Quote:
Originally Posted by stevel
David,
That's very interesting. I guess with all the simulation software available these days, and an army of geeky PHD student all to willing to take up these sorts of tasks they could develop/construct a program (assuming it was modelled correctly) to use number cruching random number simulations to determine the "optimum" distance for a given type of blank (taper, stiffness, material, etc, etc) between the guides to minimize slap.
Of course it could also be used to optimize the parallel theme on factors which affect distance and line shoot - the size of guides.
Tom Morgan I recall (quite fuzzily he said) once wrote an article saying that smaller not larger guides were better for shooting. I think the story goes that the small guides caused a funneling sort of effect, reducing line slap. Obviously there are limits to this theory and ultra small guides would not be conducive to a longer shoot, but he was only interested in trout rods, not SW or competition rods which are often called uption to cast/shoot in excess of 120'. Winston rods (of which he was a one time owner) have pretty small stripper guides compared to its competition.
Maybe you should take another stroll down to the local University! 
Cheers,
Steve |
Hi Steve,
I have spoken to Tom on the phone a few times in the period when he was running Winston. He is a lovely man. Unfortunately he doesn't keep so well these days and has Multiple Sclerosis. He still runs his business though. So If you want super expensive river fly rods from 3 up to a 6 weight, his company is the one to look at. America is a huge market and you can specialise like that and get good sales.
There is nothing new in that small guide concept. look at any pre 1970's rods. They all had small guides and single small stripper butt guides. In reality there is no need to have oversize guides on a rod that is going to be used on a river 60ft wide. Any size guides will shoot line that length of line and more.
All rod makers have different opinions on the dynamics of fly rods. It we where all of the same opinion how boring would that be? Rod companies keep trying to reinvent the wheel to boost sales...
I could make a case against small diameter guides and say they increase the contact area with the line and increase friction....
At the turn of the century rods used to have flap rings designed to trap the line to the rod to stop line slipping to make them cast further!
Alexander Grant still holds the true spey cast record distance made in 1896 with a cast of 74yds using a rod with flap rings and no line shoot... We have only came close to that recently with high tech tackle!
I don't think it is possible to tie down rod guide spacing in the way you suggest. There are far too many variables. For example three different moduli of carbon in one section of my rods would need an immensley complicated programme to cover the different strain rates in a matrix of varying taper, infinitely variable wall thickness and a random number of sections. We do have Finite analysis. Having seen that in action, It doesn't tell you more than what can be done empirically - and with a lot less expense.
The great thing about rod making, and great rod makers like Tom is the intuitive interpretation of a concept that transcends definition. Engineers and scientists like things cut and dried - In a format that they can understand. I know that to be true. Engineers and Scientists don't make comfortable bedfellows with rod makers. A hybrid of them all, a touch of ingenuity mixed with an intuitive nature and a very thick skin - makes for a good rod maker though.
Tom sums up well the current scene here and in the U.S.A. I totally agree with him.......
"It is important to point out, I believe, that "fast action" has taken on a new meaning in recent years when applied to graphite rods. Most of today's rods have fast action, regardless of their bending pattern, because they are overall stiffer than rods of previous eras. In other words, most of the contemporary rods would have been rated to cast lines one or two sizes heavier in years past. Many of today's anglers started using these stiff, fast rods, not even realizing that there are different designs that may be better suited for their trout angling situations. In my opinion, many anglers of today's generation have never learned the joys of fishing with truly great rods that bend and flex as they should and thereby communicating back to the angler how the rod, line, leader, and fly are performing."
Regards,
David.
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