Form Drag paper / Acronyms / Critique of Quiz answers

By accepting blame, I hoped to set an example. I took not a smithereen of offense !

With tongue in cheek, let me now ask you, Does MSG stand for Master Study Group ? Or perhaps MonoSodium Glutamate ?

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From Will Turek :

Good gravy... we've evolved to citing Strunk & White, I love it.

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Quiz Answers - Critique

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From Harry Boyd :

Gordy,

In bamboo circles, the answer below is quite common, but incorrect. A parabolic taper is one which has two distinct points of flex, one in the tip and one in the butt. The middle section is relatively stiff.

Harry Boyd

Gordy Hill wrote:

Or : A rod made with a progressive taper (as opposed to a taper which doesn't vary).Gordy

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Thanks for pointing that out ! Actually, that is pretty close to what actually happens with tubular rods as well.

Jim Bass pointed that out in his answer :-

25.) What is meant by the term PARABOLIC TAPER? The rod is manufactured with two tapers, tends to flex from tip to butt completely.

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Note Bob Stouffer's concise answers. I placed his answer message in an attachment. G.

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From Craig Buckbee :

Another set of answers from Pat Blackwell :

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                                                            FLY RODS
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Many of us use certain terms to describe fly rods in different ways. Let's see how you do answering these questions:
                                                  Quiz on fly rods -
1.) Your student asks you, "What is the best length for a fly rod ?   " Your answer ?
What are you going to fish for and where? Small streams 7 1/2 to 8'; large fish in salt water or lakes 8 to 9'; medium rivers, lakes, salt water flats 8 1/2 to 9 1/2' (with 9' being my preferance); larger rivers 9 to 10 1/2' to allow more control when mending.

2.) In trying for a bit more distance when casting your 5 wt. graphite fly rod, you feel that if you had just a bit more rod length you would be able to achieve a little bit more distance. Tim Rajeff recently showed us a trick that he uses. Do you remember what that was ? Use a down locking reel seat, then grip the rod as close to the reel as possible.

3.) Try to come up with a good description or definition of the term ROD ACTION.
              a. Short answer. How a rod bends under load.
              b. More detailed answer. A slow rod will bend close to the cork if not into the cork under very little to moderate load. A medium fast rod will bend to the middle of the rod under a moderate load. A fast rod will bend very little under a light load then requiring a heavy load to bend into the butt section. Load would be determined by how much line was being carried and the amount of energy applied to move the rod though the casting stroke.

4.) We have all heard of casters describing a fly rod as having lots of POWER. What do you think they mean ? The ability of the rod to develope lots of line speed.

5.) What do you think is meant by the term, "ROD STRENGTH" ? How well a rod stands up to heavy use.

6.) Salt water fly fishermen sometimes request a fly rod with 20 lbs. or greater LIFTING POWER. What application do you think they have in mind ? Being able to lift (move) a heavy fish in deep water, it may or may not be directly under the boat.
7.) You have two fly rods. Each is rated at # 6 wt. One of them is 10' in length. The other is 8 1/2' long. The factory rep tells you that both have exactly the same EFFECTIVE ROD LENGTH. How can that be ?
8.) Give a brief definition for EFFECTIVE ROD LENGTH.
9.) Can you give us a reference for that ?
10.) Who was the first author to use that term ?

11.) What (if any) changes would you make in your casting if you switch from a 10' long # 7 rod to an 8' long #7 fly rod assuming that they are both "medium fast" rods and you are using the same fly line ? Increase line speed and stroke length to make the same length cast.

12.) What (if any) changes would you make in your casting if you switch from a 9' long # 7 fast action rod to a 9' long #7 slow action "full flex" rod ? Slow down and lengthen the casting stroke.

13.) Your student is about to enter a distance casting competition. He asks you if the size and weight of his reel will make any difference. What do you tell him ? If he feels comfortable with his current reel, it should not cause any problems for him.

