In general which type of blank will make a more accurate rod: a parabolic action blank, or a fast action blank - or is there no difference? I am particularly curious about fly rod blanks.

I'm pretty sure accuracy is an angling attribute and not an equipment feature. Regardless of the direction or angle a rod set-up tends to sling a lure, within 2 or 3 casts an angler worth his salt has made an adjustment that reclaims the accuracy he's accustomed to and spends the day with that slight change. But I don't think that's the end of the story.

When an angler claims "accuracy" it is likely due to a particular casting style fitting a particular action, stiffness, grip or other rod feature (or combination of features). Short or long backcasts, speed of loading, release point, angler strength, one or two hands, starting cast position and many other factors can all affect the direction and distance a lure flies. Occasionally, an angler will chance across a combination of features that works effortlessly with the mechanics of his/her ingrained casting style. When that happens, the angler will wax eloquent about how powerful and ACCURATE the rod is.

If you spend much time on the water you know there is no shortage of bad casting technique.

Fortunately, there's a perfect rod for every one of them.

Anglers Resource
[www.anglersresource.net]

Thanks, Jim. I am chiefly concerned with advertisements or reviews discussing the inherent accuracy of certain blanks or rods. You correctly suggest that individual anglers believe that a particular rod provides the best accuracy for them, and they may well be correct. My gripe is with ads claiming particular blanks/rods inherently provide the greatest accuracy for every caster. That's hogwash.

Phil,

Once again, your gripe isn't going to be resolved by preaching to the choir here. Talk to the fly rod manufacturers and their marketing people.

...........

I suggest that casting accuracy is about 99% dependent on the angler doing the casting and 1% dependent on a particular blank of any particular shape.

I simply believe that any marketing hype to the contrary is simply not true.

Best wishes

Gotta love it when things get slow or Phil gets bored

Ron Weber

There's no pot on Phil's stove gonna burn, the way he stirs. (:

Phil knows the answer. He may be crazy but he's not stupid.

Love this whole accuracy thing. Last week someone told me if I didn't spine a SCV76MLXF it would cast off to one side or the other.(never mind the blank makes two direction changes before reaching the tip) Where do these casting experiments take place under the required perfect conditions? Where we fish there's a thing called wind. Casting adjustments are made as needed.

Love this whole accuracy thing. Last week someone told me if I didn't spine a SCV76MLXF it would cast off to one side or the other.(never mind the blank makes two direction changes before reaching the tip) Where do these casting experiments take place under the required perfect conditions? Where we fish there's a thing called wind. Casting adjustments are made as needed.

Accuracy in fly line casts: Is dependent on the proper casting stroke to project the fly line with the correct power, and direction so as to land a fly in a given target. Many things come into play. First and foremost is becoming familiar with your preferred rod. Is it fast, or slow to load? Does it have sufficient power to effectively pick up the line from the water for a roll, or spay cast? Are you using the proper type, and weight of fly line for the rod? Can you make a tight loop on the back, and forward cast. Is your body position conducive to swinging the rod tip in the direction you want the line to travel?

A;; pf these questions are answered by watching known great casters, and the getting out and practicing, especially on the water. There are wonderful youtube videos that teach different casting techniques, and offer, different ways of doing them. Is my Winston more accurate than my CTS? At distances greater than60 foot or so, most definitely. The Winston is a seven weight, while the CTS is a three weight. One is designed for distance, and chucking into the wind. The other is perfect for small brook trout streams, and laying dry flies down gently. Both when used for their designed purposes are excellent.. The only limiting factor is my casting skill, or lack thereof.

Tight Lies and frisky fish

RJF