glass

FAOL Community Fly Anglers Online
1

OK, so it’s agreed then, trout sized fly rod development peaked with the invention of the six strip cane rod and just went downhill from there So who thinks that fiberglass is where the “evolution” should have ended? Although a die-hard cane guy, I have honestly found many of the midpriced glass rods to be more enjoyable and practical for trout fishing than many of the ultra-light, silly fast, graphite high dollar rods. Anyone else agree / disagree?

Bill O.

[url=http://www.oysterbamboo.com:ec08f]www.oysterbamboo.com[/url:ec08f]

2

Bill,

I tend to believe the real downturn occured when rod manufacturers sold the public on “faster is better.” They had the option to refine softer tapers but chose differently. Perhaps if they had taken the first route, we would have a broader selection of more fishable graphite rods.

I just don’t know if it’s fair to fault the material.

Very nice website, Bill.

Eric

3

Hey Guys,

It’s these darned kids. Every thing has
gotta be fast and far. Give me a slower
rod any day.G J.P. Ross offers a slower
action nicely appointed graphite rod in
their Beaver Meadows models. Warm regards,
Jim

[This message has been edited by Jim Hatch (edited 07 May 2006).]

4

So who thinks that fiberglass is where the “evolution” should have ended?

I don’t. Graphite has given us the ability to achieve greater distance for spooky fish. Don’t get me wrong as I am a slow caster so fiberglass suites me better and gives me better accuracy at the expense of greater distance. I have not had the opportunity to use a bamboo but have read about their legendary sensitivity. To me, all the materials used to make fly rods have their place, each having the ability to meet its own particular casting conditions and purposes. Its a shame the manufacturers have essentially let the other equally versitile materials fall by the wayside all for the sake of graphite.

Robert B. McCorquodale
Sebring, FL

“Flip a fly”

5

As Eric said, you can’t fault the material.

You can build a graphite blank with the same ‘flex’ or ‘action’ as a fiberglass or cane rod. It will just be lighter, maybe.

The actions built into modern graphite rods are what the manufacturers perceive as what the fly fishing public demands. Since they are still in business, they must be correct, at least for the market they want to service.

As material science improves, so will the availability of rod building materials that can give us more stength, sensitivity, precision, durability, and weigth savings. How these are used, as far as actions and such, will be determined by the marketplace.

However, whether or not such improvements are ‘better’ is too subjective. Perhaps we are actaully seeing ‘progress for progress sake’. Doe it really matter anymore. Most of us are catching fish, and it’s unlikely that any ‘improvement’ in rod design will significantly impact that at this point.

After all, it is just a fishing rod. Nothing really important, critical to anything, or even truly neccessary in any significant way.

Just how ‘good’ does it need to be?

Good luck!

Buddy

6

All excellent points. I suppose what made me think of this was a memory of a time (long, long ago ) when I was fishing a big name graphite rod, and when it broke for no apparent reason (certainly nothing I could have done!) I pulled out my old Martin 8’ 6wt. I had paid $29 bucks for the thing brand new and this included a reel and line! I can tell you it was a real joy to fish. Since then I have cast many rods and, especially in the low dollar ranges, glass wins over graphite in my book everytime. Of course I understand that a 90’ parking lot cast is what sells rods 90% of the time (just go to any shop or trade show to see this concept in action) however, I know there are holdouts out there. I think it was John Gierach who said something to the effect that a person can get to feeling pretty self righteous when it comes to cane, but the true unsung cranks of the sport are the fiberglass guys… or something to that effect. Of course all you really need to catch a fish is good eyes…and maybe a rock, but clearly it’s not all about catching fish.

Bill O.

[url=http://www.oysterbamboo.com:8d992]www.oysterbamboo.com[/url:8d992]

[This message has been edited by oyster (edited 07 May 2006).]

[This message has been edited by oyster (edited 07 May 2006).]

7

The EVOLUTION continues and should never end. Fly rods available today are more versatile and better performing than ever.

Who knows what Technology or when it will Peak?
Hopefully, Never!

8

Whoooooo hooooo!!! I’m a crank!!!..LOL…To each their own…But My money’s on Glass!!!

Still Battling my deamon’s on weather or not to fish an old Hedon Black Beauty 7’6" 5# wt. Glass rod I picked up about a year ago…This thing shows NO sign of the ferrules having EVER been slid together!!

I pop the tube open now and then and am in awe of the color and Finnish of it…
Would you guys take it out for a fishing excursion???..or suffer the agony???

The pics I seen of this rod prior to buying did not do it any justice whatsoever…Prolly why I even got it at all.

9

Personally, I can make horrible casts with ALL materials. I fish graphite & bamboo. I do not own a glass rod, but did at one time. While I am FAR from being worthy of expressing an informed opinion, I think all materials have pros & cons. Depends on the user which material is best for them.
Mike

You can call me Mike & you can call me Mikey…Just remember that this site’s about sharing!

10

“Progress is the root of all evil”

From the broadway musical “Lil Abner”…Bring back the good old days!

Gem
(formerly Plain Old Jim)

[This message has been edited by Gemrod (edited 07 May 2006).]

[This message has been edited by Gemrod (edited 07 May 2006).]

11

And Mike, in my experience there are clubs, willow switches and sweethearts in all materials as well.

