Re: On balance and perceptions

On Wed, 3 Dec 2003 16:46:55 +0100, "riverman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:

>"Peter Charles" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
>news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>"Why do you
>> suppose they design fly rods with the reel behind your hand instead of
>> in front of it?"
>>

  Weight distribution is one reason, but if that were not an 
  issue, reels would still be under or behind the hand to
  make it easier to handle manipulate the fly line.  The 
  latter is the main reason for continuing the practice, 
  especially with shorter, lighter weight gear.   For such 
  gear especially, I've wondered whether ff'ing gear 
  manufacturers wouldn't have switched to a below-the-
 hand geometry a long time ago if they and ff'men 
 weren't caught up in convention.. 

>
>I figure its so that you can mend without having to spool every time. A
>better question is "Why do the design spin cast rods with the reel in front
>of your hand"?

 They don't: virtually all spin casters hold the rod directly over 
 the reel.  That way, the weight of the reel is directly below the
 hand, neutralizing the weight of the reel, while still allowing you
 to use the fingers on your casting hand to hold the line and the 
 other hand to open the bail and turn the reel handle.  WIth the 
 hand directly over the reel, it is also easier to counteract the 
 force you produce cranking in line, especially if you're doing
 it quickly or pulling against significant weight (of a fish, hope-
 fully, and not a water buffalo).