Slow action rods ...

[dave27615]

In reading through my copy of Joe Brooks "Complete Book of Fly Fishing" (1958) ... it's interesting that he recommends the slow action rod for everything short of 100 pound and over fish.

"Gradually, over the years for all types of fly fishing, I have gone to the slow action rod. Once you master the timing, you have greater ease in casting, greater delicacy of presentation and it is easier to handle the line and fly in the water."

In speaking of a 9.5 foot slow action rod Joe says, " ...the bigger outfit makes for much easier casting and allows the angler to get the lure out with only one, or at most, two false casts. With a stiff action rod and these big wind resistant lures, it would be difficult to get distance without a great deal of false casting and the angler's arm would be worn out at the end of the day."

He says it again in the next couple of paragraphs that the slow action rod excels at distance casting for big wind resistant flies. Odd that all I hear now-a-days is you need a stiff rod to generate line speed and distance.

I just thought it was interesting ....

 

[rickf]

All the old rods were "slow" action. All the cheap rods are all slow and heavy.
Now Brooks only uses a super light fast rod.
Slow and fast are only things the old timers talk about. Just like the old flies, Mickey Finn, whatever?
The best rods are the lightest rods. They just happen to be thin and fast!!
IMHO!!

 

[MoscaPescador]

He says it again in the next couple of paragraphs that the slow action rod excels at distance casting for big wind resistant flies. Odd that all I hear now-a-days is you need a stiff rod to generate line speed and distance.

Dave,
The interesting thing is that many fly fishers are purposely slowing down their fast rods in order to take full advantage of leverage from the butt of the rod to throw big heavy wind resistant flies. Mr. Brooks may have been onto something back in the day.

Umpqua Feather Merchants fly designer, Charlie Bisharat, uses a 9 weight Sage Xi3 with an 11 weight Rio Outbound Short to throw the his 5/0 Pole Dancer. Keep in mind an 11 weight ROS weighs 465 grains (basically a 13 weight line). I have seen Charlie cast that huge fly with that rig (its on video). His fast action Xi3 bends all the way to the grip.

I don't know where the practice of uplining two sizes for shooting heads came from. But that has become common practice. Maybe Riptide could shed some light on that. With modern rods being quicker, it just makes sense to put more of a bend in them to sling those huge flies.

MP

 

[304rodco]

In order to throw big, bulky or heavy flies I have to open the loop when I am casting. I am pretty sure I am not doing anything wrong - I also don't like to "Clouser" rod blanks. I have found slower rods to be much better for this kind of casting. Casting into the wind is a different story - forces you to close the loop.

 

[goofnoff2]

I cast Joe Brook's 9.5 footer at Rhine-Main AFB near Frankfurt Germany. He also used a 7.5 foot Orvis Midge for 5wt. Both were Battenkills The big rod weighed the better part of six ounces. Meeting him was pretty much the best thing that happened to me in the Army, short of rotating out of Nam.

Personally, I like the medium fast action that was provided by IM6 rods better than the biffo-stiffos. What I like, and a buck, will get you a cup of coffee.

 

[Rip Tide]

I don't know where the practice of uplining two sizes for shooting heads came from. But that has become common practice. Maybe Riptide could shed some light on that. With modern rods being quicker, it just makes sense to put more of a bend in them to sling those huge flies.

Overlining has been pretty common around here since the graphite rod became popular. I don't think it's ever been routinely one or two line sizes. It's more like trying a few lines and seeing what works best. That may be the recommended size or it might be 3 or even more sizes heavier.

You want to be capable of punching out large, air resistant flies into the wind with a minimum of false casts. And that takes utilizing the full length and power of the rod to do it. Not just the tip but the meat of the rod right back to the cork.
As for shooting heads, they're just not that commonly used here in the east. We often need to cast in close as well as at a distance so the use of regular full length lines make more sense.

For trout fishing, I like slower rods as well, especially for fishing dries. Once you get the hang of the more relaxed rhythm, you'll wonder what you ever saw in your fast action broomstick.

---------- Post added at 01:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:44 AM ----------

All the old rods were "slow" action. All the cheap rods are all slow and heavy.
Now Brooks only uses a super light fast rod.
Slow and fast are only things the old timers talk about. Just like the old flies, Mickey Finn, whatever?
The best rods are the lightest rods. They just happen to be thin and fast!!
IMHO!!

Take the advice of someone that knows.... Don't drink and post

 

[fredaevans]

Feel free to correct me here, but I think Joe's comments may well have been tied to the rod building materials available at the time. Not a lot of choices (Cane, fibreglass, what-ever) back in 1958.

And if memory serves, Graphite rods didn't come onto the scene until the early 1980's.

fae

 

[304rodco]

I know a guy that can cast an entire line through a shotgun shell hull. If you can cast correctly the material doesn't really make that big of a difference.

 

[Rip Tide]

Feel free to correct me here, but I think Joe's comments may well have been tied to the rod building materials available at the time. Not a lot of choices (Cane, fibreglass, what-ever) back in 1958.

And if memory serves, Graphite rods didn't come onto the scene until the early 1980's.

fae

The fast rods of today are a product of modern technology, but even back then rods came in different actions and quality. I have a late '50s Phillipson that would today be considered on the faster side of a medium, if not quite a med-fast.

IMO, Modern rods are built to be "fast" mostly because technology allows it, not necessarily because fast action rods are a better choice as a fishing tool.

 

[304rodco]

"Fast" is pretty relative term. I assume that most people mean tip flex.

 

[randyflycaster]

I love slow rods when roll casting on small streams and when fishing weighted nymphs. When I started out, all my fly rods were fast; now that's certainly changed. I just wish we had more slow graphite rods to choose from.

Randy

 

[rickf]

IMO, Modern rods are built to be "fast" mostly because technology allows it, not necessarily because fast action rods are a better choice as a fishing tool.

Dude...... are you sipping a couple?

 

[mojo]

All the old rods were "slow" action. All the cheap rods are all slow and heavy.
Now Brooks only uses a super light fast rod.
Slow and fast are only things the old timers talk about. Just like the old flies, Mickey Finn, whatever?
The best rods are the lightest rods. They just happen to be thin and fast!!
IMHO!!

That's a pretty good story about Joe only using a super light fast rod.
He'd have to since he's been dead for 39 years.

 

[bigspencer]

IME(matching goofnoff2's cup of coffee),
A "slower action" rod with today's graphites will be an OK rod...however something with a little faster linespeed might give you much quicker response in setting a hook. A what is called "medium-fast" linespeed graphite will give your responses much quicker action from the rod. Just my $.01. *A majority of my fishing time is (somewhat sadly) spent fishing for brooktrout, which will take a fly much faster than either brown or rainbow...imho...so that quickness is often needed...but totally agree with randy about a full-flexing rod killing it when rollcasting.
Think when one gets enough skills...one can fish with most anything...then it's all personal pref.

 

[wjc]

I still prefer bamboo river fishing for trout, and the only lightweight rod I have in a fast action is one I use for practice, since it has the same fast action as my heavier wt. salt water rods.

I don't think it's nostalgia, but that I can be far more delicate with bamboo than with the fast action rods I use in the salt.

"Fast" is pretty relative term. I assume that most people mean tip flex.

That is the definition of "fast action" according to rod and line designers.

Cheers,
Jim

 

[Rip Tide]

Not only are "fuller flex" rods better for roll casting, they also mend line easier and protect light tippets better than the stiffies