Started this on another thread. Who has one and who has built one? I have built several, the usual length is 6'9". The butt section ends up not
quite 3" shorter because of the ferrule lengths. I have also built one at 7'3". Members report a special run McFarland and the Orvis Far and
Fine. I had read about some English flyrods that were staggered and decided to try it on an FE Thomas taper blank. The blank had a very long swell which made
it pretty tippy, at least to my taste. I mocked it up and had my friend Robert Sherrill confirm that it was not eccentric in the staggered configuration. So
out came the wood saw.
I am intrigued by the difference in the cast, but speculate that having the joint closer to the butt allows the mid section of the rod to deflect more readily than it would otherwise. In other words, you use less energy to deflect the butt section on the other side of the ferrule. Nickel silver ferrules are comparatively heavy, and mid-way up the rod is a bad place for extra weight. There is very little discussion of staggering in the rod community, and virtually nothing in the UL community. The trend towards bamboo ferrules addresses the same problem. Don
I am intrigued by the difference in the cast, but speculate that having the joint closer to the butt allows the mid section of the rod to deflect more readily than it would otherwise. In other words, you use less energy to deflect the butt section on the other side of the ferrule. Nickel silver ferrules are comparatively heavy, and mid-way up the rod is a bad place for extra weight. There is very little discussion of staggering in the rod community, and virtually nothing in the UL community. The trend towards bamboo ferrules addresses the same problem. Don
