Quote:
Originally Posted by numbskull
Please don't take this wrong, it may help you and others avoid a repeat mishap. I'm also not pretending to be an expert caster (actually I suck at it), but while trying to get better I'm gradually beginning to understand what goes on and I'm pretty sure that rod broke because of a casting mistake.
That type of break is a classic "high stick" break. What that means is the angle of pull on the tip got too close to the blank. Often this occurs when landing a fish and you extend the rod upright with insufficient slack line and a fish at your feet. It can also occur casting, however, particularly throwing hard with heavy plugs if at the onset of your power stroke the plug has swung inside too close to the blank so the rod unrolls rather than flexes and unloads.
So, what causes the plug to end up too close to the blank during your power stroke? Turns out it is a bad backcast. Contrary to what you'd expect, starting late when the plug has swung inside some isn't usually the problem (tournament pendulum casts being an important exception), since the initial phase of your forward turn and stroke is slow and restarts the plug on the right trajectory. Rather it is starting forward too soon before the plug has settled 90 degrees under the tip. If the plug is outside the tip of your rod when you start forward, your initial motion pulls it towards you (and the rod butt) rather than upwards and over. As you power the rod, the plug is traveling parallel instead of perpendicular to the rod butt. This loads the tip heavily and late, after the rod has already started forward. Bending the tip towards the butt of the rod at that short an angle that suddenly "high sticks" the tip and POP there goes the rod.
When throwing heavy stuff, pause at the end of the back cast to let the load settle perpendicular to the tip, then start your forward stroke with a short upwards, lifting motion before coming forward and over. Try to avoid that sensation of unrolling the tip and use the power of the midsection of the rod to do the work.
Again, I'm no expert, but I did watch my son do his best this am to snap a 1321L tossing a jig in the canal, and I can tell you that rod bent into some scary awful curves when he started his casts before the plug was 90 degrees beneath the tip. It sort of clarified something I'd been feeling (that unrolling sensation) on some of my own casts and I think what I learned will help me (and maybe you) avoid snapping a tip. Famous last words.
|
DING-DING-DING-DING!!! yes folks~~ we have a WINNER!!!
i do believe that the Good Doctor has nailed it, excellent observation, and no i DO NOT take offense. as i began to read your post,,,,,,,,,,,, i recalled that in my "rush" to get my offering into the strike zone~~ i launched WELL before perpendicular as you described above^^^^
funny thing is, 999.999% of the time i am careful to load my rod properly, especially with weight that approaches the rod's spec's limits. so i will have to admit that this time was prolly due to user error, and my mommalukedness!!! SUX when it is YOU that futzzes yer equipment! THANKS, Geo, for shedding your light on the subject!!
FYI to ALL~~~ it is a TICA 10' Dolphin series, medhvy, composite.
i used "tsunami explosion" in the pix title, since it was only a 5oz swim shad that exploded it!!
i agree that it is confusing, editing the title~~~ NOW, gents!
Threaded Mode