Fly Fishing

dann · Location: Lancaster pa

Looking to get a set up for blues and stripers and was wandering how to translate the flex index to action,(fast med. mod.) ect. Im new to flyfishing and have a tfo 8wt pro series, its ok a bit noodely and i think its a bit maxed out on 3+lb smallmouth, witch is what i mostly fish for at home. I have caught one 5.5lb smallie last week and had to work the fish more than i wanted to. This may also be due to my lack of experiance, one thing is that Susquehanna smallmouth fight freaken hard. I was thinking a 9wt with some backbone would do the trick, I also want somthing that cast far. I was looking into the Orvis clear water line up as well as the tls pwr matrix

thanks

Dan.

AvidDavid · Location: Long Island, NY

Flex index is a measure of how flexible the tip is relative to the remainder of the rod. Orvis, who uses the index, also usually characterizes each rod as full flex, ?moderate or medium? flex, or tip flex. This characterization is provided in addition to the flex index. I believe that the high numbers are associated with tip flex and low numbers are associated with full flex. While the flex index and full-medium-tip flex designation tells about relative flexibility along the rod length. Full flex bends nearly uniformly along the entire rod blank (more like the shape of the letter "C") whereas tip flex bends much more near the tip (more like the shape of the letter "J"). (There is an illustration on the Orvis website!)

The line weight designation indicates the overall stiffness of the rod (by designating what weight line is appropriate to "load" the rod when casting). Larger numbers are associated with heavier line weights used to "load" the rod. ("Loading" means to impart bend in the rod that can be used to help cast the line when the bend is released [as straightening] during the casting stroke.) Hence, higher line weights are associated with stiffer rods or rods with more overall "backbone." So either an increase in line weight or a transition toward more tip flex should result in a stiffer rod. But, there are not really good standards between rod manufacturers. Hence TFO's 8 weight may not be similar in stiffness to Orvis's 8 weight. Many posts on this site recommend that you try a rod before your buy. This is good advice! In addition, I believe that much of the additional money you spend for a more expensive rod is to purchase the same stiffness with less weight (a rod blank that weighs less in ounces). I believe that the clearwater rod with tip flex has a substantial butt section with larger diameter near the handle to achieve 1) a stiffer butt section and 2) lower cost.

dann · Location: Lancaster pa

thanks for reply.. cleared up some questions that i had hanging . I see ur from NY. are U familiar with shore or Kayak fishing around the Cape May area ??

Thanks again

Dan.

AvidDavid · Location: Long Island, NY

Cape May is pretty far away. Sorry, I have no info.

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dann · Location: Lancaster pa

Ok Thanks.. I was looking at the rods at my local flyshop and my Tfo is more like a 5wt with a fighting butt. they had an Orvis clear water 8wt and it is what im looking for. of cores I need to cast it, but just picking it up and twitching it i got a good feeling. only thing is they have it marked up to 400$

AvidDavid · Location: Long Island, NY

Clearwaters are mostly <$200 at the Orvis Site!