Using a light rod to pull a large, strong carp through the water while you pull a half-pound sinker along the bottom does not sound like a lot of fun.
Forum: rodboard

On his online article "The Common Cents System (Simplified)" Dr. William Hanneman wrote under CCF (common cents frequency): ". . . the feel or frequency of one's fly rod outfit is a function of both the rod and the line." He proceeds to explain how a rod's "feel/frequency" can be measured and quantified. I am a big fan of data that can be quantified, verified and r
Forum: rodboard

Nobody has mentioned the CCF frequency ratio, and I still have no idea where to find a table listing the CCF ratios of rod blanks. The CCF ratio of a fly rod depends upon the line as well as the rod, making such a chart a tough task. Of course feeling the line "tug" to start the forecast and back cast with a fly rod is essential, but ALL blanks transmit this "tug" - regardless
Forum: rodboard

Russell: See article on tarpon fly circle hooks by Dr. Aaron Adams in "Fisherman's Coast".
Forum: rodboard

Russell: See article on tarpon fly circle hooks by Dr. Aaron Adams in "Fisherman's Coast".
Forum: rodboard

I was NOT "well aware of" the lack of any objective measurement of rod "sensitivity". Your comment led me to believe such information is available. I asked an honest question and expected an honest answer naming a source of useful information I could share with customers? BTW: Many tarpon guides have switched to flies tied on circle hooks. The angler doesn't worry about sensit
Forum: rodboard

David: I have never seen a sensitivity chart for rod blanks using numbers or any other objective measurement. Where can I find one?
Forum: rodboard

The sensitivity of a fishing rod and any number of other tools apparently defies objective measurement, but there is no reason to deny that sensitivity is a characteristic of many types of tools. The problem is since a rod's sensitivity is completely subjective - varies with every individual and can't be objectively measured, it is impossible to make reliable recommendations or comparisons about
Forum: rodboard

I don't like to belabor a point, but millions upon millions of modern bait-fishing anglers use circle hooks, leave their rods in their holders, and let the fish hook themselves. They will tell you their hook-up to bite ratio has increased greatly, and it has absolutely nothing to do with the sensitivity of the rod, whether measured or divined. A bait rod with sensitivity, ESP, and a "J"
Forum: rodboard

If a rod's "sensitivity" can not be seen, recorded, or measured I wouldn't spend much time worrying about it or trying to find it.
Forum: rodboard

As I understand the term "sensitivity" it has nothing to do with fly rods, rods used to cast crank baits or bait-fishing rods used with circle hooks, leaving rods used for jigging and fishing soft artificial baits. I fear many of the concerns about the importance of what's called "sensitivity" in most rod applications are just a echos of advertising hype. Objective data, like
Forum: rodboard

Anyone planning to use light-colored thread (yellow, pink, etc.) to wrap a blank that is NOT white should heed Tom's advice to paint the blank white beneath where the thread wraps will fall.
Forum: rodboard

Watching a 200 pound man set a hook with all his might is a magnificent and amusing sight, but ancient technology has made this spectacle obsolete. If you are fishing bait a circle hook on a rod left alone in a rod holder will outperform a "J" hook many times over, guaranteed. A jig pole is another story.
Forum: rodboard

Perhaps a coat of C.P. is advisable before applying paint or ink.
Forum: rodboard

Out of curiosity, why do you want a "traditional" action, and what characteristics do you expect this action should have? Back in the day when a 50 foot fly cast raised eyebrows the wet fly fishers seemed to prefer a slower action, parabolic blank, while the dry fly guys looked for a faster action rod. "Sensitivity" never was and never will be a legitimate concern about fly ro
Forum: rodboard

Ditto Spencer's hotshot blank recommendation. These are the ultimate-fast taper blanks I am aware of: a soft tip and a really powerful butt section. Some years ago I built a B/R 81/2' hotshot blank into what turned out to be an 11wt. fly rod. It casts very well - but a bit tricky to cast - and the powerful butt can easily handle a #50 fish.
Forum: rodboard

