[Frank Whiton]

Hi Paul,

A 4wt line would be too light for your 5wt rod. You need to get a 5wt WF fly line. You have to size the line to match the rod. You will have a hard time learning to cast your rod with a 4wt line. It can be done but you will just be making it harder to learn how to cast.

Frank

[Joni]

Water is the Ultimate place to practice. Grass will hurt the line to a point, also dirt or grass stains will hurt.

[pauld3]

Ok so I need to match the wt of the rod not the reel.

thanks Paul

[Frank Whiton]

Hi Paul,

Yes that is correct even if you have to toss that reel.

Frank

[ezamora]

frank's right about the line, but you also may still be able to use that reel. depends what kind of trout you'll fish for. i've been trout fishing for 6-7 years and have never had a fish take me to the backing. sad, i know i know. if that 3/4 reel is "cheap" enough, it may be heavy enough to balance your 8 foot 5wt rod. the reel will be slightly physically smaller than what a "normal" 5wt reel would look and act like on that rod but that may be only 1/8 an inch in diameter. it may not affect you at all. you'll get more backing on with a WF5 line than a DT5 line...

100 yards of backing on a reel may be seen as normal, but if you only get 10-20 yards of normal backing on there, for the kind of trout i encounter, you'll be fine. in another situation i used a 5/6 lamson radius reel with an 8wt line. i never saw the backing then either, but LMB don't run far i've been told. i've since purchased the correctly sized reel for that rod.

eric
fresno, ca.

[Joni]

Right on ezamora, All I can add to that is I use Orvis Battenkill Large Arbors, need I say more LOL I am lucky to get 50 yrds.

[pauld3]

Thanks for the information, I love this place

Paul