R
Ron 'The Hat' Clay
Guest
Talking to several anglers new to fly fishing gives me the impression that some still think that the reel must "balance" the rod.
I thought this outdated thinking had disappeared years ago.
Certainly if one looks back at old books and articles, one is given the impression that the reel must make the rod balance at the point of grip. Some authorities have even stated that the rod must balance at some osbcure distance above the grip.
This, for many years, led to fly reels being made that were over heavy. And worse still, there was aperiod when the reel seat, on single handed fly rods, put the reel at the maximum extremity of the rod handle.
Right, here is the truth and nothing but the truth.
A fly rod casts better without a reel attached to the rod.
A fly rod with a reel attatched will cast better the lighter that reel is; and more important of all, the closer the reel is to your hand.
This is purely a matter of simple mechanics. A reel fixed to the rod is working against you by virtue of it's mass and the lever arm against the fulcrum of your hand.
Try casting a rod without a reel and you will see what I mean.
Modern single handed fly rods are now all constructed correctly with up locking reel seats.
I remember receiving a batch of rods years ago from England that had down locking reel seats. It took quite a bit of work to convert them.
I thought this outdated thinking had disappeared years ago.
Certainly if one looks back at old books and articles, one is given the impression that the reel must make the rod balance at the point of grip. Some authorities have even stated that the rod must balance at some osbcure distance above the grip.
This, for many years, led to fly reels being made that were over heavy. And worse still, there was aperiod when the reel seat, on single handed fly rods, put the reel at the maximum extremity of the rod handle.
Right, here is the truth and nothing but the truth.
A fly rod casts better without a reel attached to the rod.
A fly rod with a reel attatched will cast better the lighter that reel is; and more important of all, the closer the reel is to your hand.
This is purely a matter of simple mechanics. A reel fixed to the rod is working against you by virtue of it's mass and the lever arm against the fulcrum of your hand.
Try casting a rod without a reel and you will see what I mean.
Modern single handed fly rods are now all constructed correctly with up locking reel seats.
I remember receiving a batch of rods years ago from England that had down locking reel seats. It took quite a bit of work to convert them.