On a serious note about casting distance it like most everything in custom rod building is very subjective. For my builds I tend to get very particular. I built one rod to fish two holes of one trout stream. I set it up to cast a specific presentation a very narrow range of distance. Will it work for other things, yes but might not be the best option. But if someone just randomly picked it up and fished it, they might say it was a poorly set up rod that does not perform well. If your building for a wide range of use or unknown use, run down the middle of the road. Take the average size reel average weight line and average weight lure for the based on ratings of the particular blank and build to get the best performance for those parameters.

Too many people want black and white answers when building a rod. Buyers of custom rods even more so. When I first started building I did everything I could by some formula or chart. I quickly learned there is a very large grey area. I still question things looking for a black and white answer at times. Usually when I encounter something were there is no clear right answer. I do well with great performance if you do A and terrible performance if you do B. I have trouble when A and B are nearly as good as each other or the good of one outweighs the bad of the other or vice versa.

This forum has been a great help. Does not always give me the black and white answer I might seek. But it really helps to tell me when to stop questioning something, as I tend to overthink things. Occasionally though I am shown I should of dug a little deeper into things.

Lucky for guys like me nearly any rod is capable of make short casts. Long casts? Not so much. Some claim that certain guide sizes/brands/styles/placements/materials produce longer casts and more accurate casts but haven't yet got around to proving it - but eagerly share their feelings on these subjects.

Can't prove something when most everyone has a different idea of what the proff is.

I don't believe anyone has to prove any benefit they gain from experience. Most opinions are based on real life events and are passed on to anyone who requests it. One can believe it, reject it or seek a solution elsewhere. Challenging ones experience or life event only creates friction.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/02/2021 10:13PM by John DeMartini.

I will share rod building techniques [not brand-name components] I have found effective and I appreciate the many rod building (versus brand buying) tips I have found on this site. If a post on this site recommends a product by brand name I would hope it would present some hard facts [numbers] to validate the superiority of the product being touted.

Hello, I would like to put my two cents into this topic...
I find it quite interesting. "If casting performance is important, how small is too small for a Spinning Reel?

I was born and raised on fresh water fishing from the time I was around 5-6 years old, put me on a lake and I will find you fish.
My Dad let me use some of the fishing rods that he had at the time and they worked well for a 6 year old kid.

When I got older at around 14, I purchased my first "ultra lite" fishing rod and reel with the money I saved from the various jobs I had during those early days.... I'm (79) now, so you figure how many years ago that was... lol

I still have this Rod & Reel to this day, because I never allowed anyone in my Family to borrow them, and I still have the plastic case that came with it.... I just love my Rod & Reel

Sure I do have other rods that I take with me, you just never know what could happen, but my favorite is the one I bought when I was around 14.

First Rod: Browning Silaflex, Model #232955 made in USA Cork Handle (6) Ferrule 66" long
First Reel: Quick "Microlite" made in West Germany

PS: Check out my Forum Post above: Variable Speed Rod Wrapper Control Pedal

Thank you for your time to read my input. Regards, Richard Lucas Lucadent@verizon.net www.LucasDentalCompany.com

Enjoy the weekend, find yourself a Lake and do some Fishing. Whatever you should catch, return them back to the water, for another day, for another angler... ENJOY