Dennis,
What do you mean by "Zig Zag"?It sounds like you might have a "Set"(Bend from Casting or Hook Set) in the Rod.If so I to have had this problem too with a Rod I recently bought.I used it twice and caught some Fish and notice my Tip wasn't Straight anymore.I asked about this Problem on that Site and received a few Replies.Here they are but there kinda long but if this is your problem it will give you insight on it.But before I get into that Subject I say you Posted a Thread sometime ago about a Quad you bought from Zietak and Casting was a bit ackward.I just Bought a Quad also and love it!Try Cortland's Sylk Line in WF or DT and see how you like it.I noticed that Plastic really made the Rod Load slow.Sylk made it much faster but you have to really concentrate on Timing.People say that Quads are the closest to Graphite.Below is the Thread about "Bamboo Sets"
Rolemodel
Registered User
Post: 15
(3/27/05 18:20)
Reply
I was wondering if there was a way to straighten a Tip once it starts getting a "Set" in the Rod?I read,while fighting fish you can flip the Rod so the Reel is Facing up to equally apply pressure to both sides of the Rod to avoid a Set from happening.
redhawknc1
Registered User
Posts: 79
(3/27/05 20:13)
Reply Re: Bent "Set" Tip.
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I would also like to know more about preventing "set" in the tips! I have 4 new rods, but generally new to bamboo and want to make sure I don't do things to promote a "set". Can leaning against a wall or tree promote a "set",etc? What are the general rules in preventing this?
pvansch1
Registered User
Posts: 297
(3/27/05 20:13)
Reply Re: Bent "Set" Tip.
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Heat it gently with a heat gun. If its too hot to hold it's too hot. apply the heat and bend in the opposite direction and hold for it to cool. Work in small areas.
Pete
rsagebrush
Registered User
Posts: 3
(3/27/05 21:20)
Reply Re: Bent "Set" Tip.
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Don't pretend your Granger 8040, Leonard mod 50 or other light rods are good for dredger flies. They were never made for these uses. Use the appropriate equipment for the job. And sometimes they just take a set after a while-that life and a nice battle scar on the rod. Fix it in the winter when you have time.
Canewrap
Registered User
Posts: 397
(3/28/05 9:06)
Reply Re: Bent "Set" Tip.
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Like rsagebrush said, you gonna fish bamboo get used to the idea of sets. Some rods will take gentle sets, no matter what you do and sets do return, even after heat straightening. The only way I've found that deals with severe sets that come back after heat straightening, is to strip all the guides off and rotate the tip 180 degrees and then remount the guides. This usually will keep the set from coming back for quite a while. But, its rare that you have a rod that you fish hard and it doesn't develop at least a slight set. There are rods that never develop a set, but that's the exception rather than the rule. Bamboo is a natural material.
Bill W.
Edited by: Canewrap at: 3/28/05 9:43
kam4
Registered User
Posts: 36
(3/28/05 22:15)
Reply Re: Bent "Set" Tip.
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Hi All,
I find most all of the few Bamboo Rods I fish show a bit of "fishing set' or slight bend when I give them a sighting along the shaft at the end of the day or back at home. I now have developed a habit, at the end of a fishing day or trip, to sight down the rod (or more accurately the tip section or rod) and check ouyt the direction of set. I find these are just slight, and counter bend them without heat, and most times they become generally straight again. I give the section a bit of rigorous, variable direction wiggle, check straightmness again, and put the now improved straight rod to bed in the tube. During our Winters, I find my activities wandering from tying up another dozen traditional "Tups Indespensibles" to touching up the odd varnish chip and ultimately sitting in my parlor window with good mid day sunlight critically checking out the straightness of my 60+ year old rods with my 58+ year old eyes. When I find sufficient motivation, patience and courage, I fire up a smallish electric hair blower I abscounded with from my dear wife years ago. I then sight down the varnished, finished shafts andmake my best estimate of where the bends begin. I heat up the general area, on all sides, to a conservative warmness, just good and warm to touch but definately not "HOT" and put in my best estimate of a good counterbend for 15 to 30 seconds. Give the cooled section a bit of shake to "equalize" the newly applied counterstress and recheck for straightness. I have found, with a goodly amount of patience (and what flyfisher worth his salt shouldn't have this attribute) the "fishing sets" or casting sets (and we all can't cast arrow straight like Frank Steele or Steve Rayjeff)can be eliminated or reduced to next to inperceptable. Don't Overdoo the Heat. Have not damaged varnish so far with these methods, but intuitively realize a bit more temperature would be problematic.
Kenny
ftcollins
Registered User
Posts: 40
(3/28/05 23:51)
Reply Re: Bent "Set" Tip.
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Does anyone know when a fishing set becomes more than an aesthetic problem? I'm not a casting expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I can't detect any difference in a tip that has a moderate fishing set and a straight tip. It doesn't seem that my casting distance or accuracy is affected.
Mike
jaybird
Registered User
Posts: 235
(3/29/05 8:59)
Reply Set's
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Mike:
I've fished rods with major sets and it has made no practical difference in my casting while fishing.
