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Post by Dale Martens on Mar 12, 2006 16:05:19 GMT -6
I just replaced my old 6/7 Pro Graphite with a new St. Croix Avid I got off E-bay. Shaking the rods side-by-side led me to the conclusion that the Avid was MUCH stiffer - maybe even too stiff for my taste.
So I put handles of both rods on a table and anchored them in place by piling on a bunch of books. The rods extended parallel out over the table. I hung a 1 oz. jig from the tip of each rod and noticed how much each bent.
When loaded this way, you could tell that the Avid was a just little bit stiffer overall than the Pro Graphite. You could also tell a lot about the overall action in the rod by seeing where each flexed. The Avid flexed more in the tip but with the Pro Graphite it was more in the mid-section.
The Avid didn't seem as flexible when merely waving it back and forth 'cause it's tip section is much lighter - it doesn't have the mass to make the middle and butt sections bend.
I think hanging jigs off the tips of fly rods is a very simple - and objective - way of evaluating their actions. (I guess it's similar to the "cents" method... Is that the correct name of that method of determing appropriate line weight again?)
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2006 8:51:25 GMT -6
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Post by Dale Martens on Mar 13, 2006 23:53:01 GMT -6
That is an awesome link! Just what I like to see - objective, numerically-based conclusions with none of that touchy-feely/horse whisperer stuff!!!
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Post by kilgortrout on Mar 15, 2006 11:03:27 GMT -6
Dale: You seem to have put your finger on it. The wt of the rod is how much it will bend under a weight. The action is how close to the tip the rod will bend. The trend toward "fast" action rods may come from advertising. I think guys that like bamboo rods like slow action rods. A fast action rod requires better casting timing and may not be best for the newbie, which is OK since the faster rods usually cost more money. It may come down to taste and fishing style. I my self am not a great caster and go wit the slower rods, I also like to use 2 or 3 flies at one time and a more open loop gets less tangles. Your insight and method will help you to find the rods that fit your tastes. A non imperial factor is people may have a favorite rod and will want another one just like it. They do not like another rod because it is not like there favorite, a quick test like yours can help find another one like it. It is a way of finding out what weight and action your favorite rod is. Surprising as it is a 5 wt rod may not really be a 5wt. It may be a 6 wt labeled as a 5 to give the feel of a faster 5wt without it really being so. Which will complicate trying to get a favorite replacement by looking and waggleling it around. Your test will go a long way to find this out. Good on ya! Cheers Ron.
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