Jim

12

Who cares? just get the fly to the fish and have fun.

Born to fish forced to work.
Alan

13

Hey Billknapp,

I do know that you can’t take it with
you. So do whatever gives ya the most
pleasure with it. Be it actually fishing
the rod or just fondling it on occasion.
I know what I’d do, but thats me.G Warm
regards, Jim

14

If graphite hadn’t been “discovered” as a rod material, the advances in glass rod technology would have come close to anything graphite has to offer today

Friends don’t let friends drive gas hogs

15

There are plenty of choices in graphite today it is just that the super fast $600 plus rods get the press for the advancements in technology. I have a gander mountain gs (98% graphite) that I bought for the kids to play with, for under 40 dollars on sale that has a slower action and cast beautifully. If you want slower older technology rods don?t go to the fly shop go to K-mart or Sports authority and you will see lots of rods you may have forgotten exists. I am happy with the choices we have today but I sure wonder what they can do to improve what we have now.

16

Well here is my 2 cents.

I still use glass rods and love them. I use two old Winston glass rods for spring creek fishing all the time. I have to have one fixed but it is nothing that will hurt the rod. Just the male ferrule has worn out and needs replacing. Both rods are 8’ 4wgt rods. Slow but I can toss the whole line if need be.

I believe there is room for both type’s of rod’s in this old world. In the last several years the Graphite rod companys have learned that not all people like “STIFF” that is why they are offering slow and medium action rods now. It took them some time but they came around.
I have a new 4wgt 9’ Echo rod that has two tips with it. One a fast and the other a Med. I have fished it and you can sure tell the difference in the two tips. I believe that Rajeff has found something in the market that no one else has thought of. Offering two tips with one rod each a different action. (Talking Grahite here) So for the money you get two different rods.

A lot of people out there have no idea what glass fishes like. They were raised on Graphite and know nothing else. I have had them laugh at my old Winston glass rods. That is until I let them try one of my “Old” Rods. Sometimes it pays to be a little older Ron

[This message has been edited by RonMT (edited 08 May 2006).]

17

The demographics (the study of population and related activity), show that as the population increases, so doe the number of anglers. Not all anglers are fly anglers; some are either spinnbait, trollers, or bait.
Some anglers, use two or more methods of angling. The groups are also divided into Saltwater and Freshwater Anglers, with some anglers doing both.

At one time all fishing rods were cane, before that they were wood. There have been experiments with metal rods, telescoping rods, fiberglass, boron, graphic, ceramic compositions with boron and graphite. Angling always has periods of equipment break through, where a new material or design pushes a previous material or design off of the shelves at the store. Not only fly rods, but hooks, line, lures, boats, motors, clothing; change over time.

The number of licenses sold for angling can fluctuate according to spare time available for a angler to go fishing, Many people in the USA are working two jobs, or have family’s to raise, so the available time to go fishing is reduced or disappears.

The place to go fishing can be a problem, if public lands and water become private, or monopolized by other activities. Who wants to try and go fishing on a lake that has been taken over by a sailing club, that holds races every weekend. How about a stream or river that is full of groups tubing (truck inner tubes)or canoing, so there is no fishable pools to fish.

Then there are the waters that have been polluted so there is nothing there to catch, or if caught you would not want to eat what you caught.

Sometime your favorite waters have been fenced off, or build up with housing so that fishing is no longer possible (or you do not wish to fish there anymore).

As population centers grow outward, the countryside is used up at a alarming rate, with 10 or 20 acre home sites. While in the inner city core of the area, houses are on 40’ x 80’ lots. There are only 640 acres in a square mile, few people are using up more land.

With the land goes the waters that are there, so places to go fishing diminish.

Minnesota has lots of anglers, fly angling is a minority, but that is increasing at a fast rate. 15,453 lakes ( Lake Superior, still only counts as one), 9000 miles of streams and rivers, gives Minnesotans a place to go fishing close to home (usually within 1 mile).

~Parnelli

[This message has been edited by Steven H. McGarthwaite (edited 08 May 2006).]

18

I took an old fried fishing a couple of weeks ago. I hadn’t been out with him for several years and it was nice to get reaquainted. I noticed that he had a few more scars and was beginning to show his age a little but he sure still had all the ability I had enjoyed years ago. He fished a little slower than I’m use to now and I found that kinda relaxing; I’m getting a little slower too. He sure could still handle a good size ‘gill’ and all of the new style flies were no problem.

Yep, enjoyed the day, we’ll have to do it again…

19

I have cast many rods made of many different materials that didn’t appeal to me.

Rod action is a very personal thing. I’m sure somewhere out there a Ferrari driver is having an argument with a Stanley Steamer driver about where it should have ended.

Cane and glass are my two favorite materials although I have way more cane than glass . But I can tell you that beginning in the mid 1980’s and continuing to this day, I have tried MANY cane rods that were WAY too fast for my taste. Maybe they too are catering to the fast rod crowd. The actions are just so different from the “classic” tapers I am fond of. They are pretty to look at, but not to fish, IMHO.

But I do have several Winston DL4 graphite rods, (unfortunately discontinued), that are considerably more pleasant to fish and slower than some newer boos. So I guess you can screw things up no matter what material you use.

[This message has been edited by Bamboozle (edited 08 May 2006).]