Fiberglass vs Graphite

[Danoinark]

Since there seems to be some interest in fiberglass fishing rods from some of the members I thought I would start a thread dealing with it. I have been in discussion with Cripple Caddis about the differences and as many of you know he is my FF mentor and good friend.

His following discussion is related to a question I posed:

I thought if you fished a 6 wt line on a 5 or 4 wt rod then the 6wt would cause the rod to load at shorter distances, ergo, they would cast longer distances than the smaller wt line.>

They will indeed load better at short distances, but as range is increased an overloaded rod will refuse what you're asking it to do at some point. By contrast with a lighter line you can carry more line in the air and then double haul for distance without overcoming the inherant capabilities of the rod.

Lines and rods are very 'adjustable' combinations. The vast majority of flyfishermen have little overall understanding of how their gear axtually works, but if they would spend a bit of time exploring the capacities and limits of their equipment the lessons learned would help them become better fishermen just by knowing what they can or can't do. Try it----using the rod you're most familiar with try casting with up to 3 line sizes greater AND smaller than what it is labelled as proper. And I don't mean just a half dozen casts either. Fish it a day each with the other sizes. Only that way will you truly learn the rod under actual fishing conditions. Remember casting and fishing are only peripherally related. Taken by themselves they are two entirely different processes. And that, in a nutshell, is what is wrong with the marketing of flyrods. As Tom Morgan mentioned the emphasis used to be on selling fishing tools but has now morphed to selling casting tools. Me? I'll take a fishing tool every time!

The following is moved from the thread about the Eagle Claw FG Featherlight:

I went on to ask him:

Since fiberglass is heavier than graphite why do I feell less tired and sore after a day of casting / fishing glass than I do with a graphite rod?

CC said:

That shouldn't even be a factor if you balance them well with the proper reel and line weights. And then allow them to cast the way THEY want to rather than trying to force them. That's the whole secret right there. Even graphite will be much less tiring if the rod is well balanced with the right reel. But the best thing you can do for any rod is put enough line on it to make it get down and work. Virtually all graphites are rated for a one or two weight lighter line than what they need to fish comfortably. The manufacturer rates them for the line that will give them the best odds in the 'parking lot wars' of casting for distance when choosing a rod. That is almost always a line too light for bringing out the best in the rod under actual fishing conditions. A line that is one or two weights too light to fish well will allow the prospective buyer to carry more line in the air and cast further simply because it will load the rod properly under those conditions. And ALWAYS bear in mind that the maker is concerned with selling, not with fishing.

A rod that is properly balanced with the right line will be slower and require less of the actual work of each cast to be done by the caster. I think that is one of the primary causes of graphite being indicted for being harder on the human body than cane and glass. The other factor lies with the weight of the materials themselves. Cane and fiberglass have more mass that actually assists with loading the rod for the cast. The lighter weight of the graphite actually is a deterrant in that instance, requiring YOU to take up the slack by doing more of the work.

The other factor involved in placing more stress on the body comes from the higher modulus of the material itself. Graphite is faster as we all know. Faster implies that reduced timing factors are demanded of the caster by the inherant nature of the material and reversing muscles groups abruptly simply puts additional demands on them that the average sedentary fisherman isn't 'tuned up' to do without noticing it at the end of the day. The slower, less demanding and more rhythmic timing of cane and fiberglass matches the abilities of the average, slightly out-of-shape (whether from simple lack of muscle tone brought on by reduced work requirements of the current era or advancing years) flyfisherman. In simplistic terms cane and 'glass are a better 'fit' to the abilities of our own physical infrastructure than graphite. If we will only allow them to do so they will make of our day a more enjoyable and less stressful experience. And when you get right down to the nut cutting isn't that what we seek? Stress reduction through fitting into the natural cycles of a non-artificial world?

If you are interested in the history of Bamboo, Glass and Graphite read the following forum post from Tom Morgan, the former owner of Winston Rods.

http://p097.ezboard.com/ffiberglassflyrodd...picID=406.topic

If you are interested in the early history of bamboo, glass and graphite read it from one of the legends, Tom Morgan, former owner of Winston Rods. He was asked to do so on the following forum thred:

http://p097.ezboard.com/ffiberglassflyrodd...picID=406.topic

[Crippled Caddis]

Everyone who owns a flyrod would profit from reading the post by Tom Morgan Dano recommends above. His credibility and understanding of rod design and the rod business are beyong reproach and the history he relates will bring a great understanding of the primary tool of ouR hobby. CC