Fly Rods And Funky Wire Guides
When it comes to fishing, novices often think the gear is the same for just about every type of fishing. This, of course, is no more true than saying all golf clubs are the same and usable in any circumstance.
Golf is a good walk ruined in my opinion, but that does not mean even I do not know the clubs. To say a putter should be used for driving the ball in the fairway would be nuts. That simply is not what it is designed for.
Fishing rods have the same element of specialization. A bait casting rod is distinctly different from a fly rod. A basic glance at each makes the distinction generally clear, but a closer inspection of a fly rod fleshes out the differences.
The first difference is the grip. Fly fishing involves an entirely different casting technique than bait casting. This can result in friction on your hand. To prevent this, the fly rod has a longer grip area usually built with a less abrasive cork material.
The other major differences with the rod deal with the issue of friction. A thinner line is typically used with a bait casting or spinner rod. The line typically gets a lot less wear and tear, so the rod has few attributes to deal with friction issues.
With fly fishing, heat on the line is a major issue. It can result in broken lines. A major design element of the fly rod is to eliminate this problem, which accounts for distinct design differences compared to other rods.
We need not look far for our first design difference. The strip guide is the first line guide up from the reel. It is metal with most rods. On a fly rod, it is ceramic so it can diffuse friction and limit the heat.
Moving up the rod we find some odd looking wire guides. Most rods have simple and traditional metal loops. The purpose is simply to make sure the line moves efficiently up and down the rod.
Our fly rod line is going to take a bigger beating than a spinner rod. To cut down on friction and heat, fly rod guides are designed in a spiral form. This snake like look diffuses the friction as the line moves around and cuts heat damage.
Fly fishing can be frustrating when you first start out. Trust me, it will become easier and be fun. Understanding the design of the rod is the first step in that transition.