ianw
Smolt
Posts: 75
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Post by ianw on Jan 23, 2008 13:19:41 GMT -1
Hi Guys,
Sorry its been so long since I've been on here. I am getting back into finishing off the tube vices that you are waiting for. As long as we don't get too much rain to wash me out of the shed.
I have been looking at a couple of the posts on the tackle forum and I am going to add my two pennorth here.
On the subject of reels there are a couple of old chestnuts.
Get a light reel. Get a narrow reel to wind in faster.
B******s.
Get a reel that balances the rod just at the top of the grip. This allows the rod to pivot in the hand, reduces the apparent weight of the rod and also has the effect of making the action faster as it requires less effort to accelerate the tip. this assumes that you are casting in the traditional style and not with a locked wrist which is just plain hard work.
Get a wide reel wind in faster longer.
DT versus WF
No difference in presentation on short casts as they both have level bellies, look at line profiles to see which has the longer front taper for delicate presentation. A short front taper will turn over heavier flies easier hence the old Bass Bug tapers.
For really good presentation and exceptional roll casting performance go for a Triangle Taper which is a continual taper from the tip with a short rear taper and fine running line. Sitting in a boat with an 11 ft rod I could pick up the head with a roll cast and with one back cast shoot the rest (TT5/6F). Invaluable for a long day loch style (the balanced reel helps with this trick).
Finally whilst clearing out the workshop I have come across a box of scissor clips that I used to use when I made wooden landing nets. These are the nickle plated dog lead type that you squeeze together to open and are about 2 inches long. If any of you guys want a couple or so for your landing nets or wading staffs drop me a PM with your address. I always put one on my wading staff lanyard so I can just unclip the staff when I want to collapse in a heap on the bank.
Finally happy new year and tight lines to everyone on the forum.
Best regards,
Ian
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Post by watermole on Jan 23, 2008 21:34:32 GMT -1
Nice to see you back Ian-and no apology needed!
At last,-someone with the same thoughts as my own re. reel diameters and weight. Have often felt that, the quest for lighter and yet lighter rods, with reels to match, has been getting a bit out of proportion! We now have 8-9' rods weighing a mere few ounces or so,-and still, makers are trying to shave a few more grains off them! In order to make reels to feel proportionally light, they are ventilated to barely skeletal, ultra-lightweight structures, which are very eye-catching to look at, but increasingly fragile in construction. Essentially, you are paying a great deal more money for a lot less metal! Quite frankly, the tackle-buying public are being ripped off alarmingly, in many cases, quite willing to pay ridiculously OTT prices, just to have a certain 'designer' name or label on it. The profit margins on some goods are incredible...
Recent and rapid advances in CNC machining technology means now that, essentially, if you can think of a shape-you can produce it! Reel manufacturers have not been slow to catch on to this, resulting in evermore increasingly complex lightening designs, in most cases, serving no practical purpose whatsoever, except to remove metal in an ornamental way-often to the detriment of the reel strength. I freely admit to not having a lot of experience, casting with ultra-modern tackle, but some of that which I have tried, has felt almost 'unnaturally' light in the hand, and a shift in balance of a few drams making quite a difference to casting.
I have often wondered-and this is only a personal viewpoint-why reels are made so light as they are-and with increasingly complicated braking systems considered so vital now! -I would hastily add of course, that I do not refer to specialist salt-water applications such as bonefish or tarpon fishing reels and the like.
I often read on these pages of reels that have been tried and sometimes lasted but a season or two-or less-before developing faults, which invariably only show up on the river bank, when fast into a good fish!
I expect a lot of flak to be forthcoming over this and I am not for one minute advocating that older reels were better-in many cases they were awful and there is much in todays' tackle which is very good indeed, but I for one, feel a lot happier fishing with a slightly heavier reel, which not only balances the rod far better, but has the ability to withstand the odd accidental clout, which might otherwise scrap a super-lightweight one...
Wm.
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ianw
Smolt
Posts: 75
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Post by ianw on Jan 23, 2008 23:16:27 GMT -1
Hi Wm, I see from another of your posts that you use a Cane rod and a Perfect reel. Now that was a piece of kit that was ahead of its time and of a weight that would have suited the rods of its day. In days past to get a better balance I have even put lead into the rod butt to bring the fulcrum into my hand. I do like a ventilated reel, I know that they are not quite so necessary now with the modern plastic lines and you can overdo these things. I also like the smoothness of roller bearings and a uni-directional drag and my reels have these set in two layers (same format as an Ari Hart but with the roller bearings between the top hat and centre shaft). These are not light reels, Here's a couple of photo's for the Tackle tarts Best regards, Ian
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Post by waddington on Jan 24, 2008 1:55:52 GMT -1
I tend to agree with you Watermole on the issue of 'new' reels being extremely flimsy. A couple of years ago I managed to completely distort a spool on a modern Hardy lightweight Large arbour reel. This was caused by what I considered to be a very light fall. With the inevitable minor mishaps which go hand in hand with night fishing, the quest for ever lighter, and dare I say less robust gear has obvious implications.
On the same theme an annoying feature of modern rods is that the reel seats will not accommodate old reels. This really gets on my nerves and I find that the seats are machined to be so small that even modern reels which fit are a pain to put on especially in the gloom. I should not moan too much as many of the features of modern fishing tackle are a definite practical advancement for the angler. Unfortunately I think we might have reached a point where savings, particularly with regard to weight, are aimed with marketing in mind rather than practical angling purposes.
Robustness does not seem to be given the priority it should by manufacturers.
Phil
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Post by buzzerman on Jan 24, 2008 3:21:35 GMT -1
it is vital to have a balanced set up if you are to cast with confidence as specially as you fishing in the dark ,to much importance is put on weight of the set up these days missing the whole point IE you need the [ weight and you need it in the right place ] the hand area if you can feel the weight you will not fail to cast better a cast is a series of acceleration and stops which is much easier to perform with a balanced set up if you can feel the loading of the rod , another way around this is to load the rod with a line which is a weight heavier than the rods rating then you will feel the rod load up easier i am only suggesting this so you can feel the rod load i am not saying that a light weight set up is no good , i am saying it needs to be balanced so if your buying a new rod make sure you try it with every available reel on it until it feels right get the balance get the feel good factor its a well known fact that only 10 percent of all anglers can feel the rod load 90 percent of the time and they are the better of the caster,s billy p
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Post by dai on Jan 24, 2008 18:55:34 GMT -1
Hi Ian, Nice to see you about, hope you are better than when i spoke to you a few weeks ago. Dai
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ianw
Smolt
Posts: 75
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Post by ianw on Jan 25, 2008 1:40:57 GMT -1
Hi Dai, Feeling much better now thanks, took nearly 2 weeks to shift that.
Beat regards, Ian
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Post by moose007 on Jan 25, 2008 11:23:44 GMT -1
I noticed the issue with changing to a light reel when I swappped a Hardy Marquis for a St. Aiden on my 11ft Deluxe, the pivot point moved to an inch over the cork handle. My brother came up with a novel solution, he loaded a lead core shooting head under the backing which with a bit of buggering around work fine.
Have I mentioned how hopelessly crap my Greys G-Lite is ?
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Post by shocker on Apr 26, 2008 8:34:18 GMT -1
Have I mentioned how hopelessly crap my Greys G-Lite is ? sorry for lateness of query,but the G lite...crap...how so?I was thinking of getting one now the prices were coming down as its been superceded........
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