Burleson Sporting Co. - Fly Rod/Line Weight Information
Fly Rod/Line Weight Information
|1-3wt |4wt |5-6wt |7-8wt |9-10wt |12wt+
1-3 Weight
  • Used with Small flies
  • Makes short casts
Great For:
  • Small Trout
  • Bream
  • Panfish
  • Small Streams
|1-3wt |4wt |5-6wt |7-8wt |9-10wt |12wt+
4 Weight
  • Used with Small and Medium sized flies
  • Makes Short to Medium-short casts
Great For:
  • Small to Medium Sized Trout
  • Bream
  • Panfish
  • Mid-Size Streams
|1-3wt |4wt |5-6wt |7-8wt |9-10wt |12wt+
5-6 Weight
  • The most versatile of the line weights
  • Fishes well for all but the smallest and all but the largest trout
  • Also performs adequately for smaller bass
  • Fishes well when using small, medium and larger(not massive) sized flies
  • Allows for longer casts yet performs short casts well
Great For:
  • Trout
  • Bream
  • Smallmouth Bass
  • Mid-Size Streams & Rivers
|1-3wt |4wt |5-6wt |7-8wt |9-10wt |12wt+
7-8 Weight
  • Designed for very large trout and large bass as well as some saltwater species
  • Used for pitching large streamers and large flies
  • Longer casts are excellent
  • Not the best for short casts
Great For:
  • Large Trout
  • Smallmouth Bass
  • Largemouth Bass
  • Northern Pike
  • Muskie
  • Steelhead
  • Light Salmon
  • Bonefish
  • Sea Trout
  • Small Striped Bass
  • Redfish
  • Snook
  • Wide Rivers & Lakes
  • Flats
|1-3wt |4wt |5-6wt |7-8wt |9-10wt |12wt+
9-10 Weight
  • Mainly used for saltwater fishing and fishing for Salmon and Steelhead
Great For:
  • Northern Pike
  • Muskie
  • Steelhead
  • Heavy Salmon
  • Bonefish
  • Permit
  • Bluefish
  • Striped Bass
  • False Albicore
  • Bonito
  • Redfish
  • Snook
  • Sea Trout
  • Small Tarpon
  • Wide Rivers & Lakes
  • Flats Fishing
|1-3wt |4wt |5-6wt |7-8wt |9-10wt |12wt+
12 Weight and higher
  • Monster fish territory
Great For:
  • Tarpon
  • Billfish
  • Steelhead
  • Large Pelagic Species

Line Weight Information
Standardized line weights as defined by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA, formerly AFTMA). Weights are given in grains [7000 grains/pound or 437 1/2 grains/ounce (front 30 feet of the fly line)].
Line Weight Specifications
Weight Class: Actual Line Weight (gr.): Allowable Variation (gr.±):
1wt 60 6
2wt 80 6
3wt 100 6
4wt 120 6
5wt 140 6
6wt 160 8
7wt 185 8
8wt 210 8
9wt 240 10
10wt 280 10
11wt 330 12
12wt 380 12
13wt¹ 450 15
14wt¹ 500 20
15wt¹ 550 20
¹Standards for the 13, 14, and 15 weights set by Scientific Anglers
Information taken from the book "Presentation" by Gary Borger, page 171
© 2001-2004
Burleson Sporting Co.
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