Sage, for a long time, has produced faster and faster rods in the top end bracket..the XP, the TCR and the TCX for example...interesting that they are now saying a more through action rod is "more efficient and safer to use". I find that interesting as anyone who has tried one of Mikes softer rods has generally loved them and found them easier to use and more efficient for casting with teams of flies and at fishing ranges.
Simple fact is, you can cast big streamers and large flies on fast rods, open up up the loops a bit by opening up the casting arc, problem is a lot of folk cannot do this and struggle a bit. Same goes for fast actioned rods, many folk struggle to load them effectively as they are simply using too big an arc. For example if I wanted to fish small dries on my TCR at close range, I could & would by using a very short stroke, If I wanted to throw big streamers on the same rod I would stick a 7 line on it, seriously increase the stroke and open up the loops a bit. For anglers that are not casting geeks, a slower softer rod can be an advantage
Over the past two years or so I have learned to almost disregard what is written on a rod and now chose a line for the task at hand then find a rod from the cupboard that most comfortably deals with it. Very often, the line does not match what is stamped on the rod, that stuff is there only really for guidance.
Rob, what's this walking on water stuff about?
Cheers
Ben
