I went fishing in the duck a few days ago and during the time the fish were biting, the question of sensitivity came to mind. It seem to me that more sensing of the strike was felt in the line than in the rod. If this is true then how does the sensitivity of the rod come into play. Also how is sensitivity put into a rod? Only a Newbee would ask a question like this, but I was just wondering. Can any one educate me?
WayneC
Wayne,
I guess I would have to ask you how you know that the strike that you felt came through the line? If you have the line pinched against the rod in your casting hand while the fly was in the water and you felt the strike in that finger that was holding the fly line against the rod, how would you know that the sensing you felt was coming through the line and not the rod?
Warren
You have a point to ponder on, but I do believe I felt the strike thru the line and not the rod.
WayneC
I do not think I can answer your question and maybe someone else can. All I know is that I watch my fly line where it enters the water and I concentrate on it 100% looking for any sign of a “take” and when it does happen, I also feel the “take” in my rod hand. I have tried to determine if I “saw” the “take” with movement from the fly line where it enters the water or “felt” the “take” in my rod hand and I cannot state one way or the other. I, sometimes, feel I “felt” and “saw” the “take” at the same time.
I have no knowledge of rod building or their make-up, but, I have owned rods that were not sensitive and did not transmit anything to my hand.
Hopefully, some knowledgeable person will respond and help your with your question.
The fish strike the fly which is attached to the line, which when drawn taut, transmits the vibration through the line to the rod and your hand, if you are touching the line. For you to feel the vibration through the rod it must be transmitted from the line to the rod to your hand. This would be the long route for the vibration by a few millimeters. The vibrations would probably travel down the rod due to its rigid state, faster than down the line, but considering we are talking a distance of a few feet I would think it would arrive pretty much at the same time.
newbee,
Sounds like some kind of test needs to be conducted, like going out and catching a few dozen or more fish to study this question. If you have a lot of slack in your line you will not feel the strike, you will only be able to see it either by the line moving or with the use of a strike indicator for sub-surface action. With a tight line you should feel the strike in both the rod and the line at the same time, since the fly line has to pass through all those guides, the line will transmit the feel of the fish into the rod. I have to agree with Warren when he says that there are some rods that do not transmit hardly anything. Those are broomsticks. I like to feel the fight of the fish, from the take to the first few seconds of the fight, then for me it is a matter of getting the fish in so I can release it. Yep, I think you need to do more studying of this question out on the water. Have fun while doing it.
Larry —sagefisher—
I Think you guys may have a point about needing more studying on this subject. I thank you guys for your in put and I will start to pay more attention to the rod and line when I am fishing. Hooray for study time…LOL
WayneC
I am not sure that I can give any more input on the difference between the line and the rod.
Like Warren I watch the end of the line for any change. I get many fish that way that I never feel on the line or rod.
Rick
I’m a line watcher also. However, in the faster moving water it is certainly not as observable. Tight lines are the order of the day, as an old mentor use to preach to me, and so I’m careful about the line and most always have my hand on it, sort of at the ready. Have noticed when fishing streamers in one of my favorite streams where they work great, the trout will just barely bump it and you have to be on your toes to feel it.
+1
Allow me to add that the rod handle dampens the vibrations from the rod blank. Cork and foam are excellent for reducing vibrations. There are spin fishers that remove a section of the handle over the rod blank so they can put an index finger directly on the rod blank. OR they put their index finger on the rod blank ABOVE the rod handle.
Also reaction time is much faster when you see the take rather than feel the take for two reasons. First the eyes are closer to the brain so vision reaches the brain before a sensation from you hand which is much further away from the brain. Secondly, the vibration of the tug takes time to be transmitted to the hand but light travels at the speed of light so it is instantaneous.
That is why contrasting colored sections of leader are used as “sighters” by competitive fly fishers when nymphing.
I fish mostly in lakes for trout and bass.
Sensitivity is critical to my fishing.
I’m sure that the vast majority of modern graphite rods are amazingly sensitive. Whether or not you ‘feel’ the take through the line or the rod would have a few variables; line angle to the tip, density of the line, depth of the line in the water, current, etc.
The important thing is that you do feel or somehow perceive the take. If you aren’t feeling anything until the line is pulled strongly, you are likely missing LOTS of fish.
Buddy
Buddy,
I tried to send you a PM, but, your PM box is full.
I am the first to admit after coming back to trout fishing last couple of years my “feel” is not what it used to be. I do think the majority of good anglers who spend enough time on the water develop instincts that will have them striking a fish when there was nothing to tell them that they had a take. I know I often set the hook just on instinct.
As for gauging the feel of the rod try this. As you drift only touch the line to take up when necessary. Other than that, let the line drop free of the rod and see if you can’t feel a take thru the rod without contact with the line. I stress again, when you spend enough time you will not have to “feel” a take in the sense you wait for it to happen before you strike. It will become an ingrained action without conscious thought. All good fisherman develop this instinct even if they don’t realize they have.
Unless you’re stripping streamers or wets on a tight line, if you’re waiting to feel the strike, you’re missing 80+ percent of them. You should be watching the fly (dry), indicator or line/leader to see strikes.
This is the first time I ever remember wanting to go study!!! And yes, I’m afraid I did have the grades to back that claim up! LOL
hNt
Warren,
It shouldn’t have been full, but I cleaned it out anyway.
Buddy
this, like so many other ways, shows a major difference in fly fishing versus other types of fishing. With modern graphite rods and zero-stretch superlines on spinning and casting outfits, it is entirely possible for an observant fisherman to FEEL when a fish rushes a lure and turns away at the last instant, even a long cast away. I can feel the difference when a jig touches a bare rock or a moss-covered rock.
With fly tackle, the inherent stretch of the fly line, large diameter of the line with plastic coating, action of the rod, stretch of the leader, and many other factors combine to decrease your tactile feel (sensitivity) of what is going on at the fly.
Yes, we have all felt the jolt of a fish hitting a wet fly, streamer, or nymph from time to time, but as others have pointed out if you are waiting to FEEL a take on fly tackle, you are missing a lot of fish. I’m not a fly-only purist, so the contrast is very very evident to me.