Now I'm over here in Ireland, getting in the fly fishing. Looking at some UK catalogs it talks about line grains. I usually just matched up my line with the rod weight. Just wondering what is is?? anyone with some insight. Cheers!

Headshakes,

Lines are weighed in grains, gun powder grains. It all can be very confusing and highly technical. I would suggest looking at the cortland line website as I believe it talks about the system of line weights and what it all means. If not them, try SA.

William

I belive gains are a what of measuring sink rate of lines.

All the above is true .... unless the word 'spey' or '2-hander' is in the question. In the world of spey rods/lines there is ZERO consistency. There will be a 'general recommendation' on line/rod weight, but that's about as far as it goes.

RIO has come about as close to leveling out the playing field with their lines on a given rod. Their web site covers the bulk of spey rods built and their (lines) recommendations. To make it more interesting .. theirs actually two sets of recommendations: for good casters and 'middle ground/beginners.'

Then you throw in all the other line manufactures .. and 'you pays your money and you takes your pick.' All very good reasons to go to a 'spey 'clave/days' so you can test rods and lines before you purchase.

A good rod, a 'so-so' reel and one line could easily cost you well over $1.000 (no kidding!)

Freds right!

Even if the line in the box says it weight, they take a average weight of the line.
Two lines that are the same will weight differently every time

R B Meiser Rods (some of the finest spey rods you can buy) is now taking a whole new 'tack' on the subject. Bob is starting to indicate on his rods the (spread) of grain weights that the rod works best.

So instead of a 8/9 (or what-ever) it will say 550-700 grains. The grain wts for almost all spey lines are well known now so you pick what kind on line you want from within the recommendation. The only exception to this is the 'new' Carron spey line (and it's a true hummer of a dry line) which actually follows the AFTMA requirements (grain wt for first 30 foot of line).

But where this gets you into 'trouble' is their 10-11 would actually match up with most 8 or 9 wt spey fast action spey rods.

Think Bob may have the answer.

Can't wait for the new rod!

You got it Fred I send you a copy of the lines.