Stiffer v Softer Rods.

[Led]

With the recent progression on stiffer and stiffer rods from the manufacturers (which I personally struggle with ) I have been having some deep thoughts on controlability and userability to help improve my distances.

So today at whilst doing my weekly casting training schedule, I thought I'd give something a try to see if a softer rod would work.

I made a succession of practice casts with my normal set-up and placed markers at the relevant positions, I then used the same reel and line and attched to a softer rod to gauge the difference in distance and again used markers and finally I used a much softer rod keeping everything as close to being the same as possible.

What this resulted in was my usual set-up whilst being powerful and giving good distances in the mid 40's the softer rod was giving similar results, give or take a metre.
My final test using my softest rod was a constant battle not to overload the rod prior to finishing the cast, and on 1 cast it actually went further at just under 50.

On reflection the tests where probably stupid as the T38 shooting head is a real beast even on my GLoomis T116-38 Tournament rod, the 9-10# 10' Airflow Delta seemed to strugle with it's 'through' action. Whilst the TFO 5#TiCRx became overloaded if cast over zealously, but if the final haul was timed well the line flew like a javelin allowing the rod to recover quickly.

I just thought that I'd share my findings with you. :yltype:

 

[will powell]

valuable info there Andy ,well done.

 

[Led]

Hi Will,

I took a whole lot of video too, but the firewire card on the PC is playing up so I can't upload it.

What really amazed me was the amount of early load on the 5# prior to the haul, at 1 stage I thought that the rod was going to snap at the handle :red:

Unless we challenge the envolope we'll know nothing

 

[TommyF]

Andy,

I guess that JFHI is way too "old school" for this thread...... lol

Tommy

 

[Led]

Hi Tommy,

I'm learning mega amounts on this flycasting lark and really enjoying it

It was only a short while ago that I resembled a badminton player with a broken arm to a fly caster

Someone told me to swap things around (Lines/Rods) and in doing so the information flwo is phenomenal. I used to find it really hard work but by concentrating on little things at a time I can see massive improvements.

You should try it

 

[Treestalker]

I find the softer rods are less critical with the timing of my haul yet don't punish me as much with loss of distance if I screw up. I find the stiffer rods are so critical on timing. I used to have an old glass 9' #7 Abu that would put an entire DT7F through the rings. I eventually snapped it just above the cork handle by aerialising way too much line before shooting. The amount of line out was probably equivalent to a couple of line weights heavier. Poor old thing used to bend like a banana and you could almost drink a cup of tea between the forward and back cast!

 

[will powell]

i can remember watching Peter Thain flycasting at NWSA a few summers back . AWESOME, a joy to watch

 

[Led]

Yep, that is what I'm aiming for.

That Bloody Halfiax Ad man without the sun tan is far too good at anything piscatorial

Hopefully this training schedule will see me whoop his butt in Poland.

 

[will powell]

I believe his name is Howard lol