Jerry...
Nice short, concise answers. Most correct.
Check out my comments between Bryan Nims' answers for details.
Don't feel bad about not knowing about Cuttyhunk. Most folks who weren't fishing during the 1930's wouldn't know that one....so it doesn't surprise me that the people in your fly shops didn't know it either. It's old history......though those of us who had to put up with it, remember it and its exaspirations, all too well !
Gordy
From: jerry puckett <jerry_puckett2001@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Gordon Hill <hillshead@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Fly line questions
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2005 16:37:48 -0700 (PDT)
Gordon Hill <hillshead@xxxxxxx> wrote:Hi, Group....
Some minutiae questions on fly lines:-
1.) How great an advantage is gained by having a very stretchy line for distance casting ?
None--there is enough stretch in modern fly lines to remove the coils, but not enough to create sag which would, in turn, create drag and friction through the guides thus reducing distance.
2.) What is a density compensated fly line ?
Density compensated fly lines are made by blending two diffferent coatings so that the tip of the line is the densest part and therefore sinks the fastest, the line sinks relatively straight and is good for stillwater fishing where the takes are soft and hard to detect. Bruce Richards, Modern Fly Lines p. 56.
3.) Does the TT line (Triangle taper) have a convex compound forward taper, a compound concave taper, or a strictly progressive forward taper ?
This is the patented Wullf line with a convex-compound taper, has many line type designs. The head is tapered the entire length and is good for delicate presentation and roll casting.
4.) If I buy and weigh several Cortland and Scientific Anglers WF fly lines, will I find that they all have approximately the same weight range for the first 30 feet if the stated designation on the package is WF7F ?
Relatively speaking yes. (AFTMA) American Fishing tackle Manufacturers Association established a weight based rating system in 1962 in order to match lines with rods. Example, 7 wt. standard wt. of line is 185 grains with an allowable variance of on the low side of 177 grains and on the high side 193 grains. Any line falling in this range is classified as a 7 wt. Apllies to floating and sinking lines as well. This is based on the first 30 feet of the line minus any short level tip section.
5.) Can you name 3 different fly lines which have no belly ?
1- Level line
2- Triangle taper
3- Shooting taper (head)
6.) I am casting with 50' of an XXD, WF6F fly line out of my rod tip. What weight fly line am I actually handling ?
10 wt.-- for each 5 feet past 30 add one line wt.
7.) My student shows up with a 5 wt rod. He's placed a WF7F line on it. How much line should he have out of the rod for easy false casting ?
20 feet
9.) In 1962, the AFTMA came up with the present method of designating fly lines by the grain weight of the first 30 feet. What is the PRIMARY difference between this method of measuring fly lines and the former method which was stated in letters ?
Prior to 1961 lines were mostly silk and diameters were very similar and close, that is equal in weight, and with the letter system lines were based on diameter. With the introduction of darcon and nylon lines weight varied greatly for the same diameter thus creating a need for a new weight based rating system to match lines by weight to rod wt.
10) Can you tell me one disadvantage of a fly line which has a gel spun core of Spectra ?
No stretch and hard to coat with fly line material.
11) I just bought a full sink WF 10 S, TYPE VI fly line.
a.) What does WF 10 S mean ? = Weight Forward 10 wt. sinking line.
b.) What is meant by, "TYPE VI" ?
Most sinking lines today are sold on a rating system using a sink-rate number
1 through 6. 1 representing the slowest sinking rate and 6 representing the
fastest sinking rate, refers to the sinking rate in seconds.
12.) What is a ST 9 ST line ?
Shooting Taper 9 wt. sinking tip.
13.) Are silk fly lines still available ?
Yes, on the expensive side and Not sure but think a company in France
produces them.
14.) Your student tells you that his backing is made of Cuttyhunk.
a.) What is this material ?
b.) Can you tell him its advantages and disadvantages ?
Read and called fly shops -- stumped n this one.
15.) Another student has loaded his reel with nylon monofilament backing. Is there any disadvantage to this ?
Creates pressure and can distort the reel.
16.) What is the function of the rear taper of a fly line ?
Guessing again, determines the turnover speed and dissipation of line enegry!
17.) What is a CRT fly line ?
Continous Rear Taper designed by Jason Borger. Line has a long front taper, a short, uniform-diameter belly and continuous rear taper that gradually decreases in diameter all the way to the end of the fly line. P.111 Nature of Fly Casting
Gordy