What's this pole?

[hookem]

As I said in a earler psot I have to learn to fly fish for an oct 12 trip to the williamson river. My dad brought me about 4 or 5 poles the he picks up at garages sales and who know were. All junk but one looks good. Its a ff806 8' 31/8 oz aftma no 6 fiberglass fenwick. I'm going to practice with this. Wish me luck and please pass along any tips.
mike

[ 09-11-2003, 06:28 PM: Message edited by: hookem ]

[rpnsteelheadlps]

The first thing you need to figure out is the action of the rod. Fast, moderate, slow this will help you figure out how to cast. This is my opinion. This is just 1/1000th of what you need to know. Get some advice from STEW. I think he really knows his stuff.

Points Points how I love to get Points :smile:

[Grantspastor]

The old Fenwick Fibreglass rods were pretty nice in their day. It should cast and fish well. Put a weight forward floating line on it ahead of fifty yards of dacron backing and go to town!

[ 09-11-2003, 08:26 PM: Message edited by: Grantspastor ]

[Old Coot]

Until you find Stew, locate a 6 or 7 weight double-taper fly line. Try a cheapie, like a Concept, because you are going to tear it up some learning. Add a store-bought tapered leader, and tie a little bit of fluff about half the size of your little fingernail to the tippet (end).

If you do not have access to a wide-open river bank or lake beach, go to a local school yard or park. (NOT a street or parking lot - the concrete/asphalt will abrade your fly line and leader) Strip out enough line so that you have about 15 feet of line beyond the rod tip.

Back up until that line is lying straight out in front of you, and your rod tip is pointing at the spot where the line touches the ground. Your rod hand should be at about belt height, fairly close to your body.

With a locked wrist, briskly raise the rod, using your elbow as a pivot point. As the rod approaches straight overhead, (the twelve o'clock position), stop it suddenly. It will probably drift back to about a one o'clock position. The line will follow the arc of your rod tip. When you stop the rod, keep your wrist stiff. Do NOT flex it so as to allow the rod to flop on backward.

Pause for a full second, then drive the rod forward and down, ending your cast with the rod tip pointed about a foot above where you want it to stop. Many people like the action to driving a nail with a hammer.

If you are lucky, the line is once again laying out in front of you. Keep working on this until you can consistently lay out all 15 feet of line. Vary your timing-rhythym-stroke until you find the point where your timing and the rod action meet. Then strip out 3 more feet and try it again. Pretty soon, you're throwing 35 or more feet of line.

Remember, casting looks like a delicate and wimpy exercise; but it is actually a disciplined action. Be affirmative, don't limp-wrist the line off the water you are DRIVING this rod and line with your forearm and bicep.

Ummm, maybe you had better find Stew after all.

[rpnsteelheadlps]

Nothing wrong with what you said Old Coot. When are you going to start giving lessons?

[Steelie28]

If by chance when you do go fishing you use a graphite rod instead of the fiberglass, keep in mind that fiberglass rods have slower actions than graphite. When I cast a fiberglass rod, I really have to wait on the back cast. Always remember this, a good back cast is the key to a good forward cast. Patience on the back cast is the key. Much like a golf swing, if you screw up going back, you will not have good results going forward.

Steelie28

[Steelie28]

One more thing, you are casting the weight of the line, and not the fly. You don't have to muscle the rod while casting. Let the action of the rod throw the line.

Steelie28

[Old Coot]

David: :blush:

Thanks! Complete the saying, "Those who can't do ..."

[rpnsteelheadlps]

Tell me a story OLD COOT, what was it like in the good old days :laugh: Back when there was so much fish it didn't matter if you could cast or not. As long as the fly hit the water you caught a fish............

I can't,they think I can. Life is good......