Stand up Fishing Rods

Within the last decade, composite rods are overpowering. Fiberglass-and-graphite ­construction rods produce the effectiveness of fiberglass, in addition to the sensitivity of graphite, claims Mike Whitman, manager of advertising for Fin-Nor rods. All-glass rods are generally less painful and sensitive and far heavier when compared with composites, he states.

Rod manufacturers utilize confusing language to explain one area of the composite blend. “We state graphite rods, however it’s actually carbon dietary fiber, ” says Chris Cathart, Penn’s lead pole professional. “The two terms tend to be made use of interchangeably.”

Graphite and carbon dietary fiber are both created from carbon, but graphite is carbon atoms organized as hexagonal bands and layered, while carbon fiber is a sequence of carbon atoms. Carbon dietary fiber helps produce a smaller-diameter painful and sensitive empty with much better action.

“With older fiberglass rods, the mono primary line stretched and afforded the angler some give when battling a fish, ” says Cathart. “Today’s braid super outlines don’t possess stretch, so increased activity into the rod is important.”

Top makers create stand-up ­conventional rods with a composite mix of graphite and cup, including Fin-Nor’s Tidal energyLite, Penn’s Bluewater Carnage and Shimano’s Terez. “The graphite into the rod keeps the overall weight down, as the cup gives it durability, ” states Shimano product supervisor Robby Gant. “A minor high-stick with a rod with too-much graphite and it also explodes, while too-much glass and you’re fishing with a rod that’s fat.”

Cathart performed an evaluation between Penn rods manufactured from completely fiberglass as well as others with carbon-glass composite locate that fat differences total as much as 20 %, depending on the rod model.

Piece of the Activity

Layered construction in pole blanks means that yellowfin tuna rods no more need certainly to resemble a ­broomstick. Shimano’s TC4 process creates a thick pole wall but nevertheless produces a slim ­diameter by utilizing two internal layers of T-glass and an inner and external layer of carbon.

“Let’s say you might be keeping a 6-foot steel rod like you’re pulling on a fish, ” claims Gant. “Anyone, even a youngster, can grab the end of the metal rod and yank you around — that’s corresponding to a seafood winning the struggle. Some fishermen feel like should they aren’t getting pummelled, they aren’t putting enough pressure on the yellowfin — that just is not true.”

Rod actions tend to be lighter and quicker than previously, claims Whitman, but it’s parabolic action instead of fast-tip activity. Parabolic activity is the attribute of a rod to bend down toward your hands while fishing — this capability ­leverages even more pressure on a tuna.

Period of the pole has also an effect on its activity.

“All Fin-Nor [boat] rods have reached the very least 6 foot, 10 ins, ” states Whitman. “The only distinction is within the energy of blank. This rod size allows the angler to throw the bait instead of just put it to use for standard trolling.”

Within the Pacific, long-range ­fishermen utilize rods over 7 legs to clear the sides of the motorboat whenever pulling on a fish. These boats incorporate large rails; many fishermen position the foregrip from the train, essentially making the rod faster and simpler to pull on seafood.

To essentially clamp upon a massive tuna, a faster rod assists.

“When fishing big tuna inside gulf coast of florida off a center-console, a smaller pole from 5 legs, 6 ins to 6 feet is ideal, ” states Gant. “You have sufficient length to clear the outboards, in addition to shorter pole truly lends itself to pulling with optimum force on a seafood stand-up design.”

Play Sweet

Aside from the empty itself, a rod’s hardware makes a difference. No matter what, make sure your primary line slides cleanly through guides. “Quality guides on rods nowadays actually don’t fail, but the ­wrapping on those guides is key, ” says Gant. “A double- or triple-wrapped guide better withstands the stress of a tuna year after year.”

I inquired Sean Cheaney, at Mudhole Custom Tackle, about his perfect big-tuna stand-up pole.

“A short, curved aluminum butt for control, 10- to 14-inch foregrip, and AFTCO HD roller guides and top, all paired to a 6-foot composite Calstar Grafighter blank in 40- to 100-pound class, ” he says. “On this style of pole, i'dn’t waste my time with certainly not an aluminum butt.”

New rods with aluminum reel seats and butts are relatively indestructible, as well as the aluminum provides additional power. Even however, economically priced graphite reel seating have come quite a distance, and hold up well against yellowfin. “Yes, aluminum is a stronger material, but in all the years I’ve been creating fishing rods, We have never seen a graphite chair fail, ” says Gant.

For true stand-up tuna fishing, Shimano launched brand new carbon butts — half the extra weight of aluminum but equal in energy, the organization states — on Terez and Tallus rod models. “A Tiagra 50 with an all-roller rod and aluminum butt is 2 weight weightier than a Talica 50 using the brand-new Terez rod featuring a carbon butt, ” claims Gant.