I am sure this is quite elementary but I can't figure it out.

Two rods of the same power, identical lines, reels, lures - and same drag setting.. The only difference is that one rod is fast and the other bends all the way to the handle.

WHY is it that the fast rod seem to control and land the fish more quickly? If the drag is the same, is not the fish feeling the same pressure? Should not both land the fish equally quickly?

THanks for any insight as to how rod dynamics impact how easily one can land a fish - if both are set at the same drag setting.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/26/2019 01:08AM by Mo Yang.

Mo,
You have successively, hopefully innocently, opened Pandora’s Box! Most present-day fishermen employ fast-action CF rods to whip their quarry in short accord. I profoundly prefer to play the fish with a more full-flexing FG rod. To each his own! While the fisherman using the modern, state-of-the-art CF rod may land the fish more quickly, I guarantee I will have more fun!!!

Mark Talmo
FISHING IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM LIFE BUT RATHER A DEEPER IMMERSION INTO IT!!! BUILDING YOUR OWN SIMPLY ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE.

Fast action rods will flex all the way into the handle area. Action is progressive.

There is a lot more to it. The RodMaker article on Stand-Up rods delved into the specifics of how the effective lever length changes as the rod flexes more and more deeply. Loads on the fishermen decrease while the amount of line recovered per pull or pump lessen. Too much to go into here.

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If you plan to release a fish it's better to land and release it as quickly as possible. You should be able to apply as much "pull" with a full flex rod as you can with a fast action rod, since pull is pull, whether exerted by a barrel stave or a buggy whip. I suspect the important variables are the strength of the line and the skill of the angler.

Hello Tom.

Are you talking about the article "Complete Guide To Building Stand-Up Rods". By Tom Kirkman Volume 23, Issue 3, Page 22?

Or are you talking about "A Guide For Building Stand-Up Rods". By Tom Kirkman Volume 5, Issue 6, Page 22?

Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/26/2019 10:44AM by Robert A. Guist.

Either.

There seems to be some idea that fast action rods won't bend into the butt or handle area. This is not accurate. "Action" describes where the rod INITIALLY flexes, only. Not where it will eventually flex if you continue to apply more and more load to it.

There's a lot more to it, but at least from the standpoint of which rods whip fish more quickly, outside of the really big water stuff, what Phil posted above is very applicable.

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Let's talk about feel.

With the same fish on the line - the stiff rod makes you feel like you are applying a lot of pressure because the fish has all the leverage. The fulcrum is acting in the fish's favor.
With a soft rod that flexes into the butt - the fish's leverage is much less - but you are applying the same amount of pressure to the fish.
Mark - I think the opposite. But - hey - as long as we catch something.
Herb

The rod has to "flex" from the tip to the grip, pure physics. The max moment occurs at the grip and continuously changes as you engage the fish..

With many "fast action" rods most of the displacement or "flex" occurs in the upper third of the rod. The displacement decreases as it approaches the grip and in some rods it is very difficult to see or even measure and gives the appearance of being zero.

It all boils down to how well you work the rod by presenting the lure and handling the fish once hooked.

Have fun

John

Just an aside, slow action rods are not necessary soft nor are fast action rods necessarily stiff. It is the taper and lay-up of the rod that determines it's action, not the power. Action and power are independent of one another.

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Mo, what kind of fish are you in a hurry to land with those pencil thin rods you make..lol.

Thanks Everyone.

Tom - all your comments make immediate sense. Understand.

Regarding flex, it is a matter of degree. All rods flex to the handle, but fast action rods flexes less proportionally to the entire flex of the blank.

Phil, I hear you. That's what I think too. However, there are a lot comments by anglers that fast action rods land and control the fish faster - with the same drag setting. I was wondering why as 'pull' is 'pull'. But I think Tom probably solved it for me - faster rods does take in more line per 'pump' - if the angler pumps his rods - and thus can pull in fish faster. However, it takes more effort. So if we talk in terms of 'gearing', fast action rods is more high geared while slower action rods are lower geared. The net work is the same - one just expends more force over shorter time.

Thanks everyone.

To add on to your question,

Which rod will perform better at casting the same lure weight?