We are in the process of moving to our new home. My wife just called me to tell me that she removed all my spools from their reel bags and placed them in the new reel case I bought. The problem is I have several spools of the same make and model with the same brand of flyline and color. :shock: The only difference is that some are 5wt and some are 6wt. The reel bags they were in have window pockets where I have labels with wt and type. What is the best way of determining which spool has what weighted flyline?
Weigh the last 30 ft, or first 30 ft. Depends how you look at it.
Gramps,
I don’t have a line scale. Given that, is there another way I can go about determining the line wt or do I need to buy a scale?
Measure them? I don’t know where to get the measurements though.
Tell your wife since she mixed them up you have to buy new lines. 
I would, but remember I want to stay on her goodside for when the time comes to buy a bamboo. 
Ah yes, I forgot.
remember to put that silly little sticker that comes with the line on the spool!
Do you have a micrometer or a vernier caliper with your reloading stuff? Or go buy a cheap vernier caliper. Below diameters are only approximate. They vary with manufacturer and taper. But they are close for DT and WF. Be sure you get onto the belly of the line - at least 10 to 15 feet back from the tip.
3 wt. .038"
4 wt. .043"
5 wt .047"
6wt. .051"
7wt. .058"
Bobinmich
I have found those stickers don’t stick so well. Between the grease with my click-pawl reels and the neatfoot oil on my cork drag reels, those stickers don’t have a chance of staying put. I like the little windows on my reel cases where I place the sticker on a small scrap of paper. It worked great until now.
how about a silver marker covered with some sally hansens hard as nails
how bout the Dot Man’s Reel Dots
[quote=“softhackler”]
how bout the Dot Man’s Reel Dots[/quote]
Call me dumb! That’s perfect. I have a few of those dots in storage.
Thanks softhackler!
[quote=“TyroneFly”]
[quote=softhackler]
how bout the Dot Man’s Reel Dots[/quote]
Call me dumb! That’s perfect. I have a few of those dots in storage.
Thanks softhackler![/quote]
Did this solve your problem?
Maybe you can rig up some sort of beam balance and weigh the fly lines. The 6wt will be heavier than the 5wt etc. You don’t really care how much each weighs just which is heavier.
Regards Mike
I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but I can see the difference. I don’t have any 6wt lines, but I have 4wt and 5wt lines. I can pick out the 4wt lines.
You could try casting them. If you have a line you know is a 5wt or 6 wt, cast it for a while, then put an unknown line on the same rod and cast. I’m a nube and not sure if you can easily tell the difference between two lines that are only one weight off, but, you could get some casting practice in as well.
Or, just ignore them and call them a 5/6 wt line. If you ever find that they are just not loading a 6 wt rod, then mark it as a 5 wt.
Best thought though, is to tell your wife you need a new, unbiased, comparison tool just for this purpose. Then, go get the bamboo so you can comparison cast all these lines and look good doing it! :lol:
Alan
Well, if you were a little closer to me, I’d say swing by and I’d be happy to put them on my line scale and get you an accurate answer.
In lieu of that, how about stopping by one of your local fly shops and asking them for a hand. I’m sure the guys over at the S.J. Fly Shop or up the peninsula at the CA. Fly Shop will have an Umpqua line scale or something that they use for such occasions.
It’s worth a shot.
Best, Dave
Ducksterman,
Going forward it will.
Dave E,
Folsom’s a bit of a drive, but thank you for the thought. My brother lives in Folsom. Great fishing in the area. many many years ago I would ride motorcycles on the Rubicon trial. Lots of good fishing out that way or at least there was back then. I’ll be heading to CA fly shop at lunch time today to pick up a scale. Chris and his new co-owner have done a super job with the new location.
How about casting each with 30’ of line out…should be able to feel the difference in loading.
There may be another solution. I’d suggest you call or go to a local independent pharmacy. Ask them if they’d put their prescription balance to some good use… at least in Pennsylvania we’re required by law to have one, but you should be able to find one somewhere. You’ll be able to get within a few miiligrams of the actual total line weight. I’ve never weighed a fly line but have had requests for cub scout pinewood derby cars and insert weights for pool cues!
Just a thought. 