While using a Sage XP 7wt for steelhead last summer I noticed that my arm became fatigued in a way that I had not experianced with other slower rods of the same weight. I did not overpower my casts and was fishing a floater. Is this something that your arm becomes used to over time or is my casting style to slow for the rod? If so, what would you do to overcome this? Has anybody experianced this in there rod testing?

Tom,
If a rod has a faster action angle it will have a higher resonant frequency, all other things being equal, and will require a faster casting stroke. If you are used to a rod with a slower action angle that therefore requires a slower casting action it does not surprise me that the faster action angle rod is more tiring.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/17/2006 12:29AM by Emory Harry.

To get the most out of a stiff fast action rod (like the XP) you need a quick stroke and very defined stops. This is very demanding on your muscles and joints.

I switched from XP's because of the same reasons you state. I got great distance but I did not last long on the water. Icy Hot was waiting for me at the end of the day.

I use lighter more efficient rods like the Gatti FRHP or D2. Sage has also introduced the TXL series which is designed as a lighter weight more efficient rod. More effecient rods don't require the quick storke to get same distance (or break through the wind)

Christian



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/17/2006 12:35AM by Christian Brink.

Its interesting that Sage uses the XP in their new casting analyzer software. It measures your cast and provides data comparison between your cast and Sage masters certified casters. My local shop and hang-out just got one of the kiosks. They convinced me that the sofware did not have a laugh track and to try it out. It did a great job of quantifying what everyone who fishes with me already knew - I'm the king of tailing loops with fast action rods. When I switch from my normal mod/fast to a rod like the XP, I attempt to do as Christian suggests and to quicken my stroke and make the speed-up-stop sequence more pronounced - the input for tailing loops. It is also tiring. What the software showed is the comparison of how much I forced the stroke versus the Sage master casters who had a noticeably smoother and relaxed stroke, but with very precise timing of application of power. I don't think they get tired either. So the Sage analyzer gave me numbers and charts quantifying what had been another subjective conclusion - my mechanics match up a lot better with a mod/fast blank.

Make sure you have the right line for the rod and the distance you plan to cast/fish. I find fast action rods to be vey easy to cast, provided you have the correct line weight for what you're trying to do. For many if not most fishermen, the newer and faster actions rods are badly underlabeled as the line weight you need to fish at what most of us would consider normal distances.

The rod should be doing most of the work - not your arm. That's why I think your line choice may be off a bit.


..........

Try some 8 WT line on it. See how it feels. The 8 will load it more. I always liked one line up. It told me by pulling on or loading the blank more when it was time for the forward cast. It's a feeling thing.

If you have to move up one line wt on a rod it seems to me that the rod is mislabeled.
Should be labeled an 8 wt instead of a 7?

David -

It doesn't mean it's mislabeled. The factory labels a rod a certain line number for a reason.

Overlining a rod slows the rod down, usually to compensate for a caster. XP's are made for a quick stroke, and if you can get the timing down it throws an enormous amount of line. Overlining a rod will cut that possible distance down.

The better option is to match a rod to a caster's skill.

Christian

Factory rods can not label each rod for the Feel. If you can and like the rod with a 8Wt line on it, fine. It just may feel better to you?