Rod Rating

[custheyder]

Confused?
Know the difference between a 7:3, 6:4 and 5:5?
Is it universal across manufactures?

Let me answer those from my perspective as a manufacturer.

Yes it is very confusing. The 7:3, 6:4 and 5:5 refer to the amount of rod that is flexing but what it doesn't tell you is how much they flex and how that feels casting. What this means is that no two models with the same flex rating will flex in the same way. I don't just mean across manufacturers. I mean within the same manufacturers ranges as well.

Chris Stewart, of Tenkara Bum fame, put together his "common cents" system which, when combined with the profile pictures, gives a pretty good impression of how the rod will behave when casting. Tenkara USA have done away with the flex rating system but not replaced it with anything.Their belief is that they are producing the best casting rod they can for a given length. Which is perfectly okay, not disputing that decision. I feel that the decision doesn't help people who want to compare rods or decide if the rod is suitable for them.

I'm also considering dropping the flex rating but I do want to describe the action of my rods. So what I propose is this:

Tip: Fast, Medium or Soft.
Backbone: Strong, Medium, Full.

Tips: Soft tips have a lot of flex in them and are suitable for light lines with unweighted and lightly weighted flies. Fast tips can handle heavier flies and heavier lines. Medium is somewhere in between.

Backbone: A Strong backbone is going to feel quite stiff and be able to handle larger fish in big currents. A Full backbone will feel much more forgiving even though flex might not be the full flex of the rod. Medium is somewhere between the two.

What I am describing is how the rod reacts in the hand, not necessarily the measurable proportions of where the rod flexes. Currently, I think, my rods would fall into the following categories:

6:4 360cm
Tip: Soft
Backbone: Medium

6:4 410cm
Tip: Soft
Backbone: Full

7:3 360cm
Tip: Medium
Backbone: Strong

7:3 410cm
Tip: Medium
Backbone: Medium

As you can see from my analysis of the rods I make, the 6:4 and 7:3 are different rods at different lengths. By splitting the action of the tip and the backbone it is easier to choose a rod which is most suitable to the style of fishing you enjoy. The length of the rod should always be the longest you can handle given the vegetation cover and a preference for a long or short line on your rod.

In comparison a Hane rod (carp rod) would probably come in with a fast tip and a strong backbone.

Instead of putting the length with 6:4 or 7:3 on my rods I might then use the following shorthand: 360cm SM, 360cm MS, 410cm SF, 410cm MM.

What do you think? Could this be more workable in describing Tenkara rods? What else would you suggest?

[phil]

Hi Daniel

I think it's a good start. Perhaps no descriptive system will ever surfice but as a producer it's good to nail your colours to the mast so to speak.

From the instruction days I've organised where participants get to try different rods from many different producers it doesn't take long for them to grasp just how different a group of 360cm 6:4 tenkara rods can perform and feel from one another. Some of this is subjective but most participants seem to gravitate toward the rods of Japanese origin, even if outsourced for their manufacture. Not to say rods produced by non Japanese producers are not good rods and don't perform well. Perhaps the Japanese have the advantage of longevity in experience and R&D.

It's good that in such a short space of time the market for good tenkara rods has broadened and that can only push each producer to manufacture ever better tools for the job.

Good luck, I hope you're around for a long time.

Cheers

Phil

[custheyder]

Not all rods are created equal, that is for sure. My rods compared with other UK rods generally get more of a thumbs up because of their precise action. I have new rods in development that will certain make a few eyebrows raise. Have you fished with any of my rods?

However, this post is not about other rods but a way of describing my rods that will help fishermen make an informed choice.