Re Rod tapers - David


Dear Richard

Thanks again!  These Heddons remind me of the rod I had as a boy (before the
world was divided according to the style of hat you wore) when we had such
things as "all-around" fishermen.  In fact, I'm going to take your advice
and start looking for an offset handle.

Davy
-----Original Message-----
From:  
To:  
Date: Sunday, September 27, 1998 3:01 PM
Subject: Rod tapers


>List:  Some time ago there was interest in spin rod and casting rod tapers
>("casting rod" meaning with use of revolving spool, multiplying reels).  I
>posted some spin rod tapers, and here are those for casting rods.  Like
>flyrods, casting rods also have individual actions.  Some fast with minimum
>height of trajector (tight loop analogy), some slow which are lobbers (wide
>loop).  And like flyrods, they can benefit from small tip tops, though it
is
>difficult to find older rods with less than # 6.  Most numbers are on
5-in.
>centers.  Where not, please interpolate or plot on graph paper/screen.  As
in
>flycasting, using these bamboo rods with proper reels and lines, there is
>pleasure is in the casting.  These tapers are as found.  2-pc rods can be
made
>as 1-pc and visa-versa.  And of course, they can be manipulated for slight
>differences in action.
>
>1)  Heddon # 850 : 6"-0", 1-pc for 3/8 to 1/2 oz lures.  Medium speed rod.
I
>think this was also called "The Bill Stanley Favorite", but not sure.
>Considered a "tournament" rod. A good long distance rod for fishing.
> 0-110; 5-120; 10-130; 15-144; 20-162; 25-182; 30-198; 35-208;
>40-228; 50-240; 55-274; 55 Swell begins; 60-430; 62-468; 67/72-468.
>
>2)  Heddon # 851-L : 5'-6", 1-pc for 3/8 to 5/8 oz lures.  This a fairly
fast
>rod.  Great all-round casting rod.  This is over varnish and suggest -.006"
>correction.
>0-110;  5-124;  10-142;  15 162;  20-178;  25-196;  30-214;  35-232;
40-248;
>45-264;  50-286;  52-296; 52 - swell begins to 390.
>
>3)  Hollis Casting Rod : 6'-2" , 2-pc listed as 1/4-oz. to 3/8-oz. lure rod
>but seems to handle 1/2-oz. lures ok.  This is about the best of the long
>range rods in my view.  Has good feel and accuracy.
>Tip:  0-094;  5-106;  10-126;  15-142;  20-158;  25-174;  30-184;  35-212;
>37-234
>Butt:  37-237;  40-240;  45-252;  50-262;  55-276  begin swell @ 55;
60-386
>end swell.
>
>4)  Semi hollow casting rod : 6'-2", 2-pc for 3/8-oz. to 5/8-oz. lures.
This
>rod designed using the Garrison formulas, plugging in the extra wt. for the
5
>carbide guides (4ea # 8 and 1  #10) and substituting a length of fly line
to
>equal 5/8-oz as wt of target lure.  Decision was later made to hollow
build,
>perhaps resulting in a lower lure wt. range.  Not sure how much stronger it
>would be built solid.  Due to small tip top size, it seems to be more
accurat
>than orther rods listed above.  However, does not have quite the distance,
>being more comfortable up to 75'.  Works very well with older, light,
narrow-
>spooled reels and 6#  soft braided nylon line.
>
>Tip: 0-088;  5-090;  10-120;  15-138;  20-158;  25-174;  30-190;  36.5-216
>Butt:  # 14 ferrule; 36.5-216;  40-222;  45-238;  50-254;  55-274;  60-290;
>60- begin swell to 450.  Guide spacing from tip top: 6 ;  12-1/4 ;  20-1/2
;
>29-7/8 ; 42-1/4.
>
>All of these casting rods can be built with butt ferrules for off-set
casting
>handles.  My suggestion is to haunt the flea mkts and or attend NFLCC meets
>and obtain a mechanically good conditioned Heddon off-set handle with a
>collet-type closure on front.  You should avoid the other type Heddon that
has
>a screw thru the front of the offset that pulls the rod shaft into the
handle;
>it requires a morse taper ferrule for the shaft.  If the ferrule is
avaiable
>that handle would be just fine.  FeatherLight casting handles are also very
>good, especially the non-adjustable ones (not so large).  The other option
is
>to extend the taper numbers given above and make the rod for a straight
handle
>with the rod shaft extending through the reel seat and handgrip similar to
>flyrods.  If you do go with a straight handle, I strongly recommed you
devise
>or purchase some sort of casting trigger.  Triggers enhance the casting
feel
>and ability to a great degree and I find straight handle rods without a
>casting trigger difficult.
>
>One additional spinning rod taper.
>
>5)  Light Spin rod :  6'-3" for 3/16-oz. to 5/16-oz. lures.  This is really
a
>great taper for a spin rod, the same as it is for a fly rod.  Check any
number
>of sources, such as Wayne's book and the archives for the # 4 version of
the
>6'-3" rod.
>
>6)  Modified the above 6'-3" for 1/4-oz and in casting rod configuration.
>Thought I had it but it is still a bit too weak in the butt section, and
will
>try again soon.  Will post it when I get it right.
>
>Hope this helps someone,
>Richard Tyree
>