Russell: I use a fly rod and fish from a kayak and wade, so I'm obliged to land my own fish. I usually fish the Indian River Estuary so there are a host of hefty salt-water species I could encounter. I HATE to lose a big fish after a long fight and I HATE even more to break a fly rod in the process. My request is a simple one: how much weight can a rod blank endure at a no more than 90 degree bend before it breaks? I will subtract a 20% safety factor and select my tippet accordingly. I do not wish to mess around with "suggested line weight" since we know unless a line is IGFA certified its true breaking strength varies wildly from its claimed strength and from one brand to another.

As mentioned, I do sympathize. Things aren’t all that different with other types of rods.

You can put any blank in a horizontal rod holder and start loading. None would ever bend more than 90 degrees and all would fail at some point. What I have found is you can safely go to that 90 degree point but once there you need to pay attention. Start noticing any sounds of distress or if you reach a point where more weight doesn’t bend the blank. Typically you will hear or see something that tells you impending doom is coming.

I use a bucket and fill with water. Be careful as a blank that fails is explosive in nature. FWIW, I haven,t broken a blank doing this and have generally found I can fish them harder than hoped. Of course I stop once I reach a point I’m satisfied with.

Don’t know what more to say. Email and we can exchange phone numbers if you want. Never hurts to compare notes!

Russ in Hollywood, FL.