Offshore Fly Lines

[BobD]

Okay, I spent this morning talking with folks from the different flyline manufactures and here is what I found out concerning the breakage strentgh of offshore flylines.

RIO

Single Core
0-6 weight 20 - 25lbs
7-13 weight 30 - 35lbs
Braided Core
0-3 wght 15lbs
4-7 wght 20lbs
8-9 wght 25lbs
10-13 wght 35lbs

Cortlands 444sl Big Game
WF13F - 30lbs

AirFlo

13/13 wghts 40lbs

Sci-Angler
Bluewater 13-15 wght 42-45lbs
Billfish 13&15 wght 33-35lbs

The flyline becomes the weak link when we use 50lb backing and short 40-50lb leaders.

[josko]

Thanks Bob, I do appreciate it. It confirms my hunch that 30# is the max tippet that can be used with a fly rod. Our IGFA 'friends' endorse a max tippet strength of 20#, and looking at the recent FFSW (October) issue article on heavy rods, notice they evaluate the 13-19 wt rods by dead-lifting an 8 lb weight. This is commesurate with the max load on a 20 lb tippet. Also, they point out the maximum drag achievable on any big-game fly reel is 6.5 lbs. 20# tippet again!
It's interesting to note the article advocates pumping the rod up until the reel seat isrhorizontal. I've never quite figured out how to do that- when I'm pumping in a tuna, the (highest point of) the rod ends up between shoulder and chin height. Here I go again, 'abusing' my equipment.

I suppose a 30# tippet would allow stopping a run by palming the reel and pointing the rod pretty much at the fish, but that's rather fruitless with a tuna, methinks.

Really, what I get out of this is that you fly fish big game with a 20# tippet. Just don't think one could apply any more MEANINGFUL pressure to the fish. I suppose 30# can be seen as insurance against lack of skill. I'd love to hear other views.

[BobD]

Unfortunatly I left the stuff at work. But two of the more informative folks I spoke with today where John Harter (RIO) and Bruce Richards (Sci-Angler). I will post phone numbers tomorrow. They were both very helpful and knowledgeabe in the interactions of fly rods versus tippets, species and backing and how they all interact with flylines once a large species has been hooked. Bruce mentioned that should offshore flyfishing migrate to shorter rods (7 to 7 1/2 ft) then the flyline manufactures will be faced with a new problem. John mentioned that in seminars he drops a bag of rocks on the floor and asks folk to lift it with a fly rod and guess how much it weights. They always guess way more than the 10lbs the sack actually weights.


Bob D

[josko]

Bob, maybe you can ask these guys for us: what is the ideal tippet to backing setup for someone who wants to 'just catch a big tuna' on a fly rod, without regard for IGFA restrictions? I'd bet reel, rod and line manufacturers each give a different answer.