Years ago, I complained to Cortland about their line weights. It was so bad
at one point that many fly shops weighed the lines and then marked the
weights....particularly on shooting heads. Things have gotten better since
then. However, there are also great variations in rod design i.e. very slow
rods all the way to extremely fast rods (rods so fast in action that they
were unheard of years ago). Some fisherman buy a fast action rod and have
trouble casting a line with it...because the timing may be different than
they are used to. In that case, you can "overline" the rod and usually slow
the action down. Conversely, you can often take a rod that is too slow and
"underline" the rod and speed up the action a bit (not always but
sometimes). Also...rods can handle a half weight up or down without a
problem IMHO. All you have to do is adapt your casting stroke a bit. Keep
in mind that the manufacturer's recommendation may not always be right for
you. I recall arguing with Harry Wilson (deceased now...but he used to be
the Scott PowerPly guy) on some of his heavier rods. In my opinion, they
would handle a much heavier line than he recommended...but my casting stroke
was much different than his...and that was the problem. You can also buy a
scale and weigh your lines...right at the fly shop if you're so
inclined...just to check the weight (weighing the first 30 feet less the
front taper was the way Leon Chandler of Cortland recommended...and he too
is deceased now....guess I'm showing my age).

Barry


"Warren" wrote in message
. ..
wrote...
If they advertised them as a 4.5 weight or 6.5 weight line, or make that
information readily available, I would have no problem with the
practice. But like you, I want to know what I'm buying. If I buy 5
weight DT line, I don't want to get a 5.5 weight.

They don't "advertise" that fact nor do they hide it. The info is
available on their "technical specifications" for various lines on
their website. The only way you could be "duped" is by not
researching what you are buying in the first place.
--
Warren
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