Graphite Casting Rod

Graphite Casting Rod

Material for fly rods, graphite or bamboo?

I fished both, but lately I have been using bamboo more. I love how it feels to cast. I just want to know what everyone thinks.

Definitely bamboo. It is the ultimate freshwater rod building material. It is light weight and sensitive like graphite. It got excellent fish fighting power and great casting ability like fiberglass. It also got superb hook setting ability. People tried so many different materials and techniques to put all those qualities into a fishing rod. So far, none of them succeed. Whoever could come out with a first synthetic fishing rod that could duplicate bamboo rod's qualities without bamboo rod's high price will make history (and millions of dollars VERY easily). It is unfortunate there aren't that many quality bamboos suitable for rod building and all quality bamboo rods are usually quite expensive. Extra pampering and routine maintenance are also required for bamboo rods. Other than these, I don't have anything bad to say about bamboo rods.

Shimano Clarus: A New Breed of Shimano Rods

Shimano, the Japanese manufacturer of bicycle components and fishing tackle, developed the new Clarus series line of fishing rods. Clarus, a Latin word meaning "bright" or "clear," is the perfect name for this line of Shimano rods.

The Shimano Clarus is typically for freshwater fishing. It has a sleek design that does not compromise function with form. This new line of Shimano rods were developed to match the specific needs of fishermen who go for salmon and steelhead.

When looking for a good rod to meet our distinctive fishing styles, we generally consider these specifications:

• Power Value. This is also known as rod weight. This indicates the type of fish a particular pole would be good for. Its typical classifications are Ultra Light, Light, Medium, Medium-Heavy, Heavy, and Ultra Heavy. To illustrate: Ultra Light rods are used to handle small bait fish. The Shimano Clarus, as is typical with Shimano rods, offers these different power values to suit the individual style of the customer.

• Line Weight. This pertains to the tensile strength that a line can handle before the line breaks. For casting and spinning rods, an 8 lbs. to 15 lbs. line is typical. If the line weight used is the incorrect one specified for the rod, the rod can break before the line parts. Say a too heavy line weight is used, the line will remain intact but the rod can be broken. And it is the other way around if the line weight used is lighter than what's specified for the rod. The Shimano Clarus matches the line weight with power value to get the most out of both specifications.

• Action. This refers to the ability of the rod to bend and to go back to its neutral position. The materials used in the making of the rod affects its action. An action may be fast, slow, medium, or a combination of fast and slow. When a rod is classified under fast action, the rod flexes more at the tip. When classified under slow action, the tendency to bend is toward the butt end of the rod.

• Lure Weight. This is used to designate the weight and type of lure that can be used for a specific rod. Lure weights are expressed in ounces and/or grams.

• Number of Pieces. This refers to the joints in the rod. Most people who love the sport prefer the one-piece rod because they give a more natural feel though these are more difficult to transport. But two-piece rods are becoming more and more used as they are easier to transport. In addition, recent developments in engineering have paved the way for a better natural feel for 2 piece fishing rods. Shimano offers a variety of one- and two-piece Shimano Clarus spinning rods and two-piece Shimano Clarus casting rods.

The Shimano Clarus, in keeping with the Shimano rods' standards of excellence, features authentic Fuji guides and reel seats, construction IM-7 graphite for its blank, Grade-A cork handles, a gudebrod thread wrapped guides for additional strength, and a convenient hook keeper. Not only that, it offers a lifetime warranty for a very affordable price. The Shimano Clarus' price ranges from $59.99-$89.99. So you get a real value from your money.

Check out the Sea Isle Tackle for more information on this new innovation from Shimano.

About the Author

The
Shimano Clarus
is a superb fishing rod. Find it and other
Shimano Rods
at http://www.seaisletackle.com

Graphite Casting Rod

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Tagged with: casting rod • fishing rod • fishing tackle • fly rod • fly rods • graphite casting rod • rod building

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