I've figured out that the speed of a blank refers ONLY to where the blank flexes. I always thought that the "faster" a rod was, the "stiffer" it would feel. While that may be true to some degree, it's perfectly possible to have an extra fast rod with a very limber tip - so while the rod flexes primarily in the top, it still won't feel "stiff."

I like a really "stiff" rod for certain applications, primarily in finesse fishing. For trout, I really like an ultra light broomstick for fishing small maribou jigs. It doesn't cast them quite as far, but it feels far more sensitive. Same goes for shakeyhead fishing and bottom bouncing in the rivers with various crayfish type lures (tubes, hula grubs, etc.) for smallmouth.

So, how is the stiffness of a rod described? Is it just the modulous of the graphite - the higher it is the stiffer it is?

Speed is response and recovery time.

Action is where the rod initially flexes (all rods will flex into the butt area if loaded enough).

Power is more attuned to stiffness.

You can make a slow action, soft low power rod from the highest modulus graphite and you can make a super fast action, stiff powerful rod from bamboo. Action and power are independent of material used.

You can find references to all these terms, and maybe a hundred more, in the Rod Building Glossary on this website.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/13/2012 08:46PM by Tom Kirkman.

Maybe it's time to use the term"speed" or "stiffness" more often..to introduce it deeper in the common everyday use.Will be easeier for everyone..for customer and buider also to understand each other.

And why not...the blank fabricants? ..Would be great to specify the speed (yeah I know, there is no way to quantify that , yet), of the blakns, in catalogs..The customer would choose with more ease..without seeing or having the blank in his hands. But this is just my fifty :)

The CCF component of the Common Cents System provides a relative means for measuring rod "speed."

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The more I use the CCS the more I like it as a starting point on determining which blank to use. The real missing component, which actually measures the dynamic properties of the blank is the CCF. Unfortunately, there is very little information on CCF rating for different blanks. Also, due to the way it is measured, there is a lot of room for error if you don't have the right equipment and know what you are doing. It would be so nice if there was a central measuring agency for CCS data, like a UL for rod blanks. It would require the blank manufacturers to come to some agreement on how to do it, but it would be soooo useful.

I don't think rod manufacturers really want you to have that info. I'm sure it would greatly reduce the number of blanks you would have to buy to find the perfect one.

Recovery time, and just what it brings to the table, might be an even greyer area than sensitivity.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

Several years ago Orvis attempted a better approach measuring the point of rod flex.
This unfortunately fell on deaf ears and to my knowledge was orphaned.

No, they still use it. It was called "Flex Index" and used a linear progression to assign a numerical value to the percent of rod flex from the tip back under a certain amount of load. Certainly better than the old "fast" "medium" and "slow" but still far short of the resolution offered by the CCS Action Angle.

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Can anyone tell mw where I can learn about the Common Cents System?

[www.common-cents.info]

You can get a pretty good idea of the relative speed, or response and recovery time with one simple number, the stiffness to weight ratio. So if you know the weight required for the standard deflection, divide that by the weight of the blank and that gives you a pretty good idea of how responsive the blank will be. It is not perfect, there are still other design related things that effect the blank, but it is an incredibly useful number to have when comparing different blanks.

Russell is right on about manufacturers not wanting you to have the info to make really good comparisons between their rods and the competition. They want to keep you in the family so when you need a rod for a different application you will stick with them. One of the latest trends in bass rods is no blank ratings at all just a sticker that lists the application like spinner baits, jerk baits, or Carolina Rigs.

Few manufacturers even offer the weights of their blanks anymore.

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Very true, and even if they did how much would we want to trust them, fortunately now a rodbuilder can buy a very accurate digital scale for very little money, I think last year at the show you could get one for $10. I always carry my scale with me to the show, I call it the no @#$%& device.

Mike,
Do you feel that more can be achieved by dividing the blank into discreet sections and viewing the weight vs stiffness at each location ?
The blank taper can be generalized by taking measurements at various points and the weight and stiffness determined at those points.
I'm hoping to be able to calculate deflection thru dynamic acceleration of the blank with an assigned load at the tip.

At least that's the road I'm journeying.
Probably just another project.


Eugene Moore