Fishing Rod - Sensitivity Calculation

In summary, the conversation revolves around the idea of determining the effects of weight changes on a fishing rod's sensitivity to detecting fish strikes. The discussion touches on potential equations and variables that could be involved, as well as the use of a visual clue (rod tip movement) and its limitations. The main focus is on whether adding weight to the butt of a tip-heavy rod will improve its balance or decrease its sensitivity. Suggestions for determining the effects of different weight placements are also mentioned.
  • #1
Jim Hicks
3
0
Can one correlate the effects of a change in weight to the transmission of vibrations (fish strike) through a fishing rod?

I'm not an engineer. I don't know what equations may apply. I'm not even certain I'm describing the question correctly. I'd appretiate any assistance.

I've attempted to gather what I could through the Internet and understand that human physical sensitivity is measured as a matter of degree change that can be detected. The few articles I could find on fish strikes show measurements in grams force. I am guessing that this would equate to the rod in how much grams force is required to effect a physical movement of X degrees on the fisherman's grip. A change in the weight of the rod would then change the force required to affect the grip. I'm sure that there are many variables that would need to be considered; angle of the rod to the force being applied, distance from grip to tip top, etc.
 
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  • #2
I would think that the deflection of the rod's tip would be a more sensitive measure of a fish strike. Of course, the indicator mechanism (whatever it was) would go off while you were casting, and other times when you were moving the rod around to where the tip was deflecting.
 
  • #3
Movement of the rod tip is a visual clue but there is water movement, wind, hand shake, etc. that will also cause tip movement. Night fishing also eliminates that visual clue. Most strikes are a short "bump" you would feel through the rod that is more easily differentiated from the other factors. Besides, if you stare at the tip long enough it will do all sorts of funny things :)
 
  • #4
Jim Hicks said:
Movement of the rod tip is a visual clue but there is water movement, wind, hand shake, etc. that will also cause tip movement. Night fishing also eliminates that visual clue. Most strikes are a short "bump" you would feel through the rod that is more easily differentiated from the other factors. Besides, if you stare at the tip long enough it will do all sorts of funny things :)

No, sorry, I didn't mean to look at the tip. I go the impression that you wanted to make some device to help detect a fish strike, so I was just saying that the device should work by detecting deflections of the tip of the rod. There would be several potential ways to do that sort of detection.
 
  • #5
Oh. Nope, not building a device. Just trying to build better rods. There is an ongoing argument within the custom rod building community as to whether it's advantageous to add weight to the butt of a tip heavy rod in order to balance it. The opponents say any weight added will increase the rods mass and decrease its sensitivity (transmission of force from a fish strike). The proponents say that an off balance rod already has a decreased sensitivity due to the extra effort required to hold the rod in position. I guess I coulda' explained this better in my first post, sorry about that. Would there be a way to determine the effect to a rods transmission of fish strikes if weight is added to the butt in order to balance it? I guess we'd also have to determine the effect of an unbalanced rod.

My unscientific guess at how to work it out:

Case 1) If we presume the reel to be the c.o.g. on a balanced fishing rod that weighs 12 oz, the extended forefinger simply rests on the blank 3" from the reel toward the tip, the end of the butt is 12" back from the reel. Then x grams of force on the tip (perpendicular to the rod axis) would generate x degrees rotation and y inches of lateral movement. This displacement could perhaps be translated to x degrees rotation/movement on the forefinger.

Case 2) Same rod as above but the c.o.g. is now 3" above the reel and located where the forefinger was resting in case 1. With the same X grams force on the tip how much rotation/movement would there be on the forefinger?

Case 3) Same rod as in case 2 except that weight is added to the butt to bring the c.o.g. back to the reel. With the same x grams force on the tip how much rotation/movement would there be on the forefinger now?
 

Related to Fishing Rod - Sensitivity Calculation

1. How is sensitivity calculated for a fishing rod?

The sensitivity of a fishing rod is typically determined by its modulus of elasticity, which is a measure of how much the rod will bend under pressure. The higher the modulus, the more sensitive the rod will be.

2. What factors affect the sensitivity of a fishing rod?

The material, length, and taper of a fishing rod can all impact its sensitivity. Rods made of graphite or carbon fiber tend to be more sensitive, while longer and thinner rods are also generally more sensitive. Additionally, a fast or extra-fast action rod will have greater sensitivity compared to a slow or moderate action rod.

3. Can sensitivity be improved on a fishing rod?

Yes, there are a few ways to improve the sensitivity of a fishing rod. One method is to add lighter and more sensitive guides to the rod, which will allow for greater transmission of vibrations. Another way is to use a lighter and more sensitive fishing line, such as fluorocarbon or braid, which will also enhance sensitivity.

4. How does sensitivity affect fishing performance?

The sensitivity of a fishing rod is crucial for detecting bites and feeling the movement of the fish. A more sensitive rod will allow anglers to detect more subtle bites and make more precise casts and retrieves. It can also help with hook sets, as the angler will have a better sense of when to set the hook based on the sensitivity of the rod.

5. Are there any drawbacks to having a highly sensitive fishing rod?

While sensitivity is generally desirable in a fishing rod, there can be some drawbacks. A highly sensitive rod may be more prone to breaking or snapping under heavy pressure, as it is designed to be more flexible. Additionally, a very sensitive rod may not be the best choice for certain types of fishing, such as trolling or heavy bottom fishing, where sensitivity is less important than strength and durability.

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