Loving My New (first) Glass Rod

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Lotech Joe	Loving My New (first) Glass Rod	Lead	[-]
Guide Posts: 56 (09/21/08 18:03:07) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I've recently received a new 30+ year old Fenwick 755. It's a 7 1/2 foot 5 weight, and I've been grass casting it 2-3 times a day since it arrived. I'm used to graphite, and with my home made 7 1/2 foot 5 weight, I can get 60+ feet out of my casts with a Cortland 444 Peach WF5F line. With the new glass rod, I'm only getting 45-50 feet with a moderate double haul. I realize that one of the benefits of graphite is longer casts with tighter loops, but I've seen expert casters lay out the entire 90 feet + of line with a True Temper fiberglass bought at a hardware store. I also know that everyone's stroke is different and my stroke is indicative of that. I guess my question is; Is there some expertise here on this forum that can lend itself to improving my casting? My loops are considerably larger with the glass rod and tailing loops are more evident. I live in the west (Washington State) and longer casts are more necessary than many other places. 60+ feet are often needed on the St. Joe of Northern Idaho. Thank you in advance for any help you can offer. Blessings, _______________ Fish With A Friend Lotech Joe http://lotechslodge.blogspot.com/
onemoredeer.clarksclassicfl...		#1	[-]
Master Guide Posts: 173 (09/21/08 18:44:50) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Joe, One of the great things about glass is their ability to go up or down in line weight. Try a DT5 or WF6 or even a DT6 and see if that helps with the large loops and distance problems. You need to feel the rod load and wait on it. Experiment with different weight lines until it feels right. Don't get hung up on the suggested line weight marked on the rod and think it is your casting, it's probably not. It's tough to make the switch when you have been fishing graphite for a long time. Timing is everything when it comes to glass and cane rods. In the long run, it will make you a better caster. Hope this helps. Doug
majicwrench		#2	[-]
Master Guide Posts: 881 (09/21/08 19:32:53) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Expertise....you want expertise?? BOY have we got experts here!!! Seriously, casting is dang hard to deal with in print. Perhaps someone local is on the board, methinks we have several W WA members. For what it's worth, try watching your backcast, and remember, it's not power, it's timing and technique that makes it work. Ever watch Lee Wulff's wife, Joan, cast?? A thing of grace. Good luck, Keith
Lotech Joe		#3	[-]
Guide Posts: 57 (09/21/08 19:35:21) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	onemoredeer, I agree with everything you've said. I should try different weights and DT or WF. I just plain forgot those things. I'm a converted grass to graphite guy and some things just escape this feeble old mind. I thought that because it calls for a 5 weight, that I should work with that weight line only. OOPS! I should have known better. My stroke should have told me to try other size lines. Thank you my friend. Blessings on You, _______________ Fish With A Friend Lotech Joe http://lotechslodge.blogspot.com/
Lotech Joe		#4	[-]
Guide Posts: 58 (09/21/08 19:41:14) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	majicwrench, I've seen Joan's instructions before. I love it. She is a dancer in foot and in grace. Her casting stroke is the best there is. Thanks for your suggestion, and I should watch that video again. When she started, she was using either bamboo or fiberglass. It's just that every time I try her "Power Stroke" I get a serious tailing loop. It's all about my timing, and that's something I'll have to learn all over again. Thanks for your suggestion. _______________ Fish With A Friend Lotech Joe http://lotechslodge.blogspot.com/
rvreclus		#5	[-]
Master Guide Posts: 150 (09/21/08 19:46:09) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Lotech, You have already received, some good information. First let me congratulate you and welcome to the other rod material. If you have been a long time user of graphite you will have to adjust your casting stroke to fiberglass. Your timing will be different, I hesitate to say slower, but let the rod work, feel it bend. Anyway the best advice I can give is to take your time and enjoy the world of fiberglass rods. Be careful it is addictive. Respectfully RV Reclus
taniwha2	Snap!	#6	[-]
Guide Posts: 20 (09/22/08 16:01:00) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I've just started using a new to me 40yo FF75 (4p), also my first (adult) glass rod. Same casting story but after two full days fishing it I'm starting to get the groove. Still collapsing on the back cast from time to time but once in a while I seem to hit a sweet spot and the line just flies 60'. Using a WF5 but I'll try a DT
cofisher		#7	[-]
Posts: 981 (09/22/08 17:03:07) Administrator Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Joe, you got some very good advice. I'm not a master caster by any stretch of the imagination. But I found that when I made the switch from graphite to glass it was like learning to cast all over again. I've said this many times before and I still believe it's true, fishing fiberglass (especially older glass) and bamboo made me a much better caster. As taniwha2 said, when you find that sweet spot the line will just fly...and you'll smile.
Lotech Joe		#8	[-]
Guide Posts: 60 (09/23/08 19:24:17) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Dog gone if I didn't take out an old WF6S line and try it out on the new stick. Darned if I didn't get 60+ feet out of it. 60 feet will make me happy with most all the waters I fish, but I'd like to find a way to get the fly to land softer. I know, more work is called for. But what better work is there than casting a fly line? I'd just like to try a s DT5F line soon. I don't have one, but I can maybe use one form my local Pro-Shop. I fish some of the most beautiful rivers and streams in northern Idaho (St. Joe, Lochsa, Selway) and 60+ feet are often called for there. Any thoughts on the directions I'm taking? _______________ Fish With A Friend Lotech Joe http://lotechslodge.blogspot.com/
fisherofsmallstreams		#9	[-]
Guide Posts: 126 (09/23/08 19:35:54) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I believe you guys are underlining those Fenwick rods. The FF755 likes a DT-6 imho. At least a WF-6. And the FF75 is definitely a six-weight for me. Lining them up will load the rod better and improve your casting stroke I think. Worth a try.....
corlay		#10	[-]
Master Guide Posts: 266 (09/23/08 19:38:05) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Lotech Joe wrote: I fish some of the most beautiful rivers and streams in northern Idaho (St. Joe, Lochsa, Selway) and 60+ feet are often called for there. Any thoughts on the directions I'm taking? I think that expecting a less than 8', FF## series Fenwick, to toss a DT5/6F line 60+ feet, softly; might be asking a bit much. Don't get me wrong, they are fabulous rods; but you won't hear the adjective "cannon" used to describe them. I just wouldn't consider that particular series of Fenwicks distance rods. If distance is what you need, maybe the later FF### series might be better suited? "From my observations I think that most of us spend too much time worrying about our tackle and too little time learning the intimate characteristics of the fish and streams we fish most." - Ray Bergman Trout, New York: Knopf 1938 Last Edited By: corlay 09/23/08 19:40:18. Edited 1 times.
streamcaster		#11	[-]
Guide Posts: 130 (09/23/08 19:48:36) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	But this is a FFxxx rod, right? A supple DT5 or DT 6 like a Cortland 444 peach or SA XPS should load it nicely, and aiming 2 or 3 feet above your target would bring the line down pretty softly, I'd think. Fish on! Peter
corlay		#12	[-]
Master Guide Posts: 267 (09/24/08 07:15:47) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	streamcaster wrote: But this is a FFxxx rod, right? oops. my mistake. I thought it was a FF75... "From my observations I think that most of us spend too much time worrying about our tackle and too little time learning the intimate characteristics of the fish and streams we fish most." - Ray Bergman Trout, New York: Knopf 1938

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Loving My New (first) Glass Rod

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