Which Is Your Favorite Rod Maker?

[Badger]

...

[hydropsyche]

I have a Dan Craft FT 3wt. I like it enough and have landed 26in browns fast. One of the major things I've learned is you have to be extra careful setting a hook. The low give ratio snaps tippets and/or straightens small hooks a lot easier then slow rods.

 

The follow quote from Tim's CC link lends credence to my belief less is better.

 

"While the rod maker might determine the frequencies of two blanks, the frequencies of both will decrease with every guide, wrap, tip top, or layer of finished added to complete them." If you're going to build it, going light in the finishing components has got to be better then not.

[reevesr1]

Interesting reading. I wouldn't imagine that speed of a rod (ultra-fast, fast, slow) is all that different than flex in a golf club? The smoother your acceleration pattern for a give shaft speed, the less stiffness on a club you need. Here is something a club maker told me once:

 

Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus both had very similar swing speeds with the driver, like 130 MPH. But Palmer was all top end acceleration and hang on, and hence needed a extra-stiff driver to handle all that acceleration at the top. Nicklaus was accelerating all through the stroke and used a below regular flex on his shaft. Both hit the ball pretty far, especially Nicklaus, but.....

 

From what I understand, all the long driving guys use xstiff shafts, for much the same reason I assume as the long distance casters. Only these shafts (or rods) could handle the massive acceleration these specialists put these shafts (or rods) under without hitting the limp spaghetti state (or disobeying Mr. Hooke by breaking into multiple pieces). But while interesting information, it doesn't make any difference to the majority of us who couldn't generate that much acceleration if our life depended on it.

[Fishietales]

Exactly, my point, it doesn't matter for the vast majority of us we would never be able to reach the distances the pro casting champs can, "I couldn't get that far with a boat" I'm happy to get a full line out with the rods I have, and I'll endeavour to teach that to anyone who asks me for help, timing, rhythm, and acceleration, I find a musicians metronome ideal for timing and rhythm, the tick tock can be set to whatever the rod load type, and if you place it on a chiar in front of the caster he works with it.

[TimD]

Interesting reading. I wouldn't imagine that speed of a rod (ultra-fast, fast, slow) is all that different than flex in a golf club? The smoother your acceleration pattern for a give shaft speed, the less stiffness on a club you need. Here is something a club maker told me once:

 

Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus both had very similar swing speeds with the driver, like 130 MPH. But Palmer was all top end acceleration and hang on, and hence needed a extra-stiff driver to handle all that acceleration at the top. Nicklaus was accelerating all through the stroke and used a below regular flex on his shaft. Both hit the ball pretty far, especially Nicklaus, but.....

 

From what I understand, all the long driving guys use xstiff shafts, for much the same reason I assume as the long distance casters. Only these shafts (or rods) could handle the massive acceleration these specialists put these shafts (or rods) under without hitting the limp spaghetti state (or disobeying Mr. Hooke by breaking into multiple pieces). But while interesting information, it doesn't make any difference to the majority of us who couldn't generate that much acceleration if our life depended on it.

 

Rickr,

 

I think you got it. Rods don't generate line speed, arms do. People that can't accelerate their arms quickly enough to load the rod find that it casts like broomstick.

 

The one part that I would disagree a bit about is about distance. Most of the name anglers I have talked to say that line control is way more important than distance. The NLFT just had Skip Morris up for a seminar and he said that 15' plus leader is what people should aim for. Most of the authors I know say that the working cast is 30' and accuracy is more important than distance. Tournament casters are just casters- they are not fly anglers. Fly angling is about presentation and line control. This BS about needing super fast rods to catch fish is just a bunch of marketing junk trying to move over-priced product, fly rods are not golf drivers, they are more like putters or wedges. There are lots of Happy Gilmores out there who can drive a ton but not get a round under 80. Fly fishing is about getting the fly in front of the trout in a way that gets them to take it - not talking about how far the rod casts.

 

Cheers,

 

Tim

[Guest bigbadbrent]

Sure, but what makes someone that can fish both right infront, and succesfully fish out 70+ feet a bad fisherman...

 

There are many spots on the bow that if you're not hitting the 80 foot cast, you're not reaching the trench, and you're going to be skipping the big dogs if you're not hitting that cast consistently that far.

 

I can tell you that my favourite winter hole right now requires a 75 foot cast straight perpindicular from the bank, AND you need to get a drift out of it......

[reevesr1]

Tim,

Agreed. Casting ability isn't the same as fishing ability. But the ability to cast sure do help just like hitting a 300 yd drive in the fairway tends to set you up nicely for the approach shot!

