ol Al.....
I agree. That's not what I was talking about, however.
I was comparing the amount of energy transfered to the fly line from each of two different things:
1.) Translational movement of the casting hand (with no rod arc / casting angle).
2.) Rotatory motion of the casting hand yielding rod arc (castilng angle), but no forward or back ward motio of the hand and rod handle.
With 1.) the cast won't go very far. With 2.) the cast can go some reasonable distance (even though the loop will be large and inefficient.)
Of course, one needs both for an efficient cast.
The other comparison I made was the amount of energy transfer to the fly line:-
1.) From that latent energy stored in the bent rod when fully loaded.
2.) From the energy directly inparted by the caster's hand/arm/body movement.
The experiment with the rod in the vise demonstrated that the input from 2.) was greater than that from 1.)
Again, we need them both for an efficient cast.
Now let's look at the relative input of energy from a haul used with long as opposed to short rods:-
The shorter the fly rod, the more energy input from a haul is needed for maximum distance. (In accomplishing this, as your rod gets shorter and shorter, you need a faster and faster haul with more haul energy with each stroke.) Once you get way down to no rod at all, almost all of the energy imparted to the fly line is from arm hauls !
By the same token, the input from the haul imparts less energy to the fly line as the rod gets longer. This is one reason the caster can achieve great distances with an 18' Spey rod. (Now one might argue that the action of the bottom hand on the double handle is analagous to the haul......but I think that's pushing it.)
Food for the brain !
Gordy
From: "Allen Crise" <flysoup@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Gordon Hill" <hillshead@xxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: loops and 'wow's
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2006 22:05:35 -0500
Howdy Gordy.I agree that the rod is not the real power of the long cast. It gives the loop direction. It removes the slack and keeps the line away from the body.I can make a 50+ foot cast with just my hand. No rod advantage. Adding the rod makes it a lot easier for sure.Of course it helps controlling the slack and in fighting the fish. Working all the parts together make Fly Casting the graceful sport it is.ol Al