is for the first 30′ of line minus level tip)
 Line Weight Weight in Grains Weight in Grains Weight in Grains Line Weight Weight in Grams Weight in Grams Weight in Grams
Low Target High Low Target High
1 54 60 66 1 3.5 3.9 4.3
2 74 80 86 2 4.8 5.2 5.6
3 94 100 106 3 6.1 6.5 6.9
4 114 120 126 4 7.4 7.8 8.2
5 134 140 146 5 8.7 9.1 9.5
6 152 160 168 6 9.9 10.4 10.9
7 177 185 193 7 11.5 12 12.5
8 202 210 218 8 13.1 13.6 14.1
9 230 240 250 9 14.9 15.55 16.2
10 270 280 290 10 17.5 18.15 18.8
11 318 330 342 11 20.6 21.4 22.2
12 368 380 392 12 23.8 24.6 25.4
13 435 450 465 13 28.2 29.2 30.2
14 485 500 515 14 31.1 32.4 33.7
15 535 550 565 15 34.3 35.6 36.9
STANDARD SPEY FLY LINES
Shooting Heads Short Belly Medium Belly Long Belly
Line Style H S M L
Head Length 30′-50′ 50′-60′ 60′-70′ 70′ plus
Weight Point 40′ 55′ 65′ 80′
Line Weight Increment grains / grams grains / grams grains / grams grains / grams
6 250 / 16.2 420 / 27.3 460 / 29.9 600 / 39
50
7 300 / 19.5 470 / 30.5 510 / 33.1 650 / 42.2
60
8 360 / 23.4 530 / 34.4 570 / 37 710 / 46.1
70
9 430 / 27.9 600 / 39 640 / 41.6 780 / 50.6
80
10 510 / 33.1 680 / 44.2 720 / 46.8 860 / 55.8
90
11 600 / 39 770 / 50 810 / 52.6 950 / 61.7
100
12 700 / 45.5 870 / 56.5 910 / 59.1 1050 / 68.2
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Cleaning rod ferrules

Are your rod sections fitting together too tightly? Normal crud buildup in the female and male ferrules will cause the ferrule fit to be tight and lead to stuck ferrules. It is time to clean the ferrules. Ferrules need to be cleaned periodically to keep them tight and smooth. The best way to clean ferrules is with alcohol and a Q tip.  It is best to start with the female ferrule. To clean the female ferrule, hold the section with the ferrule opening pointed down. Take a Q tip dipped in alcohol and insert the Q tip into the female twirling the Q tip round to clean out the dirt and grime buildup. Next with an alcohol soak cloth, wipe the male ferrule slide of grime. Check the fit of the male to female connection. The male ferrule should insert into the female leaving an ~1/8 gap. This will get you ready for the next season and forego and ferrule fit issues.

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What is a “Dry fly” rod

“Every rod will cast dry flies but some do it better.” The contemporary version of a dry fly rod employs an accurate but soft, supple tip combined with a stiffer butt. Fishing dry flies often means fishing lighter leaders to rising fish. A good dry fly rod has a soft, supple tip section that absorbs the runs and head-shakes of big trout while protecting those delicate tippets. Combine this tip with a stiffer butt section that aids in casting as well as handles the playing and landing of the fish. For a rod builder this means a taper with a steeper rise. The taper configuration needs will be slightly different for a small stream rod fishing pocket water vs a larger water rod requiring longer casts. For the angler, caution must be taken when playing and landing larger fish to employ the mid and butt rather than just the tip to help prevent tip fatigue.

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Why I fish with bamboo rods

If you haven’t fished with a bamboo fly rod, then you may be wondering what all the buzz is about. Isn’t bamboo old technology, something to hang on the wall and admire but they certainly can’t complete with today’s modern graphite rods, can they? Don’t you need special lines with bamboo? Aren’t they made for fly fishing snobs to impress their buddies? Besides aren’t bamboo rods too delicate, too heavy, too expensive, too slow, too, too, too… Continue reading Why I fish with bamboo rods

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Fly Rod Grips

Weymouth Rod Works bamboo fly rod Fly rod handles also called grips play an important role in fly rod design. Other than the rod taper, grips greatly determine your ability to control the fly rod in your casting stroke. In addition, having the right grip for your fly rod can mean the difference between a comfortable day of fly fishing, or a day of fly fishing where your hands and arms ache with fatigue by the end of the day.

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Bamboo rod repair

Broken bamboo tipBamboo rods are very resilient instruments, capable of withstanding years of use and even some abuse. After all rods are being fished today that were made 100 years ago.

At some time in their service, it is a good chance that a fly rod will need repair. It may be minor such as a loose guide or more substantial such a broken tip. The good news is that bamboo rods can almost always be repaired or refurbished for a relatively small amount of money. There are three basic approaches to servicing a fly rod.

 

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Bamboo rod care

A fine bamboo fly rod should last for generations, as is evidenced by those we have inherited from our grandparents. Use care and common sense and this rod will last a lifetime. Finally, use this rod. It's not a toy, and not a museum piece, but a fishing rod. Catch lots of fish, and let most of them go. Here are some suggestions to help care for your rod to provide you a lifetime companion for the years to come.

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