Can Fly Rods Get Too Light?
- This topic has 14 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated Nov 7, 2007 at 5:20 pm by
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As a follow up to my Helios post: I wonder if fly rods can get too light. I like my fly rod and reel to balance. If the rod is too light I don’t think this is possible. Any thoughts?
Randy Kadish
No…but they definately can get too fast. At least in my opinion.
This is a real problem for spey fishermen, who have to go to very old and heavy reels to balance out their extremely long rods (their problem is that the REELS are too light, but the issue goes both ways).
I’ll put it this way.
This is a real problem for spey fishermen, who have to go to very old and heavy reels to balance out their extremely long rods (their problem is that the REELS are too light, but the issue goes both ways).
ZachI agree! Well balanced rod is fun to fish!
Just add some factors that also influence “the weight feel” of a rod.A Swing weight factor. Some rods have larger swing weight than the others (even the net weight are the same). They feel tip heavy when hold in hand… You feel slower, heavier inertia when you want to change direction. the lighter the swing weight, the lighter the feel on hand, also need lighter reel to balance.
The method you chose. When I high sticking or nymphing, as you know, there are not much casting involved. I use light reel and light line reduce the overall weight, I sacrifice the balancing part.
I’d like to relate a casual conversation I had with an Orvis rep I had about 10 years ago at an East coast fly fishing show.
Its a balancing act!!!!. As blank technology lightens the blank, manufacturers have to find ways to lighten the remaining components while maintained the strength required. The biggest problem has always been the weight of the guides, wrap and finish relative to the weight of the blank. Its one thing to take a .5 oz off the rod blank but you have to take a relative amount of weight off the guides, etc. to maintain the desired action. Reel seats and grips also factor into the equation. That is why you are seeing the introduction of thin, flexible guides and composite reel seats.
At the time of the conversation, the rep said there’s really no reasonable lower limit to a total rod weight as long as all the components are balanced–and strong enough to do the job.
There is an old theory that we lighten rods we take away some of their power, in spite of all the new technology. I don’t know if this is true, but years ago the rod of choice in the Best-of-the-West casting tournaments was the Loomis Trilogy. That rod was on the heavy side.
Randy
I think all we can say for certain is that lighter rods are lighter rods; the line weight is not going to change which is where the bulk of the mass is when you are casting. If an ounce of weight effects your ability to make the rod move back and forth by all means get the lightest rod you can. It doesn’t seem to effect my ability to fish. Is this just me?
I’ll throw another comparison out there out of the hunting world… Like every other industry, the marketing hype is that lighter is better.
If they make a rod that is too light I’ve yet to cast it!
What I know from experience is that todays lightweight rods are a pure joy to use.
In the ’80’s and ’90’s I used Loomis GLX’s because there wasn’t another series of rod available to my knowledge that had their all-around good feeling when casting and fishing and were as light weight.
That changed when the Winston BIIx came out lighter yet but with more soul and range… to me anyhow.Consider that any weight taken off of a 9 foot lever means a lot.
When I’m nymphing and mainly holding a rod up all day to control drift, any extra weight on the rod takes it’s toll… or maybe I’ve just been spoiled by moving up to light weight rods.This is one area reel makers should really take a look at. They can make good, light weight click and pawl reels for trouting that would compliment todays light rods but they would rather have is believe we ‘need’ the complexity and weight of drag reels, even for small stream rods.
This is one area reel makers should really take a look at. They can make good, light weight click and pawl reels for trouting that would compliment todays light rods but they would rather have is believe we ‘need’ the complexity and weight of drag reels, even for small stream rods.
I suspect you will see reels being built with composites in the next decade. The technology in that area is advancing so fast. The new Boeing 787 family of jets in general will have a takeoff weight half of what the Boeing 777 family has while carrying the same comparable cargo or passenger loads. Its all due to composites being used instead of metal. We will see it in reels sometime in our future as composites are creeping into everything where weight vs strength is a consideration.
I suspect you will see reels being built with composites in the next decade.
It’s about, or WAY past time for that! You can get a taste of what should be coming by glancing in the works of the Ross Momentum. Compressed fiber matt. Even with that showy piece of carbon fiber, that reel is still too heavy for my needs and wants though.
It’s been the material of choice for years in high-end cycling where low weight and high strength are of paramount importance.
I wonder who will be the first to break the leg-hold CNC machines have on the reel making industry?Actually, composite reel is already out for couple years… LOOP CLW series
http://www.looptackleusa.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=351
I want one just because it might fit the glass rod with intermediate line
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