Rod action - fast / mod-fast

[flyguy613 0]

Looking to hear everyone's opinions on rod action.

 

I am looking for a rod that I can take on the river and use dries and nymphs from 15-60 ft. Medium sized waters, thinking a 8'6" #4. I prefer or at least think I prefer a moderate fast action in my fly rod for this.

 

My friend says a fast action for everything where as to me a fast action would be suited for heavy winds / streamers. I assume a fast rod would not only do poorly casting short distances but also lack feel when nymphing?

 

What is everyone's opinions, right now considering the sage accel 8'6 #4

[SilverCreek 0]

Fast action is stiffer so it reacts faster to hook sets when nymphing and you would feel the take when direct line nymphing more easily. A fast action rod bends less for the identical cast so the effective rod length (the geometric chord of the rod = the straight line from the rod tip to the casting hand = the effective rod length during a cast) has less variation during the cast.

 

See how the rod bends during the cast, and the deeper the bend, the more the caster has to compensate for the chord shortening to keep the rod tip moving in a straight line. The caster has to compenstate for the shortening of the chord at postion 2 in each of the 3 casts below and at every point in the rod tip path if the rod tip is to move in a SLP and form a tight loop.

 

 

Moderately fast will allow you to feel the rod bend more on shorter casts.

 

I wrote about rod actions vs line rating vs rod power here:

 

http://www.theflyfishingforum.com/forums/fly-rods/222260-fly-rod-line-rating-power-action-explanation.html

 

A fly fisher gradually adapts to the rod action they are casting. For lack of a better word they become "one with the rod" so they can instinctively modify the rod stroke to accomplish what they want. The question is NOT what is the bst rod for the situation, it is what is the BEST ROD FOR YOU?

 

If you are used to a moderatley fast rod, your casting stroke is adapted to that rod action to create a SLP for the rod tip. So I think a moderately fast rod would be best because that is what you are used to. If you are casting another rod action, then you need to decide whether the learning curve needed to adapt to the new rod action is worth the benfits of that rod action.

[heavynets 0]

For nymphing and mending the line, a 10' rod is much better than 8'-6".

[Adam Saarinen 0]

A 2kg fish is easier to get in the net with a 8'6" then a 10' rod!

[Dave G. 0]

I would just add to what Silver Creek said and reiterate that the casting approach is different, the stroke different lengths. And more of a push motion on a softer rod action with a much deeper bend, shorter stroke on the fast. Fast tends to be more sensitive to a bite, quicker hook set but easier to over due. I like medium fast and my prefered rod length is 9' on average ( I do have shorter creek rods, longer salt and salmon rods). I also like a little forgiveness in the rod tip. However, I can cast probably as far with my old Sage moderade action Graphite II rod , it takes a little more effort than with faster actions rods. The Accel line of rods is much faster than that old Graphite II incidentally. The Accel's also exibit double rebound or harmonics, if you will, and that vibrates all along the rod shaft. Something I don't care for personally ( I liken that to a car spring with no shock absorber). I can think of various blanks I'd prefer that are better dampened and at least as powerful, some of which cost less too, and one a lot more ( happens to be a T&T ).. Scott has one that is well dampened and so does TFO ( TFO actually has two, one moderate action and one more medium fast). That of course is insignificant if you like how the Accel casts !! lol

 

DG

[ditz2 0]

If faster is better than why don't we all fish with long broom sticks? Where is the popcorn?

 

I do prefer fast rods when fighting the wind like in the salt. But I also sometimes fish slow rods depending on my mood. In my hands a slow rod will not get the distance but I do find them a pleasure to swing.

[Bruce Norikane 0]

One more thing to consider - current super fast rods are not very forgiving. This comes into play when setting the hook and fighting a fish. A fast rod with a soft tip can give you backbone for casting while the flexible tip protects the tippet. I like a fast rod for casting dries, but I've felt strong fish jerk out a hook with a whip of their head. Flex helps absorb those big shakers.

 

As SilverCreek notes - good fishermen can adjust to different rods, and they can learn to absorb the fish with their hands and arms. But, for me, I like some flex on my side.

[Saltybum 0]

Just because a rod is stiff does not mean it's fast. You can stretch a rubber band out and let it go and it will recoil fast. Surfers use a leash that when stretched out recoils slow so as not to get slammed by the board rocketing back. Hence just because a rod is stiff does not necessarily mean it's faster. A moderate action rod may actually recover quite fast compared to some feelingless stiff rods. As silver creek said find what feels good to you.

