These days we are getting a lot of questions on what our rod ratings are. 

Let me start by saying that I prefer much more the term "casting weight" than rod rating. Allow me to explain why. 

Most rod manufacturers these days use either one or the other, or both. But what are they? 

Rod rating is the designed normal line breaking strain (in Kg or Lbs) of the monofilament that that particular rod is best suited to work with.

The casting weight is the led or lure weight interval that the rod is designed to work within. In other words what is the minimum and maximum weight that the rod will allow you can cast at maximum distance. It indicates how the blank can be optimum loaded for you to cast at great distances with maximum control. Usually a figure between the minimum and maximum is the optimal loading capacity of that blank.

In our opinion, it can be deceiving to just have a rod rating for a number of reasons. First, these days the mono line varies greatly in quality and breaking strain. Not to mention that you can use much thinner braided lines which will get you faster to the maximum rod rating. 

Experience shows that a 1-4 kg rod rating will be an equivalent 10-30 g casting weight. A 4 kg max rating will enable you to cast a lure at the optimum distance using mono lines 0.15-0.20mm maximum, which is equivalent to 0.06-0.08mm of 4 or 8 strand braided line. 

However, given the opportunity we can go with 0.10 or 0.12 mm braided line that has a theoretical breaking strain of 5 Kg or more. That will be enough for you to cast much bigger weights than the rod will allow you to. Perhaps 50 or more grams. Chances are if you do this your rod tip will bend and if you try to push and cast that weight, most likely you'll break the rod. The blank will snap. Without knowing what the casting weight should be, there is no way you'd know that you have overloaded the blank. Equally, your casts will not reach the desired distances and the accuracy will suffer if you do not load the blank properly.

A casting weight it's a different matter altogether. You do know that you cannot use lead or lures that are heavier than 30 g nor others that are less than 10g unless you intend to break the rod or pretend that your are casting. Knowing that, if you use 0.50mm line to throw 30 g of led, then it'll be a challenge...to put it lightly. In other words, the casting weight will also limit your mono line to avoid line tangle. Same on the lower spectrum, if you plan to cast 10 g, you'll use some 0.15mm of mono. Something like 0.30 or 0.40mm is useless.

Below, you'll find a table that will "translate" rod rating into casting weight and equivalent recommended mono and braided lines (diameter).