Instead of going to the trouble of building a hybrid rod have you considered using circle hooks? Not only do circle hooks greatly reduce mortality in released fish but I find my hook-up to bite ratio improves considerably when I use circle hooks.
Forum: rodboard

Instead of going to the trouble of building a hybrid rod have you considered using circle hooks? Not only do circle hooks greatly reduce mortality in released fish but I find my hook-up to bite ratio improves considerably when I use circle hooks.
Forum: rodboard

Sorry: I meant to say there is considerable difference between the 8 WEIGHT and 9 WEIGHT BVK blanks. If you take your time and read up on how to build a fly rod you can build a BVK rod as good as or better than the factory model for less than $250. I built two of them. Learn how to double haul. It's a poor workman who blames his tools.
Forum: rodboard

I would recommend a TFO blank - BVK model, a 9 foot 9 weight. There is considerable difference in action between the 8 foot and 9 foot BVK. You should learn to double-haul cast. It is NOT difficult to learn with good instruction, it will save a lot of wear and tear on your shoulder, and you will be able to easily cast 75' with a fast or slow action rod. You will be able to cast effectively when t
Forum: rodboard

I am not sure if there are any solid titanium guide frames. I think they would be brutally expensive. I have never had or even heard of a REC nickel-titanium (ni-ti) guides corroding at all, but fly rod ni-ti stripping guides are squeaky. Most advertised "titanium" guides are titanium vapor coated to the depth of a few microns. Depending upon the base metal which is coated with titanium
Forum: rodboard

I returned from a fly-fishing club meeting an hour ago. We had casting practice before the meeting. A friend was having trouble casting an 8wt. line on his new 8 wt. rod. It didn't load the rod, even with a long overhang. I took a reel loaded with a 9 wt. Triangle Taper off my rod and he put it on his rod. It loaded and casted very well. There is no substitute for hands-on. Join a fly-fishing clu
Forum: rodboard

I live 300 feet from the ocean and kayak fish also. When I return from fishing the FIRST thing I do is rinse off rods, reels, and lines with fresh water from a hose, ALWAYS, and RIGHT AWAY. The next morning is way too late. Along with spin and conventional tackle I have six or eight fly rods, including a TiCrx and a BVK. For these 20 or so rods I have replaced 2 guides because of corrosion in the
Forum: rodboard

I would choose a very stiff, fast-action rod for crank baits equipped with multiple treble hooks, giving them less time to spit the lure and more chance of hooking them anywhere. For single-hook jigs I would use a medium-action rod. In my opinion a slower action blank gives me more time to feel the hit and set the hook, whereas fish quickly feel the un-natural resistance of a tight line and a sti
Forum: rodboard

How well does flocked, heat-shrink tubing hold up over filled cork hold up before it becomes slippery?
Forum: rodboard

There is a considerable difference between the physical properties of E-glass and S-glass, and which blank is best depends upon how it will need to perform.
Forum: rodboard

David: That makes sense. Thanks for adding the "why" to the "what."
Forum: rodboard

Lynn: You are correct. The 9th entry in this thread specified Senko rubber worms used for jigging. Would recommendations for blanks apply to rubber worms in general, Senko rubber worms in particular, all jig-baits, or just jigged Senko rubber worms?
Forum: rodboard

The unstated assumption here seems to be the rod will be used to fish for freshwater bass, perhaps largemouth bass, but it is not clear whether this rod will be used to fish artificial worms, dug worms, diving plugs, floating plugs, or jigs. Which of these uses requires an extra-fast blank?
Forum: rodboard

Marketing has evolved special-purpose blanks: crank-bait rods, jerk-bait rods, jig-and-pig rods, worming rods, pitching rods, walleye rods, largemouth bass rods, catfish rods, perch rods, finesse rods - the list goes on. I am convinced a dedicated carp fisherman, especially one involved in carp tournament/prize fishing, would be more pleased with a rod built on a blank devoted to a specific style
Forum: rodboard