Midnight Musing On S.a. Gpx Vs. Overline A Full Wt.

[Jack Jones]

Just sitting here wondering about folks' thoughts on whether you'd upgrade to something like the S.A. GPX (half weight heavier) or overline a full weight to slow a fast action rod down. I'd love some opinions.

Also, is the S.A. GPX the only half weight heavy line out there?

[Brian Wise]

Rio Grand is a half-size heavier too. I am a huge fan of Rio Grand and Rio Gold along with SA GPX for floating lines. GPX is the only line that I have fished from SA that I really, really like.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Jack whether to go a full weight or half would really depend on your needs. If you are contemplating buying a fast rod and believe it will work better for you if it's slowed down you might want to wait until you put in some practice time. Not all manufacturers agree on rod speeds and they can vary.

Fast rods test me in the spring, but I generally can catch up to them by June and I have lines I can fall back on if necessary.

[fishinwrench]

I fish what is considered to be "fast" rods, and what I gain from lines like Grand and GPX is the ability to shoot further. If shortening you load-up strokes is more desirable to you than being able to pick up a long cast or doing lengthy mends then I believe you'll benefit from Grand/GPX quite a bit.

To have the best of both worlds would be to have a heavier line in the air...but a lighter line once it hits the water.

[Jason R.]

Plus if you want to cast accurately at close range with a fast rod, it sometimes helps to have a heavier line. To me, a fast rod is just a stiffer rod that loads when you get more line out. I know there are other factors... but I'm not a scientist- I just like to fish.

[Brian Wise]

To have the best of both worlds would be to have a heavier line in the air...but a lighter line once it hits the water.

EXACTLY how I talk about how Rio Gold fishes. Loads VERY well in the air but floats so high that it feels super light when it is on the water.

[drew03cmc]

As I fish glass fly rods, I am a terrible person to ask. Since the question was posted, I will interject my two cents.

I fish DT lines most often on anything 5wt and under. Right now, I am the owner of three glass rods that get fished, one is a 6'6" 5wt that I fish with an SA Mastery Trout DT5F line and it is still quick, for glass. Another rod is a 7'6" 6wt South Bend Classic IV that I fish with an Orvis Clearwater WF6F and the other is a Phillipson Powr Kast T80 that I fish with an Airflo WF6F. These rods have vastly different actions from fairly quick on the little feller to SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW on the Phillipson and changing lines isn't something I will be doing unless it is to toss a sinking line on them for deep water work. In my opinion, if the rod is too fast, rather than slow it down by overlining (one line weight is often sufficient, but I have gone two line weights up), why not buy a rod that suits your stroke better? There are a few rods that I have cast, the TFO TICR comes to mind, that are NOT happy with even a GPX on it. I had to go to a 7wt line on the 5wt rod to get the feel that I look for in a rod. You can do anything you want to as it is your rod, but I am of the feeling that rod builders place line weights on rods for casting rather than fishing. If you can cast 90 feet you can catch more fish, right? Wrong. The TFO TICR series is underlined by one or two line weights if you use the stated line, IMO. The reason for the AFTMA standards is just that, it is a standard. It is the weight of a fly line in the first 30 feet in grains. In this same manner, IMO at least, a 5wt rod should load with 30' of 5wt line out of the tip top, right?

[stlfisher]

Overlining is fine for fast action rod's when you are casting bigger bugs or streamers. All other applications I prefer a Med to Med-Fast rod with line to match.

Another point to consider is fast action rod's, overlining, small flies, and wimpy tippet's generally don't go well together.

[Jack Jones]

Thanks for your opinions. The genesis of this came about when my TFO 4th was broken. I had to use my Cortland Fair Play rod (which I really love) and it is lined 6 wt. Casts great.

My TFO has Cortland 444 line in 4wt on it but I have a hard time feeling it load. I want to slow it down so I was thinking of one of these half step lines. It was either that or line it 5 wt.

Does this provoke any further thoughts?

[rfd515]

Rio Grand is a half-size heavier too. I am a huge fan of Rio Grand and Rio Gold along with SA GPX for floating lines. GPX is the only line that I have fished from SA that I really, really like.

Have you tried the SA Titan Taper? Figured since you like throwing triples that you'd be all over that.