14.) This same student now asks you whether he should choose an up locking reel seat or a down locking seat for this event. Your advice ? Down locking inorder to increase rod length.

15.) Another of your students is going on a trip. He will be fishing for very large, powerful fish. The fish camp operater has informed him that he won't need long casts, but that these fish are so powerful that not many can be landed. Ten to twelve wt. systems have been recommended. He is about to purchase a fly rod for that situation and he wants to know whether a long rod or a short rod would be best. What do you tell him ? Short rod advatage to the fishermen, long rod advantage to the fish. Get the shorter rod.

16.) The angler in question 15.) has been advised to use a rod of a particular length. He now wants to know if this should be a stiff rod or one which is more flexible to land these big powerful fish. Your advice ? The one he is most comfortable casting that has good butt strength for fighting and lifting large heavy fish.

17.) Why ? Although you may not cast very far or very often you should op for a rod that you feel good about and cast well. Just because a rod is stiff (fast) dosen't mean it has good lifting power and durability and just because a rod is more flexable doesn't mean it dosen't have good lifting power and durability.

18.) You have hooked a very large fish. As you apply pressure, your guide says, " Be careful not to break the ninety degree rule." What does he mean ? Don't let the angle between the rod and fish go to less than 90 degrees you could over stress the rod and break it.

19.) I actually had a student who had a severe allergy to cork. He'd already purchased two expensive fly rods and didn't want to spend a lot more money to solve his problem. Can you come up with a practical solution ? Tape over the cork, if that didn't work change the grip to one of the better foam grips.

20.) You know the design requirements for the rod you wish to purchase. Now what do you actually do as you compare one rod with another at your fly shop ? With the shop owners permission cast the rods

21.) What considerations lead you to chose a particular fly rod rating ? What am going to fish for and under what circumstances, i.e. weather/wind, distance of cast, from a boat, float tube, wading etc.

22.) What is HOOP STRENGTH ? The strength of the diameter or cross section of the fly rod.

23.) Of what value is the property of increased hoop strength of many modern fly rods ? Line speed and fish fighting abililty, the rod tends to remain round instead of flating out to an oval shape when bent.

24.) Rod manufacturers use materials of greater modulus to make their rods stiffer and more responsive relative to rod weight. What else do they do to help accomplish the same thing ? Change rod tapers, wall thickness, blank diameter, and to some degree the resin used to adhere the graphite fibers.

25.) What is meant by the term PARABOLIC TAPER ? An even taper allowing for a more even bend (load) of the rod (guess on my part)

26.) What is, "DAMPING" ? How fast a rod recovers from the vibartions of a cast, the quicker a rod stops vibrating the faster the damping.

Have fun with these !
Gordy

I will turn these around faster next time. Accomplished without the benefit of the answers. Bob Stouffer

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Many of us use certain terms to describe fly rods in different ways. Let's see how you do answering these questions:

Quiz on fly rods -

1.) Your student asks you, "What is the best length for a fly rod ? " Your answer ? Match the rod length to the fishing environment.

2.) In trying for a bit more distance when casting your 5 wt. graphite fly rod, you feel that if you had just a bit more rod length you would be able to achieve a little bit more distance. Tim Rajeff recently showed us a trick that he uses. Do you remember what that was ? Move the rod hand on the grip toward the reel.

3.) Try to come up with a good description or definition of the term ROD ACTION.

a. Short answer. Rod action determines how the rod will flex under load.

b. More detailed answer. Rod Action descriptions vary between manufacturers. Generally, rod action describes how the rod flexes under loading. A full-flex rod will bend into the rod-butt, a mid-flex rod flexes into the middle of the rod and a tip-flex rod flexes mostly in the tip section. Other actions, such as the parabolic action, are designed and manufactured. A fly-angler may have several rods with different actions for varying conditions and fly presentation.

