sorry for the rehashing of old info ,Im trying to figure out why cutting the butt of a rod would make it less powerful. It it because of the decrease length ?
I was thinking that a shorter rod would be more powerful? Please explain thanks

Cutting a blank changes the action. If a given rod blank stops bending 36 inches from the butt and you cut off 8 inches it now bends at 28 inches. In doing so the rod will bend through a larger section of the overall length. I hope that males sence.

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

The thick end of the rod is naturally the stronger end. Think about a tree planted in the ground. Say it is three feet around at the base because it is old. If you could pull it out, cut a few feet off, and stick in back in the ground so it was now two foot around at the base would it stand up to the same strength wind?

I should probably put this out as another of my "myths" questions. I have always found that if you had two indentical model rods, made by the same company, offered in different lengths then.....the longer the rod the more it would dead lift before failure. Now of course the longer it is the harder it is for the angler to dead lift the same weight.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

In my opinion, the blank will never know that the lenght of the butt has been reduced. Most blanks flex from tip to 2/3 down to the butt. From the point where the blank starts to flex to the tip the action does not change, the rest of the blank to the butt is pretty much dead. The only effect will be the moment arm changes from the tip to where your hand holds the blank becomes shorter.

John

How does it not change the power? I have a 7-6 heavy fast action if I cut it in half I dont have a heavy rod no more and the still is a fast action. Am I thinking about this the wrong way?

Steven, it would not be considered a fast action any more. Fast action referes to the upper 1/4 of the blank flexing. Now that you took away that much of a blank, it would be flexing 1/2 way down, which would be more a moderate action.

Steve, you are right on the money. It depends how much you cut off, taking an inch ro 2 wont do much, removing 6-12" will, depending on teh length and type of blank it is.

From prior discussions we have had on this subject,I believe the action on the rod is an integral component of the rod and never changes. What u do is diminish the power of the rod by changing the length .I believe that Mike explained the principal . The term action should have been replaced by power? Please don't think me as nitpicking , just trying to learn correct terminology Billy also brought up an excellent point which I agree.Fred thank you for your reply I was amused by your comment (hope this makes males sense) lol Thanks to every one for helping me .Now I understand.

Please explain action is it where the rod bends or is it the recovery time it takes to get back to a straight axis? I always thought it was in the tip not where it bends at. Like take a medium light fast it will flex alot further than a heavy fast right?

Where most of the initial flex in a rod blank takes place. Fast Action rods will flex mostly in the upper 1/3rd of their length. Moderate Action rods in the upper 1/2 of their length. Slow Action rods flex along their entire length. *See also "Progressive Action."This info was taken from the glossary section of this forum. Im far from an expert in this particular area.

maybe this will help with the tip flex thing: [www.orvis.com]

Bill - willierods.com