[corney 0]

One of my old fishing buddies when I started out said your rod should match your personality,! If your hyper and want to bail out the whole fly line get a fast rod, if you like to pin point your casts and take your time go slow rod.

 

I am a moderate rod guy.

[Adam Saarinen 0]

So those guys that think it's a compatition everytime they are on the water should own a fast rod? We all know them, always in a rush, agresive & swear when any little thing goes wrong & the world has just ended when they lose a fish!:-)

[SilverCreek 0]

One of my old fishing buddies when I started out said your rod should match your personality,! If your hyper and want to bail out the whole fly line get a fast rod, if you like to pin point your casts and take your time go slow rod.

 

I am a moderate rod guy.

 

Tom Rosenbauer made the same observation on one of his podcasts. I think there is some truth to that, but local conditions can overule what we may prefer.

 

I personally use a very fast action 10 ft 5 wt original (Classic) G Loomis GLX to fish the Madison River where wind can be an enemy and my fishing is mostly nymphing. The long fast rod is also an advantage when I fish Hebgen Lake from shore. You can only wade so far into the lake. So the ability to cast long is a huge advantage when the gulpers are up and feeding. It is impossible cast acurrately when your rod won't reach the target, and that happens on Hebgen a lot. Even a 10 footer is not enough sometimes.

 

But on my local streams in Wisconsin I use a moderately fast fly rod because the fishing is mostly dry fly and closer in. A long fast rod is a disadvantage in my local smaller tree lined meandering streams.

 

So, for me, it is picking the right tool (rod) for the fishing situation.

[tidewaterfly 0]

 

 

So, for me, it is picking the right tool (rod) for the fishing situation.

 

I'm the same way to some degree. When I've purchased rods, I'm more interested in weight & length to fill a need and although I'll take note of the labeled action, rarely give a hoot. Once I cast the rod, I can usually tell how I'll need to use it. I'm no expert nor am I a great caster, but I do rely more on the feel than the numbers.

 

This has worked for me no matter what type rod, even spinning & baitcaster. Bass anglers today are all about technique specific rods, and I use different rods for different techniques, but not always those that the rod maker labels them for. It's all about the feel to me! Sometimes & for some folks such as myself, I guess ignorance really is bliss!

 

BTW, I learned to shift the 10 & 13 speed transmissions in 18 wheeler trucks using this approach. There's a sound to the engine & "feel" to the shifting, and I rarely use the clutch once I get going.

[corney 0]

 

One of my old fishing buddies when I started out said your rod should match your personality,! If your hyper and want to bail out the whole fly line get a fast rod, if you like to pin point your casts and take your time go slow rod.

I am a moderate rod guy.

 

Tom Rosenbauer made the same observation on one of his podcasts. I think there is some truth to that, but local conditions can overule what we may prefer.

 

I personally use a very fast action 10 ft 5 wt original (Classic) G Loomis GLX to fish the Madison River where wind can be an enemy and my fishing is mostly nymphing. The long fast rod is also an advantage when I fish Hebgen Lake from shore. You can only wade so far into the lake. So the ability to cast long is a huge advantage when the gulpers are up and feeding. It is impossible cast acurrately when your rod won't reach the target, and that happens on Hebgen a lot. Even a 10 footer is not enough sometimes.

 

But on my local streams in Wisconsin I use a moderately fast fly rod because the fishing is mostly dry fly and closer in. A long fast rod is a disadvantage in my local smaller tree lined meandering streams.

 

 

 

So, for me, it is picking the right tool (rod) for the fishing situation.

Agreed, my 5, 6 and 7 wt rods are moderate, my 8 wt that chucks big bugs at pike into the wind is fast.

 

I also line up once in a while so it loads the rod easier!

[mikechell 0]

My rods are ... let me remember ... I have:

One 30, two 50s, one 125 and two of them I can't remember but they were on sale for less than $30.00.

 

Only one of them is over a 5 weight.

 

They get a lot of action ... but I have no idea if they're fast or slow.

[Fisherboy0301 0]

Mine is so cheap it doesn't even say. Lol. It only says South Bend. Two piece fly rod. 8' 6" 6/7Wt. Made in China. But hey it's caught a crapload of fish.