wolfgang Intuitively, it seems undeniable that standardization in any
wolfgang aspect of equipment HAS to make it easier to make sound
wolfgang decisions about how to match components to achieve optimum
wolfgang performance. Intuition sometimes fails. Casting dynamics
wolfgang are just too complicated for a fixed line weight to be the
wolfgang ideal solution for even a small number of casters under a
wolfgang highly restricted set of circumstances. Far better, I
wolfgang think, to go in the opposite direction......to offer a much
wolfgang wider variety of weights and tapers than is currently
wolfgang available and simply label accordingly. Let the user decide
wolfgang which suits him or her best.

Yes, casting is too complicated to allow such an easy solution to the
problem of finding an _ideal_ line, as you note, but I think that
standardization facilitates finding satisficing solutions. Pros can
optimize in their own backyards.

wolfgang The split shot experiment IS radical, but deliberately so,
wolfgang to illustrate the point. But your counter-example
wolfgang illustrates that too much emphasis is being placed on this
wolfgang matter of standards. If the differences among 5 wt. DT
wolfgang lines aren't sufficient to demonstrate what the split shot
wolfgang does, then what is the problem?

I was naturally talking about 5wt DT lines which conform to the
standards.

wolfgang As for betting, I'd be willing to wager a goodly sum that
wolfgang very few people, if handed a fly rod and told that it was
wolfgang either a four or five weight and that it was strung with
wolfgang either a four or five weight line, could consistently tell
wolfgang you which combination it was.

Agreed.

wolfgang Complicate the experiment just a bit by repeated trials with
wolfgang different brands of rods and I think no one would get
wolfgang results much better than random guessing. Under actual
wolfgang fishing conditions the complexity of the problem is
wolfgang increased by orders of magnitude. By the time you add in
wolfgang leader characteristics, length of cast, type of cast, fly
wolfgang characteristics, environmental considerations, individual
wolfgang casting idiosyncrasies and others, the mere gross weight of
wolfgang the first thirty feet of line pales to insignificance.

I find fly-fishing to be the sum of many, many small issues that in
isolation seem insignificant, at least to some people. Like the brand
of whisky one prefers. Maybe many of these issues actually are as
small as they look, can't say.

--
Jarmo Hurri

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