 

The marketers have something else figured out too. It feels GOOD to be long (pun certainly intended). Ego is a powerful emotion to market to!

[Weedy1]

If anyone has ever seen Tim row a boat you know why he only needs a 30 foot cast, the guy can out run the fish. I think it's cheating but no there he is out at the local potholes chasing them rainbows around the lake.

[TimD]

Sure, but what makes someone that can fish both right infront, and succesfully fish out 70+ feet a bad fisherman...

 

There are many spots on the bow that if you're not hitting the 80 foot cast, you're not reaching the trench, and you're going to be skipping the big dogs if you're not hitting that cast consistently that far.

 

I can tell you that my favourite winter hole right now requires a 75 foot cast straight perpindicular from the bank, AND you need to get a drift out of it......

 

Brent,

 

Take a tip from me, figure out how to get closer to those fish and you will catch a lot more.

 

Regards,

 

Tim

[Weedy1]

Let me ask this of the "Oh So Knowledgeable Ones".

 

You have a guy that stands 6'6" with arms that dangle down to his knees and has a 50 inch horizontal casting stroke. There's also a 5'6" guy that has a horizontal casting stroke that is approximately 35 inches. They both use the same medium action rod, the same line and have equal casting ability, but the 5'6" guy cannot cast as far as the 6'6" fellow. This is due to the fact the 6'6" guy can accelerate the line to a higher speed within that 50 inch stroke than the poor little guy can within the 35 inch stroke.

 

Would it help the poor little guy to achieve greater distance if he used a faster rod?

[Guest bigbadbrent]

Brent,

 

Take a tip from me, figure out how to get closer to those fish and you will catch a lot more.

 

Regards,

 

Tim

 

There's no possible way of getting closer to those exact fish, as it drops off below my wader top right at shore..

 

However, by that post i didn't mean to infer i don't fish close. I'll definitely catch more fish within the 45' and below range, and thats how i normally start. If I'm fishing the bow, i fish right up and close and boot through a good 2 km, then walk back to the beginning, and fish the middle and further, and up close again..covers a LOT of water and catchs a few fish

[SilverDoctor]

I didn't vote cause my favorite makers aren't listed. Don Anderson rods (I know I know, this isn't a bamboo vote but I can't help it) Loop and Meiser Rods.

[Gil]

After my 5th TFO I finally bought a Sage VT2. In my opinion the Sage is clearly a better rod. Of course of you would expect that for the price that comes with it.

[PeteZahut]

Love my new 4wt Helios!

[bhurt]

I originally vote when this post first came out so as I became a better caster and learned more about myself and my likes I was converted over to the Loop line which I have been using for the last year and a half.

 

For the price ofthese rods and the quaility of them I like them myself and think they are a good bang for your buck, as for warrenty, I have yet to break one so I dunno what the turn around is like, but have been informed by many people it is about the same as any other rod manufactures, I have heard however that Scott is probably one of the worst onesout there, please note this is just second hand info so don't quto me.

[birchy]

I want a Loop very badly. Can't afford one right now.. not even the last Trout bum series that I've heard is still at Southbow.

[bigbowtrout]

I'm sure the fine folk at Southbow could help you get that rod Birchy (layaway)

[mnm]

sorry all Trout Bum rods are sold out . Tho the distributor is still hoping to find any of the Bum series rods. we will let you know.

Southbow

[SilverDoctor]

This bamboo rod, a Montague Redwing, a darling of a rod has been used since the 20's by my grandfather, father, and me, my son often fishes it and perhaps his son. Quality goes a long way, wonder how many rods out there will be fished for generatons.

 

 

From a nostalgic old man with limp wrists.

peace to all

 

 

[Swede]

Wow Doc that rod is awesome must mean a lot to you.

[Wolfie]

I want a Loop very badly. Can't afford one right now.. not even the last Trout bum series that I've heard is still at Southbow.

 

sorry m8...but the last one was bought just two days after I got mine and according to Mike, it is doubtful that they can get any more Trout Bum...but not to despair m8..now u have more time to stash $$$$ in ur sock for when they remove the Opti and create a new Loop for the market..........Wolfie

 

[theboy]

Ok I cast my Helios for the first time yesterday.....I change my new fav to Orvis.

[bigbowtrout]

I miss Wolfie

[BurningChrome]

I miss Wolfie

I know what u mean m8.

[DougC]

Man this is an old thread! I bought that last Loop AEG from Southbow as a backup and its still never even been taken out of the tube, I can't believe its been seven years m8!