Toy Rods Kill
use a rod with some backbone
Printable View
Toy Rods Kill
use a rod with some backbone
dudley:
be adventureous, free yourself, read, educate......
http://www.byrdultrafly.com/choice.htm
http://www.byrdultrafly.com/ulmyths.htm
http://www.byrdultrafly.com/ulmyths2.htm
Regards, Jim
Hi Jason,
Welcome to the best FF board in all of western Christendom!
You've been offerred very good advice and all but your last question has been answered.
Pay attention to WarrenP's response. He knows whereof he speaks. Furled leaders are wonderful (I've used some of his and some of my own) and a tad heftier rod would help.
Have I used braided leaders? Yes. And I didn't like them. Too much spray, not as gentle as the furled leaders, just not in the same league. Learn to furl your own or find some, probably here at FAOL. Vendors such as Feather Craft also provide them. They're wonderful.
Have Fun!
Bill
Dudley, I would like to commend to your attention the book "Trout Eyes" by Tapply. He has a chapter that discusses the physics of light rods. I found it to be interesting and enlightening. I have not finished the book yet, but I have enjoyed what part of it I have read. It is an excellent "coffee shop book". In fact, I generally enjoy what Tapply has written, including his murder mysteries.Quote:
Originally Posted by dudley
Ed
With a 4wt and a #10 WB your arms shouldn't tire easily. Try working on your casting and include some dbl. haul practice if need be.
Secondly, give a 7 1/2 leader a try. You might find it makes a good bit of difference. The casting practicing takes priority though. A 3 or 4wt rod should be a joy to toss for a long time.
Jeremy.
Thanks for the links Jim, I've read them all beforeQuote:
Originally Posted by Jim Santella
Whenever this controversy comes up some one always points to this "expert"
Just last week I had a fish on that I couldn't move with my rod
The fish was under the kayak and my rod was doubled over, probably close to the "high-stick" breaking point
Believe me, I was not concerned about the 15# tippet breaking
The only way I got the fish to move was by reaching out, grabbing the line and pulling
I shoulda had a bigger stick!
Even your expert says light rods should be used only in the proper conditions
In my experience conditions are rarely ideal
I often use a 3wt when I fish for river smallies, but when I fish for largemouth in the weed choked ponds we have around here I alway carry an 8wt
I been using an 8wt in the salt since the end of the spring migration.
I guess I'll bump that up to a 9 or 10wt for the rest of the season
dudley
I tend to agree with you. I rarely use my 3wt for warm water. It's a full flex rod and about the only time I use it is for bluegills and crappie in open water and smaller flys. In a pinch I have cast some #8 Red Foxie Clousers with it and did find that a shorter heavier leader made casting easier.
I am from the old school that believes in using the rod for the type of flys you are casting. Most of my smallmouth bass fishing is done with 9' 6wt. And bluegills and small river fishing with a 8' 5wt. Smallmouth in big rivers, largemouth in heavy cover and northerns call for the 8wt.
Tight lines
dudley,
I always counter an emphatic, blanket dismissal of lighter rods with the evidence. Upon discovering Bill's site, I was skeptical also, but, just like everything claimed here and elsewhere, I purchased a 1 wt. and experimented for myself. You see, many years ago (40+) I started fishing (spin, pluggin') and fell into that industry driver crap of needing a certain outfit to catch a certain fish. Before I knew it, yep, you guessed it, my own tackle shop in the basement.
Then, nine years ago, a buddy talked me into trying fly....and, I've never looked back. However, I fell into that same mold, "gotta have an 8wt. for, gotta have a 5wt. for...blah, blah, blah."
After many thousands of dollars worth of tackle and experimentation I've learned; "fundamentals".
Anyway, I agree with you, in heavy grass/pads/wood, an 8wt. can be helpful. For that situation I use my Sage 580XP with 1X leader and 2X tippet. Works everytime. Get 'im out of the stuff and landed as quickly as possible, fly out and released with no harm done. Even stopped taking pictures to reduce the out of water time. THAT'S what kills, playing unneccessarily too long, and holding them out of the water with that S-E-G while the little woman fumbles for the camera to show the boys you caught a fish.
Regards, Jim
Jim
I've fly fished all my life.
While over the years I've read a great deal on the sport, my opinions are formed from my own personal experiences.
Opinions that I feel are no less valid than those of some "expert" on the internet.
For instance, I've never felt the need to spend thousands of dollars on equipment.
I learned my "fundamentals" as a child
Hi Justice League,
Welcome to the warmwater BB. You're asking your questions in a good place because this BB has the nicest group of people you will find anywhere. The only dumb question around here is the one that doesn't get asked.
Just a couple of thoughts on your casting problem. I tend to agree with what everyone has said so far. You should be able to throw a weighted woolly bugger reasonably well with a four weight rod. I suspect that the problem is the change up from light weight flies (no weight flies actually) to a heavier fly. The weighted fly magnifies any timing errors that you may have in your casting stroke particularly rushing the forward cast before the backcast has straightened completely. Wait for that backcast to straighten and then wait a fraction of a second more for the fly to straighten out the leader. Also try to use a minimum amount of power throughout the whole cast. Overpowering either the backcast or the forward cast gets that extra weight flying around like a tether ball.
Since I'm in your neck of the woods (Anderson, SC), I have another suggestion for you. You are lucky to have an excellent fly shop in Greenville (Foothills Fly Fishing on Pleasantburg Drive just north of the Red Lobster). Chuck and Bill are both expert casters and will give you 20-30 minutes worth of instruction for free. The shop has a regular group that get together on Saturday morning to tie flies and tell lies. You sound like you would fit right right in. They're open 8-6 on Monday through Saturday but the Saturday morning has a bunch of people local fly fishermen and you would have a chance to get lots of input on local conditions.
If you decide to go, introduce yourself around. I may be there. Good Fishing 8T