Tenkara line numbers. What do they mean?

[drolfson]

Okay, I ordered a rod. I am now dying for it to arrive and thus spending too much time reading, which only gets my rod arm twitching and makes it worse.

One thing that keeps coming up that I have yet to find an explanation of the various (level?) line 'sizes' that are referenced. They are referred to as #3, #3.5, #x.y and whatever. At first I thought that was the length, then I saw someone referring to a fishing trip where they used different lengths of #3.5 line on a rod. That got me searching and I (think I) have read all the different line explanations, but have yet to find a clarification on that line sizing designation. I know one of you has the answer for this, or knows where it is explained and I have yet to find. Please enlighten me.

Thanks!

Don

[Bob9]

Long rods, big flies = 4 or 4.5
Average rods (11-12'), normal flies = 3 or 3.5
Short rods or finesse rods = 3 or smaller
Line length depends on casting ability. Best to start with line the length of the rod, plus 3 or 4' of tippet.
All of this is subject to change, as your experience grows.
Hope this helps.

Bob

[drolfson]

Thanks Bob. That does begin to clarify things.

I am wondering what the numbers relate to. I know it is not a pound test, but is is a diameter or a mass per certain length (like flyline is supposed to be) or some other such thing?

Thanks,

Don

[Bob9]

It's a Japanese rating system. Their lines and hook sizes have much smaller number ratings, than similar U.S. products. Not sure what they base them on.

Bob

[CM_Stewart]

I once had a link to a site that explained how the Japanese line size system was originally developed, but the history of it doesn’t tell you what you need to know now.

For all practical purposes, you can multiply the Japanese line size by 4 and get the equivalent pound test for US fluorocarbon spinning line, so size 4 line is essentially 16# test, size 3.5 is roughly 14# test and so on. That holds until you get down to tippet material, where advances in technology make the smallest sizes stronger than that quick ratio would suggest.

The tippet size equivalents are as follows:
X number – Japanese line size
1X – 2.5
2X – 2
3X – 1.5
4X – 1
5X – .8
6X – .6
7X – .4

[drolfson]

I think I found just what I was looking for. It appears that Jason Klass has put together a little chart that lists what I was expecting, along with what Chris has replied above.

It can be found here: http://www.tenkaratalk.com/2013/03/t...el-line-chart/

Hopefully it helps others also.

Thanks,

Don