Walter & Group...
Much more on fly rods that I couldn't possibly include in the first quiz.
QUESTIONS:
1.) Over the years, several materials have been used to make fly rods. Can you name at least 6 of them ?
2.) We speak of "balanced tackle". What is meant by this ?
3.) Some fly rods have a very large diameter ring tip top.
a. Advantage(s) ?
b. Disadvantage(s) ?
4.) How many guides should be attached to a 9' 6 wt. rod used for trout fishing ?
5.) Is there general consensus over how many guides should be attached to a 15' Spey rod ?
6.) How do fly rod designers decide on guide spacing ?
7.) Do you know what a TARPON BALL is ?
8.) Some fly rods have a second cork grip above the main grip.
a.) What is the purpose of this second grip ?
b.) Any disadvantage ?
9.) Would you prefer a fly rod with snake guides or one with single foot guides ?
10.) Why ?
11.) Joy Dunlop, Al Crise and others made up some fly rods with an extra stripping guide placed a few inches distal to the first stripper. What was the purpose of this ?
12.) Years ago, a material called AGATE was used in the making of fly rods. How was it used ?
13.) What was in the center (core) of early Boron fly rods ?
14.) Some years ago, the Shakespeare Company came out with fiberglass fly rods made by what was called the "Howald process". They were white and had prominent residual spiral blank markings. Do you know what was in the center (core)of these rod blanks ?
15.) Name one advantage of using rings (slide bands) instead of a machined reel seat for some fly rods.
16.) Most fly rods used for Tarpon and other large salt water fish do not have hook keeps. Why ?
17.) Many fly rod designers use a simple test on their prototype blanks to see how quickly they straighten after being bent. Why do you think they do this ?
18.) We discussed things you would do to determine if the rod you are about to purchase from the fly shop is the best choice. Lefty Kreh goes one step further. Can you guess what he does ?
19.) You are comparing two rods. They both have the same line rating and are made by the same rod maker using the same brand of rod blank. Both weigh exactly the same on a scale. One feels much heavier in hand as you fish with it despite the fact that you are using exactly the same fly line, leader and fly. Name at least two features which could account for this.
20.) Tom White was on the G.Loomis staff for a long time. Years later, he made up many fly rods using various blanks. He would use bronze wool to remove the finish from these blanks before applying the handles, reel seats and wrapping on the guides. Why do you think he did that ?
21.) One of the best rod finishers I know is Don Jackson of our Group. A perfectionist! He prepared a fine rod for me using threads of different diameters as he went from the first stripper guide to the last snake guide. Why do you think he did that ?
22.) The REC Company produces Titanium/Nickel guides called RECOIL guides. One advantage of these is that they are very resilient and can be bent right down onto the blank after which they spring back to their original shapes.
a.) Can you think of any other advantage(s) to the use of these guides ?
b.) Some have pointed out a disadvantage. I can think of three. Can you ?
23.) Having tried for years, I finally convinced G.Loomis to make some one-piece fly rods for salt water use. They now offer them for sale. They have become popular among Florida Keys fishing guides.
a.) Can you think of one reason I did that ?
b.) Name at least one disadvantage of these rods.
24.) Name two popular designs of ferrules used on modern graphite fly rods.
25.) Bob Sholiton of Chicago, made a custom bamboo 6 1/2" 5 wt. rod for me. I specified a rod with no ferrules (one-piece bamboo.) I use it in the salt for baby tarpon. It gives me great pleasure and has been problem free. Why do you think I specified no ferrules ?
26.) Do you think the dimension of the inner diameter of the first stripper guide is important ?
27.) Why ?
28.) Some fly rods are made up with stripper guides which stand proud above the rod shaft.
a.) Advantage(s) ?
b.) Disadvantage(s) ?
29.) Flip Pallot and others have touted the use of some fly rods which have their guides at right angles to the reel. Can you think of one reason for this ?
30.) What is meant by the term, "ROD SPINE" ?
31.) Name at least 4 different common fly rod grip designs.
32.) Which design of grip would you prefer for:
a.) Your favorite 4 wt. trout rod.
b.) A single handed rod for fishing large salmon.
c.) A big game fly rod for catching very large tarpon.
33.) Joan Wulff has designed a cork grip which bears her name. The Winston Company produces it. Can you briefly describe it ?
33.) Years ago, Jim Green designed a ferrule. I believe he was working with the Fenwick Company at the time. Can you briefly describe it ?
34.) I am thinking of a fly fishing author who first started experimenting with bamboo fly rod designs in 1917 in New York. Soon thereafter, he made rods for Abercrombie & Fitch. He may have been the first to use the term, "parabolic" in 1937. In 1949, he came out with a series of rods called, "Super-Parabolic PPP" (PPP stood for Progressive Pendulate Power.). A rod design marketed by Pezon et Michelle in Europe bore his name.
Who was he ?
Gordy