This was the best I could come up with ... anyone's comments would be welcome.
"I attempted to find the test curve of these rods by suspending weights, measured by a digital scale, from the tip of each rod.
In all three cases, they returned a figure of around 11 oz ... leading me to suspect that Milward's were aiming at a test curve of 3/4 lb.
Working on the idea that line bs (breaking strain) relates to test curve by 5 times as a standard, 6 times for a maximum, and 4 times for a minimum ... this would return these results :-
Line rating for 11 oz curve :-
Minimum = 2.75lb
Standard = 3.43lb
Maximum = 4.12lb
(for a 3/4lb curve they would be 2.8lb/3.75lb/4.5lb)
As was pointed out in one of the posts in the threads I attached:-
'What the book actually says is: "Note.- The "Matchmaster" and "Featherlite" above are designed FOR CONTEST FISHING IN THE U.K. AND MUST NOT BE USED FOR ANY FORM OF HEAVY FISHING.'
All I can say is that the 10 1/2 footer was coping with the jack pike as in the picture (below) ... even while I was fumbling for the camera ... I estimated that at around 4lbs and am sure I would have netted it if it hadn't let go when it saw the net ... but that was in still water. I suspect that the rods would be able to cope with a 5lb in a reasonable flow if you hooked one by chance, but I wouldn't be recommending actually targeting quarry of that size as a norm. As rods to target roach/dace/rudd I think they are ideal.
HOWEVER ... please get the opinion of others more experienced than I in moving water fishing.
TFF'ers All ... your opinions are sought, please.
Looking forward to hearing the comments of anyone who would like to chip in."
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