In past threads there were many comments on using a line heavier than advised by the manufacturer. I have the reverse question. Are there any reasons why I should not use a one number lighter line on my older fiberglass and bamboo rods to get the feel that I have a “snappier” response ? Thanks.
Ray
I think the reason would be that you may not be able to get the rod to load properly with a lighter line. I could be wrong but on the two glass rods that I own, they seem to load and cast the best buy using the line that is marked on the blank. Both of them are 6wts and a 5wt line just seemed to go no where.
Ray - What anglerdave said - Allan
For most glass rods I’d have to agree with dave and Allan.
But… Just for fun, on one rod I have, I’ve tried lines from 3wt to 8wt, both WF and DT.
It didn’t hurt anything and the rod cast 4-7 pretty well.
“too much of anything is bad, but too much whisky is just enough”
Mark Twain
Hi Ray,
Last year I bought a little JP Ross
Beaver Meadows 3 wt from a fellow FAOLer.
The action is perhaps a tad on the slower
side of medium. With a couple of
different 3 wt lines I tried on it, it just
did not feel quite right to me. Then I
tried a Cortland Lazer line 2 weight on it
just for giggles. Well, the rod quickly
became a favorite and I have become very
fond of it for fishing drys in my swamps.
I enjoy good accuracy and a delicate
presentation with it. Why? Who the heck
knows, but it worked very well for me.G
Warm regards, Jim
It wont hurt your rod a bit to experiment with lines.Orvis bamboo rods usually cast better by going to 1 line weight lighter than marked.I have an old Orvis graphite 8wt that casts best with a 6wt line.With all the different lines and tapers available today,one companys 8wt might be another companys 7wt.
Put a lighter line on it and see what you think.