by dahlberg » Tue Aug 21, 2007 6:44 am
HI C,
In the case of the spey rods I'd STRONGLY suggest a try before you buy approach.
These rods were designed to manipulate line without having to utilize the traditional tight, candy cane shaped loop needed in a standard cast.
Their length is what enables them to do it. It's a simple matter of linear distance regarding tip travel. Because the arc the tip travels is much longer you can pick up more slack, have more "room" and time to load the rod plus when the rod unloads the tip travels farther as well.
It's length also makes it an amazing tool for mending line.
However, the longer a rod is for a given line the more physical strength it takes to stop, accellerate or turn it over. Plus, as rods get longer they become more and more difficult to throw a super tight loop with.
Since a tight loop is one of the key variables in developing high line speed this is a problem.
If you design your flies properly and your casting is up to snuff you should not have too much trouble casting a fly 75 feet. With a head 90'.
For me, any more line than that on the deck is a pain, but I'm not sure what your needs are fishing-wise.
As an experiment, take a fly reel with a number ten line on it and cast it with a 7 foot med action spinning rod. Now try an 8, then go to a 9 foot fly rod, then a 9'6", 10' , all the way up to the longest you can find. Try to make the tightest loop you can with all of them. You'll see what I'm talking about.
Good luck,
L
I think you'll find a nine footer for a ten weight Also the longer the rod is the more leverage effect the line has upon it so it musapon g
Larry Dahlberg
The Hunt For Big Fish