Fishing The Fly Scotland Forum

adambrain

Breaking strains
« on: 04/05/2012 at 08:41 »
Hi all,

I was wondering, in general what breaking strains people use for rivers (trout) and lochs (bows and browns).
I know there is going to be talk about diameters but just in general lb usage.

I like to fish fairly light and don't use anything above 5lb (nymphs/wets) and 3lb ish for dries on lochs and again 3lb ish on rivers.
I've seen some folks with what may as well be string attached to their flies. So was just wondering what the thoughts were?

Adam 

Euan Innes

Re: Breaking strains
« Reply #1 on: 04/05/2012 at 08:47 »
Adam,

3lb rivers, 4lb lochs, 8lb sea trout / salmon (all you need when I can afford to fish for them, ie. summer)
18 - 20lb salt water.

Rivers and loch = Drennan Sub surface

 :z1

Noel Kelly

Re: Breaking strains
« Reply #2 on: 04/05/2012 at 11:15 »
I use 5 or 6 on the river for drys early season only going lower if I get short takes. Summer months when the trout get fussy I will go down to min 3. Last thing I want to be worrying about when a big trout takes in fast water is leader strength. As you referred to some brands will be much finer than others.

Loxiafan

Re: Breaking strains
« Reply #3 on: 04/05/2012 at 11:17 »
I now only use 0.14 and 0.12 Stroft, GTM for dries and ABR for wets/nymphs on Don. I think they are approx just under or around 5 and 4 pounds BS respectively ( 5x, 6x ??). I might get some 0.10 for tiny flies and low water this year but tbh the stuff I use currently is way thinner in diam per BS than even Riverge fluro so maybe not !


Lindsay

Barry Robertson

Re: Breaking strains
« Reply #4 on: 04/05/2012 at 20:59 »
Lochs / fisheries - drys 7.5lb - nympin - 9.5lb - pulling 12.5lb  :z4 :z4 :z4

adambrain

Re: Breaking strains
« Reply #5 on: 06/05/2012 at 11:22 »
A few differences in opinions there i see.

One reason i asked the question is because I use 4-5 lb fluoro and do have problems with my droppers creating a weak spot and every now and then I lose a fish. think i may go up a few pounds and see if it makes a difference.

cheers
adam

Dave Mundie

Re: Breaking strains
« Reply #6 on: 06/05/2012 at 20:42 »
Always check the fisheries rules a lot specify min of 6lb.

Derek Roxborough

Re: Breaking strains
« Reply #7 on: 06/05/2012 at 21:00 »
4 6 8 lb for a tapered loch cast , 6 8 10 if I go for seatrout,on a wild day I use 6lb straight,easgach1

Hamish Young

Re: Breaking strains
« Reply #8 on: 07/05/2012 at 11:31 »
Lochs / fisheries - drys 7.5lb - nympin - 9.5lb - pulling 12.5lb  :z4 :z4 :z4

Same for me, might drop to 6lb Riverge for 'light' work.

:z3

adambrain

Re: Breaking strains
« Reply #9 on: 08/05/2012 at 07:13 »
Cool good stuff will try going up a few.lb.

cheers lads

Barry Robertson

Re: Breaking strains
« Reply #10 on: 08/05/2012 at 07:57 »
Going up a few lbs is ok as long as your using decent fluro. I think if you were nymphing with 9.5lbs fulling mill it would be like using rope  :z13

Peter McCallum

Re: Breaking strains
« Reply #11 on: 08/05/2012 at 10:40 »
Going up a few lbs is ok as long as your using decent fluro. I think if you were nymphing with 9.5lbs fulling mill it would be like using rope  :z13


Therin lies the problem Baz as long as you work in lbs BS them different nylons/fluorocarbon/braid/gut.....whatever :shock will not  give a true reading unless we talk about the same make of tippet. Dia is much more sensible IMHO though you then get into stiff or limp or semi stiff....etc.

Solution?Ttry a few and stick to the ones you like  :grin

Allan Liddle

Re: Breaking strains
« Reply #12 on: 08/05/2012 at 14:26 »
Therin lies the problem Baz as long as you work in lbs BS them different nylons/fluorocarbon/braid/gut.....whatever :shock will not  give a true reading unless we talk about the same make of tippet. Dia is much more sensible IMHO though you then get into stiff or limp or semi stiff....etc.

Solution?Ttry a few and stick to the ones you like  :grin

Yup rod action and rating also critical.  Fast tip action #8 might not suit a light leader material.
Nylon diameter more relevant than BS as Peter rightly states, but also take into account 'glare' and stiffness as these can have a huge bearing on your fishing.

FWTW i fish 3lb Maxima green on rivers (and lochs now as well most of the time) for all high water / surface work, with 4lb Maxima green for wild loch wets and lures, and rainbow dries.

6lb Riverge for sub surface rainbow pulling stuff.

#5 mid action Streamflex Plus 9' 5" extending to 10' rod on rivers and wild lochs or 10' #4 Streamflex (often using the extension piece out the Plus) on float tube, or for specialist river stuff (French Nymph, bugs etc)  The action and rating of the rod allows me to fish much finer.

#7 10' 6" for big water stuff which means i need to fish higher rated tippet, again though paying attention to diameter etc so as not to impact on fishing as much as possible.

Slightly confusing i know but hope this helps a wee bit.

Allan

Marc Fauvet

Re: Breaking strains
« Reply #13 on: 08/05/2012 at 21:12 »
just curious, does anyone take elasticity into account ? i would consider that before breaking strength any day and is just another reason why i refuse to use fluorocarbon.

cheers,
marc

Rob Brownfield

Re: Breaking strains
« Reply #14 on: 09/05/2012 at 08:41 »
Marc,
I do. I am not a fan of fluro really as I find it is extremely prone to breaking under sudden loads. People say that you should up the strength of fluro because the fish can't see it. I actually think its more to do with the fact that given a sudden load, it breaks at a much lower breaking strain, so you need the extra buffer.

I actually like Maxima if I am after big fish as it is probably one of the stretchiest lines on the market and when a 20 pound Pike hits a lure o0n a short line, having a bit of stretch is useful.

Also, many of these super thin co polymer lines are "pre-stretched" which again means that they do not like being snatched at.

 




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