4.) We have all heard of casters describing a fly rod as having lots of POWER. What do you think they mean ? The term â??Powerâ?? is the ability of a rod to help the caster chuck line by storing and releasing potential energy.

5.) What do you think is meant by the term, "ROD STRENGTH" ? Lifting ability.

6.) Salt water fly fishermen sometimes request a fly rod with 20 lbs. or greater LIFTING POWER. What application do you think they have in mind ? Putting pressure on the fish.

7.) You have two fly rods. Each is rated at # 6 wt. One of them is 10' in length. The other is 8 1/2' long. The factory rep tells you that both have exactly the same EFFECTIVE ROD LENGTH. How can that be ? The 10â?? rod is more flexible than the 8 Â½â?? rod. When cast, using the same acceleration and arc, the distance between the rod tip path and the hand path will be the same.

8.) Give a brief definition for EFFECTIVE ROD LENGTH. The distance, measured perpendicular to the rod-butt at the fore end of the rod grip to the tip-top under static pre-determined load.

9.) Can you give us a reference for that ? No

10.) Who was the first author to use that term ? I do not know

11.) What (if any) changes would you make in your casting if you switch from a 10' long # 7 rod to an 8' long #7 fly rod assuming that they are both "medium fast" rods and you are using the same fly line ? Use more arc with the shorter rod to retain SLP.

12.) What (if any) changes would you make in your casting if you switch from a 9' long # 7 fast action rod to a 9' long #7 slow action "full flex" rod ? Use more arc with the more flexible rod.

13.) Your student is about to enter a distance casting competition. He asks you if the size and weight of his reel will make any difference. What do you tell him ? Use a light reel.

14.) This same student now asks you whether he should choose an up locking reel seat or a down locking seat for this event. Your advice ? Down-locking real seat.

15.) Another of your students is going on a trip. He will be fishing for very large, powerful fish. The fish camp operater has informed him that he won't need long casts, but that these fish are so powerful that not many can be landed. Ten to twelve wt. systems have been recommended. He is about to purchase a fly rod for that situation and he wants to know whether a long rod or a short rod would be best. What do you tell him ? Use a shorter rod and check with the operator before purchasing.

16.) The angler in question 15.) has been advised to use a rod of a particular length. He now wants to know if this should be a stiff rod or one which is more flexible to land these big powerful fish. Your advice ? Flexible tip, heavy butted rod and strip-strike.

17.) Why ? Flexible tip to lessen the pressure on the tippet, heavy butt to pressure the fish.

18.) You have hooked a very large fish. As you apply pressure, your guide says, " Be careful not to break the ninety degree rule." What does he mean ? The angle between the rod-butt and the line as it enters the water. This engages the butt of the rod without endangering the tip sections. To break the rod, continue to increase the angle.

19.) I actually had a student who had a severe allergy to cork. He'd already purchased two expensive fly rods and didn't want to spend a lot more money to solve his problem. Can you come up with a practical solution ? Wrap the cork with a tennis or golf grip.

20.) You know the design requirements for the rod you wish to purchase. Now what do you actually do as you compare one rod with another at your fly shop ? Cast the rods.

21.) What considerations lead you to chose a particular fly rod rating ? Species, fly types, environment and casting style.

22.) What is HOOP STRENGTH ? The measurement of a small tubular construct to resist failure under stress

23.) Of what value is the property of increased hoop strength of many modern fly rods ? The desire to make lighter rods requires designers to use lighter, more brittle materials. The lighter material and smaller wall thickness may lead to failure in shear rather than bending.

24.) Rod manufacturers use materials of greater modulus to make their rods stiffer and more responsive relative to rod weight. What else do they do to help accomplish the same thing ? Use less of those materials.

25.) What is meant by the term PARABOLIC TAPER ? A specific type of curved taper rather than a straight taper or stepped taper.

26.) What is, "DAMPING" ? The ability of a rod to return quickly to rest.

Have fun with these !