R
Ron 'The Hat' Clay (ACA-Life Member)
Guest
I have great respect for the Americans in most things angling. They have been responsible for a number of significant innovations, especially in the field of fly fishing.
Plastic covered fly lines and shooting heads come to mind here.
However often, they do get it wrong.
Take carbon fibre as used in fishing rod construction for example. Right throughout The USA and even Africa and the far East it is known as graphite. This is completely wrong and often results in even highly qualified people talking about aspects of our sport that are technically incorrect.
Graphite is a form of carbon - yes, but it's structure is flat, flakey and sheet like. It does possess lubricating properties and is used in the manufacture of brake shoes and electric motor bushes. The term "Graphite" is derived from the Greek which means "to draw or write". Hence the use of graphite in the "lead" of pencils.
But Graphite is NOT carbon fibre. How carbon fibre came to be called this name is a mystery.
Next we come to this much bandied phrase -"High Line Speed". There are even rods which have HLS marked on them. This has reached the point where many fly fishers believe that the secret of distance casting is line speed.
High line speed is only a small part of the equation when it comes to the distance one can cast with a single handed fly rod.
What is more important are things such as air drag frontal area and line momentum, not velocity. You will find if you double the line speed you will increase the drag by 16 fold!
All this talk of line speed has resulted in some rather nasty things happening in terms of fly rod construction. They are becoming so stiff in relation to the line rating they are given that many anglers, especially beginners, are struggling to cast well.
I can refer here to Graham's experience with his 6 weight rated rod. When it was suggested he put a 7 weight line he did so, and voila, he was casting much easier and further too.
Back to line speed.
More important in terms of distance casting is frontal area and the ability to cast a tight loop!! Get this right and you will cast much further make no mistake. Get the idea of line speed out of your head.
Momentum and frontal area are far more important factors.
Plastic covered fly lines and shooting heads come to mind here.
However often, they do get it wrong.
Take carbon fibre as used in fishing rod construction for example. Right throughout The USA and even Africa and the far East it is known as graphite. This is completely wrong and often results in even highly qualified people talking about aspects of our sport that are technically incorrect.
Graphite is a form of carbon - yes, but it's structure is flat, flakey and sheet like. It does possess lubricating properties and is used in the manufacture of brake shoes and electric motor bushes. The term "Graphite" is derived from the Greek which means "to draw or write". Hence the use of graphite in the "lead" of pencils.
But Graphite is NOT carbon fibre. How carbon fibre came to be called this name is a mystery.
Next we come to this much bandied phrase -"High Line Speed". There are even rods which have HLS marked on them. This has reached the point where many fly fishers believe that the secret of distance casting is line speed.
High line speed is only a small part of the equation when it comes to the distance one can cast with a single handed fly rod.
What is more important are things such as air drag frontal area and line momentum, not velocity. You will find if you double the line speed you will increase the drag by 16 fold!
All this talk of line speed has resulted in some rather nasty things happening in terms of fly rod construction. They are becoming so stiff in relation to the line rating they are given that many anglers, especially beginners, are struggling to cast well.
I can refer here to Graham's experience with his 6 weight rated rod. When it was suggested he put a 7 weight line he did so, and voila, he was casting much easier and further too.
Back to line speed.
More important in terms of distance casting is frontal area and the ability to cast a tight loop!! Get this right and you will cast much further make no mistake. Get the idea of line speed out of your head.
Momentum and frontal area are far more important factors.