First of all Im guessing the main recomendation will be to get some casting lessons but here goes.
I was fishing today with my dad and using both my 9ft 6wt vision GT4 four, and my scott SAS 9ft 5wt using a 6wt Rio gold line. I was reasonably happy with my casting until dad went for a pee and left his rod behind.
Its a loop adventure G3 using a 7wt mill end line. OK, it was fairly heavy, but the instant distance was astounding, both for holding a lot of line in the air under control and loading it to the taper and shooting. The backing knot flew through the top ring!!
I realise his total line length may be shorter than mine but it was far far easier (weight aside) to cast a much longer line.
Is this down to my poor technique being rewarded with a medium action rod where perfect timing isnt critical, or is it simply that a 10ft 7 will always outcast a 9ft 5 or 6. The stilwaters I fish regularly reward the longer casts, so shall I just go out and buy a G3 or a similar medium action rod (with a lighter blank) or spend the money on lessons to sort my existing gear out.
or maybe get an 11ft 8wt and start bench pressing

Thanks in advance

Rod

Ha Ha.Bank fishing with an 11'er Oh what fun.Not.

Jim

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Hi Jim.
Actually on the 11ft subject. I recently came accross a truely cheap daiwa signature in 8wt and i did almost buy it for a seatrouting treat for this year...... I'm guessing from your response that I was right to leave it.

Thanks

Rod

You made a wise decision.

Jim

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Hi Roders,
Just borrow Dads, Simple!
Also, why look for something else when you know your dads setup suits you fine, get another one if you have the cash. Tight lines

11ft 8 weights are best as double handers unless you can do 25kg dumbell curls!

There shouldn't really be all that startling a difference between a 9ft 6 wt and a 10 ft 7 weight - maybe the different rod action makes the difference. It may just mean that your 6wt line needs a clean - it's surprising how much difference that can make.

A 10ft rod will out cast a 9ft rod for distance every time. If the rod is balanced with the right line then the same caster should be able to cast a fair bit longer, provided the rod action is similar. It is quite simple, the 10ft rod has a longer casting arc for the same casting stroke, so for the same effort you are increasing power and line speed. Of course it also has more inertia so you do have to work a little harder to start and stop the stroke.
As an aside I have used my 11ft switch rod from the bank, casting two handed overhead style and the only real restriction on distance is how much shooting line you can handle without tangling!
All the best.
Mike

Hello.
May i ask what is a switch rod?.
Thank You. colboro.

I disagree, you have to rotate that extra length and weight. Then again it's probably down to your personal physiology. If your wrists are bigger than my ankles then you may be right :-).

Generally heavier outfits will cast further, until the caster runs out of strength. For example I can throw a cricket ball further than I can throw a tennis ball. Make a similar sized ball from lead though and I doubt I'd get it that far.

As for fly tackle, my longest cast (with a full floating line, i.e. excluding shooting heads) was with a #9. I haven't done so much practice with a #10 or #11, but I know my #12 doesn't go as far.

What do you base that on Mike?

From my experience, 10ft and 11ft rods are very hard on the wrist after a days fishing.

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