Fly Rods : Guide to Fast Action Fly Rods
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Fast Action Fly Rods
or Tip Flex Fly Rods
A fast action fly rod
is a fly rod that is not very flexible. In fact, a fast action fly
rod is almost entirely stiff throughout most of its length - with
the only real flexibility occurring in the fly rod near the tip
of the rod. In real life, what this means, is that when you are
casting, only the end of the fly rod -near the tip - will bend in
any appreciable way. The rest of the fly rod will remain stiff and
basically straight.
So, that said, what is
the purpose of a fast action fly rod? And what are the advantages
and disadvantages of using one?
Purpose of Fast Action
Fly Rods
Fast action fly rods,
due to the fly rods stiffness, are more powerful. And by more powerful,
it is meant that the fly rod is able to cast line further than slow
and medium action fly rods. The stiffness of the fly rod helps generate
more line speed during the cast. The extra speed of the fly line
allows for both more fly line to be held up during the cast as well
as for the line to be shot further than slower action fly rods.
Additionally, fast action
fly rods are also designed to facilitate landing larger fish. A
stiff fly rod makes the chore of landing really big fish - and we're
not talking about your average trout here - much easier. A fast
action fly rod, due to the rods stiffness, makes it much simpler
- if somewhat less fun - to bring in the fish.
So, with that in mind,
let's discuss go over the basic advantages and disadvantages that
a fast action fly rod provides.
Advantages of Fast Action
Fly Rods
- Longer
Casts - A fast action fly rod is ideal where the angler needs
to make consistently long casts.
- Landing
Large Fish - A fast action fly rod makes it much easier, and
quicker, to land very large fish.
- Windy
Conditions - Due to the high line speed generated by fast
action fly rods, casting in windy conditions is much easier and
more effective using a fast action fly rod - especially if used
in conjunction with advanced casting techniques that help reduce
some of the effect of wind resistance.
- Quick
Casts - The stiffness of fast action fly rods allow for very
quick casts - something that is often appreciated by advanced
anglers since more casts allow for more potential fish to be caught.
Disadvantages of Fast
Action Fly Rods
- Fishing
Small Streams - A fast action fly rod can be a nightmare
to use when stalking wary fish in small streams or spring
creeks
- places that anglers generally end up needing to make short
casts. Fast action fly rods, as they lack the flexibility
of slow action
fly rods, are much more difficult to cast in conditions that
require very short casts. Remember, fast action fly rods
are designed
for long, powerful casts - not short, confined casts.
- Using
Light Tippets
- A fast action fly rod, as it is very stiff, is not the best
fly rod to be used when fishing for wary trout on light tippets.
The stiffness of the fly rod puts more strain on the tippet -
instead of helping to absorb some of the strain like slower action
fly rods do. As such, if you need to use really light tippets
for wary fish, a fast action fly rod is not a great choice.
- Difficult
to Use for Beginners - Fly casting is generally learned relatively
quickly by beginners. However, for beginners, a fast action fly
rod will have a steeper learning curve. Due to the speed of the
fly line, beginners will find fast action fly rods more difficult
to control than slower action rods. As such, beginners may end
up frustrated since many of their casts will not go where they
want it to go.
Who are Fast Action/Tip-Flex Fly Rods For?
With these advantages
and disadvantages of fast action fly rods taken into account, who
is a fast action fly rod for? Basically, if you need to make long
casts consistently, fish for very large fish or are always fly fishing
in windy conditions, a fast action fly rod is for you. Otherwise,
a medium action or slow action fly rod is likely to be a better
fly rod choice.
Next Page : Medium Action
Fly Rods
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