TORQUE (more) / MCCI exam

(Sorry for my, "typo" in our last message. The word, "phylosophy" should have been, PHILOSOPHY...... Gordy)

Another interesting aspect of torque is how the affect can be magnified or diminished by rod spine orientation. Indeed I have heard some expert casters criticise a particular blank (perhaps flawed?) claiming that it twists to the extent that it is hardly possible to cast a straight line. Also I have known of a few rods where it has been suggested that if the rings are offset to enable better shooting the blank might suffer suggesting that maybe some makers do not consider torque which in this case would be induced by the rings being offset especially during hauls.

The really nice thing about a very relaxed (or virtually no grip) on a two handed rod is that the assemblage of rod/reel/line rotates freely in accordance with its centre of gravity and the preferred bending plane of the blank which usually results in a pure tip movement (reduced torque) and an excellent cast. (There are of course ergonomic advantages to be gained with a light hold on the rod).

In single handed casting the result of unwanted axial torque application can be seen especially in long distance casting when the leader kicks out to the side.

Best wishes,

Ally Gowans

See my web sites http://www.letsflyfish.com and http://www.flyfish-scotland.com

2009 Spey Casting and Salmon Fishing Schools at The Kenmore Hotel March 20/22, April 17/19 and June 12/14. Trout fly fishing and fly casting school "Tackling Trout" at The Kenmore Hotel May 15/16/17, 2009.See my web sites for more details of schools.

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Ally:

That makes good sense. Of course you refer to torque in the axis of the rod.

You make casting much easier by using an ergonomic approach. I've learned a lot about that from you.

Ergonomically, there is less stress on the caster who is then likelly to perform more smoothly with better control.

Spine used to be a real problem with the early fiberglass rods and even the first generation of graphite ones. Bamboo rods can take a, "set" resulting in unwanted static bend ..... but I never encountered a torque problem with them, even when we used them years ago in the salt water which did all kinds of nasty things to them.

The modern fly rod blanks I've made up during the past few years have precious little spine. In making up 4 piece rods, one might even consider carefully lining up the spines of each segment. I've never actually done that.

I'm glad you used the word SPINE not "SPLINE". Many use the terms interchangably which is not correct. (Note p. 68 and p. 103 of Don Phillips', THE TECHNOLOGY OF FLY RODS ) The term, "spline" usually means a mechanical shaft with machined gear like ridges.

Gordy

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From Al Crise. My comments in bold blue italics :-

Howdy Gordy

The Joe Mulson Cast is a pure torque cast.

When looking at last weeks text about Rotation We sometimes forget that the rod is not a stiff lever.

I was off in the left brain area again. Looking at a Recurve bow over a straight bow. or now the Compound bows.

They use the Wheel or Curve to move the string. We use the Bend or loading of the rod to move the "string" This curving of the rod add speed to the fly line just line the bending of a recurve bow or the wheels of a compound bow. This Curving takes up slack and add a torque to the straight limb. Adding this give a lot of power or Line speed to the cast.

Now if one of our Engineers can tell me the name of all the I just put down....??

ol Al

Allen R. Crise
FFF-Master Casting Instructor
Hawk Ridge Flycasting School

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The fact that the fly rod is flexible allows it to bend as the rotational force of TORQUE is applied to the handle in the casting plane. It is this flexibility which allows us to cast with a nearly straight line path of the rod tip despite the angular change in the position of the butt section of the rod from the start to the completion of the stroke ie., ROD ARC.

As you well know, this application of energy causes the rod to bend as the flexible tip is moved against the inertia of the fly line. As it bends, the rod becomes loaded whereby latent energy is stored which is then released as kinetic energy after the STOP as the rod straightens.

I used to think that this yielded almost all the energy for propelling the unrolling loop to the target. We now know that while it is important as additive, it isn't quite as important as the amount of energy imparted to the line directly by the motion of the caster ..

This was well described in an article by Al Kyte, entitled: SWING VS. SPRING, 2003. (I don't remember where it was published..... Don Simonson sent me a copy after the Conclave.)

Similarity: The bowman does load the bow by bending it thus storing energy which is released as the string is released.

Differences: 1. Torque is not used by the bowman. (No rotational movement of the bowman's anatomy.)

2. Virtually all of the energy propelling the arrow comes from the release of kinetic energy as the bow unbends. None directly from the action of the bowman after the release of the string.

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