I was reading some rod catalogs and it sounds like fast (tip) actions were not very common until the advent of graphite. Is there something about fiberglass that kept the actions slow or moderate? Just curious.
I was reading some rod catalogs and it sounds like fast (tip) actions were not very common until the advent of graphite. Is there something about fiberglass that kept the actions slow or moderate? Just curious.
modulus
[This message has been edited by Buzz (edited 15 January 2006).]
By "modulus" do you mean that fiberglass simply isn't stiff enough while remaining light enough to have a tip action?
Yes. To make a fiberglass rod as stiff as some graphites the amount of material required would make it to heavy. You must also consider that glass came on the heels of bamboo and fiberglass replicates the action of bamboo closely, at least in alot of older glass rods.
You can make a fast action rod out of anything. Action refers to where the rod bends not how stiff it is.
A straight taper graphite tube would have a very slow action. A highly tapered glass tube would have a very fast action.
Fast action rods just weren't in vogue until later in the 20th century when graphite just happened to be taking over. But I do have an older Shakespeare President fly rod, all glass and it is the fastest action fly rod I have ever owned.