Inspired by some recent discussions here, I thought I'd try casting a #5 line on a number of different rated rods, namely a #5, #7, #10 and a #12. I know distance isn't everything, however it does give a non-subjective measure of performance. I gave myself 3 minutes with each combination to record my best cast. The results were not at all what I was expecting .

I've rated the longest cast as 100% and the others are obviously in proportion:

#5 - 88.84%; #7 - 93.37%; #10 - 99.86%; #12 - 100%

My other half also had a go, her results were:

#5 - 88.61%; #7 - 93.21%; #10 - 88.30%; #12 - 100% (she obviously screwed up the #10 ).

I'm really not sure what to make of this, my casting was pretty rusty so perhaps I got better as I went on (the casting order was as the results are given). It was a pretty still day, but perhaps the few light breaths of wind were when I was casting the heavy outfits, clutching at straws a bit here.

shocking, but would you fish it did it take you a lot of effort.. I once fished a complete day with my four weight reel and seven weight rod.. It was a wimpy under powered boron IIx so say a six weight and had a lousy day even at the big casting ranges.. Mind you i was fishing with a wulff line which doesn't like overhang all that much.. Did you use a SA MED because somehow i can see that work because of the long head..

Interesting stuff this is i will play with it tommorrow myself..

J

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When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.

Hi Jerry,

I was using a Barrio GT140 - slightly longer head than the SA MED. You're right, the #12 felt horrible

One thing i felt that was a problem, the extreme high frequency of the cast i just went nutts from the speed i had to use to compensate the lack of load. But maybe once you get used to all that it actually might work.
I did get a nice straight tip path though..

Jerry

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When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.

Fascinating. I don't suppose you measured how much line you could comfortably keep aerialised with each combination without hauling?

Cheers

Andy

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GAIC Single Handed Casting Instructor

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Sorry Andy - didn't measure it. I suspect that the results would be very different for a non-hauled cast. With the #10 and #12 I adjusted my technique to do as much work with the hauling hand as possible.

James - now that is weird. That is exactly the opposite of what I got! I'm wondering why that should be.

A couple of things come to mind:

1. I was using a normal WF (approx 40ft head) rather than the GT 140 which has that huge backtaper. If you were, as I suspect, aerialising 80ft + of line then that would explain it.

2. I was using medium actioned rods - the heavier of which was very stiff so didn't have the soft tip to project the line. The heavier rod barely bent with the 40 ft WF4 head.

Malcolm

James

What rod lengths did you use?

Regards

Vince

They were all 9ft.

These results is exactly what you should expect using a double taper (or long rear taper with the GT140).

Too many people get focused on matching rod to line (which loads at 10 yards and by 20 yards the rod is fully loaded and at 30 yards the rod is overloaded and struggling due to the line weight being excessive.) rather than focusing on the physics and matching rod to line to distance. If you have to cast to fish at 20 to 30 yards (and nothing closer) take the line weight at 25 yards and match it to the rod (as if it was at 15 yards) and you will have a 'matched outfit'

For instance, at 10 average distance yards a 7wt rod should be matched with a 7wt line, and your casts are nominally between 5 yards and 20 yards (which is 95% of peoples fishing distance).

If fishing at 25 yards average distance match that 7wt rod to a 4wt line. Will struggle to load under 14 yards, but after that will cast like normal and allow you to put the full line out if necessary. 29 yards of a 4wt line weighs exactly the same as 20 yards of a 7wt line for instance. Therefore the rod will comfortably handle either of the lines at those distances.

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Just My Tuppenceworth!!