Last year I stumbled across a website that listed the maximum tippet rating for a slew of different rods. I can’t remember where it was and can’t find it. Maybe Tom Davis’ site? Can anybody help me out here? Otherwise I’ll just compile a table it will just take me a while, no big deal. Thanks.
Probably not what your looking for but thought I’d give it a try. If not, maybe you could describe what the chart looked like, how it was set up?
Thanks - not what I’m looking for. That is the conversion between Japanese & metric diameter vs “x” rating and tensile breaking strength in lbs. important resource for sure but half of what I need.
The table I am looking for lists the tippet breaking strength for several rod models.
Example:
Rod x (heaviest tippet for rod x)
Such as: Nissin oni honryu 395 - 3x
There were maybe 40 rod models in the list. It was comprehensive. Kicking myself for not bookmarking it. I push the limits of my gear - trying not to blow rods up out of ignorance.
Thanks,
John
So, tippet itself is highly variable. Could be up to ± 2 lbs. Tippet rating is by diameter, so 5x between brands will thave different breaking strength.
To add, most rods will rate their rods and pad by rating to lighter tippet. Most good rods seem to handle much than their rating.
Tippet ratings and tippet recommendations for rods are a bit of smoke. We may still be on the hook to find the Truth of what are gear can handle by old fashioned, trial and error.
This was a table based on modern high-quality Japanese nylon. I’m aware that these are basic guidelines it’s why I apply a factor of safety of at least a single “x” to the manufacturer recommendations. I have been at this game for 40 years, use a digital micrometer, and fall back on lab testing results. So not that much smoke and mirrors - the empirical data is available if you seek it out and know how to interpret it.
John
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Please explain how the use of a micrometer or padding by an x helps determine breaking strength of line or what rods are truly rated for. Diameter of tippet is of low value in rod ratings.
In my experience, every line and rod needs to be treated as unique individual objects and need to be tested as such. There is variance in the manufactoring process.
A digital scale will tell us when our line and knots fail. Breaking a rod is the only way to determine what a rod can handle. To be certain, you may need to break it twice.
The only empirical data we can rely on is generated by us on the gear we own.
It is best to consider published material as hearsay and if from the company or someone we dont personally know… potentially misleading.
I suspect some of my rods could handle lines 1.5 to 2 times the lbs test. I will probably will never know, as I have no interest in breaking a rod to find out.
I personally dont fuss much with tippet breaking strength and mostly go with 5x-7x. For most trout is adequate and usually falls well within most rod ratings.
The only lines i have really tested are my spinning lines. Many of them rated for 50 lb , break at 30. Some rated as 30lb break at 45. Only 10% of the line failures happened at tge knots which was surprising, and suggests there were flaws along the length.
If your trout lines and knots are important to you, best to get a digital scale and make your own charts of what you use. You can incrementally increase the breaking strength to find the limits on your rods.
I’m looking for a table I saw, it’s that simple, not interested in an argument. Or condescension / questioning . Or comments not rooted in basic data and science. So maybe let’s move on if the table doesn’t come to mind, thanks.
John