While at an Orvi$ store yesterday, it occurred to me that they have it “nailed”. Their rod flex ratings, full, mid and tip and the distance from the reel seat from which that flex is measured is the clearest (to me) indication of how one should expect the rod to perform. Since I’m not that much into equipment (I can only tell you the color of my rods- maybe?)) I was wondering if other manufacturers use this type of flex/action rating. Seems to me that "fast,slow "etc. is a bit vague and subject to a lot of personal interpretation.
As I have admitted before on FAOL, I was (mostly) absent from the sport for about 12 years until this year…well I made a trip to our local (Orvis) fly shop this past winter and the owner started talking to me about rods and was using terms like “tip flex” and “mid flex” and Etc. and I had no Idea what he was talking about until later when I had a chance to think about it, but then too, when I first got into fly fishing I hadn’t heard of rods being “fast”, “slow” and “medium”…you just simply took it outside and cast it, you either liked it or not.
By the way, I own a light tan, a dark tan and a black rod…I like the light tan one best.
“Beer, much more than just a breakfast drink”
[This message has been edited by tea stick (edited 15 July 2006).]
"I was wondering if other manufacturers use this type of flex/action rating. Seems to me that "fast,slow “etc. is a bit vague and subject to a lot of personal interpretation.”
Ducksterman et al,
The reason I don’t do the research is that I don’t care. I’m NOT into equipment but have been fly fishing for 35+ years. When I see a rod, I wiggle it and if it feels good I BUY. Usually for a pittance. My concentration is where I fish and what I catch and NOT what I fish with. Till this day, I couldn’t tell the difference between a mid or tip flex fast or medium rod unless it had a label saying so. But even then I wouldn’t care. What matters is how it feels to me when I “wiggle” it. I have never lost sleep over the action of my rod or the name brand label on it. I have often said that when I hear that trout prefer $$$ equipment, mine will cost $10,000. Until that time, I’ll just continue fishing the USA with my( wait, let me check the labels-never mind) nameless whatever flex rods. But thanks for the enlightenment and that’s why I posed the question here among those who would know the answers.
If other’s would do THEIR homework then maybe THEY would be aware that Orvi$ also uses a numeric system with their termonology ie. a scale of 2.5-12.5 with full flex being represented by 2.5-5.5 and mid flex 6.0-9.0 and etc. so in that respect it is more precise. I once posted a question here as to what people enjoyed fishing with slow, med. or fast rods just because I was curious, but in the end you just have to have it in hand and as you said wiggle it or even better yet try casting it. I went for years without ever thinking about whether my rod was fast or slow and it didn’t detract a bit from my enjoyment of a particular rod. All this talk about a rods action being slow or what have you just allows us to help decsribe a rod and how you might expect it to feel when in hand.
[This message has been edited by tea stick (edited 15 July 2006).]
The problems come from terminology and mis conceptions that go along with the terms used. You can build a fast actioned rod out of any material, but they won’t react or fish the same. Many people refer to a fast reacting blank as a fast actioned blank, than all discriptions go out the window.
Everything is to prone to hype, misrepresentatios and downright lying. To carry a little more line in the air the manufacturer just list the next heavier blank as the weight you want. Than the line manufacturer catches flak because his line now doesn’t load the rod correctly for closer work so he does the same thing. Never ending spiral till the CC system was developed. All Hail the CC Data system. Now we need to just use it.
“The reason I don’t do the research is that I don’t care. I’m NOT into equipment but have been fly fishing for 35+ years. When I see a rod, I wiggle it and if it feels good I BUY. Usually for a pittance. My concentration is where I fish and what I catch and NOT what I fish with. Till this day, I couldn’t tell the difference between a mid or tip flex fast or medium rod unless it had a label saying so. But even then I wouldn’t care. What matters is how it feels to me when I “wiggle” it. I have never lost sleep over the action of my rod or the name brand label on it.”
It is getting so complicated with flexing and dozens of line choices and multitips and whoknowsallwhatelse. I have rods of graphite, fiberglass and bamboo. I love casted every one of those rods. THere are differences of course and I know that and sometimes I choose one rod over another for those differences. However, Marco’s method of choosing a rod probably works just fine for most folks. In fact, I never cast any of my rods before I bought them and I am pleased with all of them. I suppose it all depends on how serious a person wants to be or how casual. FOr me having fun is at the top of the list.
Rich,
If that is an invitation(?) count me in. Timing this year is a problem. We have a Detroit area wedding to attend on the 30th of September so we won’t make Wyo till Oct 3 or 4th ( dead of winter maybe). Barring all that, see ya on the South Fork and duck this time when I cast.
There are questions not answered by the flex rating/fast medium slow method of discribing fly rod action. What is the rod is made of? How quickly does it return to the straight position (dampen)? How much of the preceived work does the rod do while being cast? Stiff does not necessarily mean fast if its stiff in the tip and soft in the butt. There are many things that discribe a “good” rod to me. The answers to these questions can only be answered by casting the rod.
I think the terms fast, slow etc., can be very mis-leading. I’ve used rods that were supposedly fast, but felt like a medium and vice versa. Orvis is the only one that I know that uses a numerical rating system. The rest just use fast, slow, med. The best way to find out…cast it.
One of my favorite rods is med-slow action, but very fast dampening blank.
I’m of the mind these days that I’m going to have to try any rod that I purchase. I might end up trying one of my buddies rods and not the actual rod I purchase, but if I buy it then I’ve tried it.
