[b][i]Lou Tabory?s[/i][/b]
TIP OF THE MONTH
[IMG]http://www.albrightflyfish.com/images/dottedline2.jpg[/IMG] Rod Development/July 2011
Testing rods is very important to producing both a good casting rod and tackle that holds up well. What we do at Albright is to cast a certain model to be sure that it not only casts well but also feels like all the other rods in that line. And they must fish well and be durable especially for the saltwater models. This helps the angler to find a rod that will perform the same whether it?s for fresh or saltwater and hold up to most of the mistakes that all of us inflict on our tackle from time to time. Usually it takes several years to be sure that equipment is ready for the market.
In mid-June the crew from Albright did the final testing for our 9?6? and 10? models in the XXT series. We wanted rods of this length that would cast smoothly, throw a tight loop and still feel like a 9 foot rod. A 10 foot rod should not require more strength to cast if it?s designed properly. Also the rod should cast and feel the same as the other rods in line even if they are longer. After hours of testing we all felt that these rods performed smoothly and were ready to go into production.
Our goal was building a longer rod that gives the advantage for fishing big rivers for trout or steelhead and will still handle well. That extra 6 inches to 1 foot makes line control easier when mending or throwing loops and curves to improve fly drift. When wading in deeper locations or if a higher back cast is necessary that additional length will make casting easier. Actually these rods will work for other types of fishing where a longer rod might make fishing easier. I fish some back-bay areas that require a high backcast where these rods will come in handy. They will also work along a big jetty where a longer reach helps and once you position down along the side of a jetty a very high backcast is necessary. I fished some locations in Florida where making a backcast over low mangroves will now be easier.
A slightly longer rod can offer many advantages if it casts and feels like a 9 foot rod. Longer rods should not require a different casting stroke and the addition of the rods to the assortment really freshens up the selection based on the demands of our customers.
We expect the new Rods to be available for spring 2012 and they will be part of next Seasons Back Order program. If you are interested in trying one of the Prototypes gives us a call at 866-359-7335 and one of our CS Reps can assist you.
Regards,
Lou Tabory and the Albright Pro Staff