Rod load angles
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: The Briny Bar
Forum Description: The place for general chat on saltwater fishing!
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=60698
Printed Date: 28 May 2026 at 6:31am
Topic: Rod load angles
Posted By: ChrisW
Subject: Rod load angles
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2010 at 11:50am
I came across this illustration which is helpful in explaining graphically rod load angles.
 The recommended max height for graphite rods is 45, any higher and there is no real advantage from the rod, only increasing potential for a breakage due to a high sticking. Some rod manufacturers like Smiths, do say that experienced anglers can push the boundaries up to 60 degrees on certain rods like the GTK stickbait and WRC popper rods. ------------- give it death! |
Replies:
Posted By: blackboat
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2010 at 11:57am
| interesting Chris never really thought about it but 45 seems about common and more comfy when fighting a fish |
Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2010 at 11:58am
| Saw an article on that a while back, made a lot of sense. What was interesting was that it showed that if you were fisghting fish going straight down (ish), the best rod to use is a bent butt, as your maximum power/lift angle is in play more than with a straight butt rod. Onl problem with that is that if the fish goes out long on the surface, you have a reverse issue really, it is too difficult to lift the rod tip high enough to be effective. Still, I have a stand-up bent butt set that I used for a while that was just lethal on kingies and puka at the ranfurly and white, until I statrted using smaller reels loaded with braid etc. Hell...., that musta been a fair while ago now! .....tempus fugit! |
Posted By: Lethal
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2010 at 1:35pm
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i would fish 60% most of the time with a rod that is fast tapper not parabolic.... so i guess it depends on the rod action as well whether you would go any higher... watching some programs on TV and seeing guys high sticking just makes me cringe, how some of them dont break is beyond me... i remember a guy complaining about his broken rod and wanted a replacement, he said his mate got it breaking on video, when i watched it, i just could not believe how far back he bent this rod.... would you believe he was lying on his back with rod at the same angle as his body and line was running over the rail of the charter boat he was fishing from.... now the rod was solid glass which is pretty bullet prof for most dick heads that dont know too much about fishing but that is just going why over the top... ------------- Thanks for everything you did for us Eric. may you rest in peace, You were one of the real legends of NZ recreational fishing |
Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2010 at 2:00pm
 Yes, I have seen some shockers myself, the faith some people have in the unbreakablity of their gear just astounds... What I really love is the point loading you see (as long as it is not a loaner rod I have let someone use of course),,, with rods laid across rails half way up the rod and them speed-jigging for kingies, really cranking on their reels.... one hit from a king and... that makes for a LOT of semi-rods, I can tell you. Or folks using a long rod to try lifting a fish up over a rail and into the boat, shhheeeesshhhhh.... and the look of injured innocence when the inevitable "CRACK!!" comes!
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Posted By: hookerpuka
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2010 at 2:04pm
| that diagram looks wrong to me.... the 0% line should be the 45..... since line angle is based on your line not the ocean surface. |
Posted By: Muppet
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2010 at 2:16pm
| I always considor holding my rod straight out as 0 degrees and don't go beyond 45 degrees. |
Posted By: Adam Scott
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2010 at 2:17pm
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hookerpuka wrote:Posted By: hookerpuka
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2010 at 2:35pm
| If it's based around a fish being vertically below the boat like it would appear to be in the 0 degree scenario that would be the 45 degree angle. |
Posted By: photog
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2010 at 2:40pm
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Basically the safe area is where the rod feels like its working and is comfortable. High sticking you loose feel and the not only does it get point end loaded but the mid section starts to wonder around. It shouldn't take even a novice long to feel the difference especially when show by someone with more experience. The main danger is when the angler gets the fish close and feels the need to put the tip skywards, bad mistake. ------------- If I'm not taking photos I'm fishing. If I'm not fishing I'm taking photos, either way I'm having fun. |
Posted By: Falco
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2010 at 9:10pm
| not sure what HP is on about but im happy with my fisherman with the but section up to 60 degrees |
Posted By: Espresso
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2010 at 10:17pm
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I abuse the maximum parameters of my graphite rods regularly I enjoy a good 60degree angle..
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, to date haven't broken one because of it...but I don't let others abuse them so! Posted By: hookerpuka
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2010 at 7:21am
Look at a protractor. I'm sure you can work it out :D make the straight edge you line and go from there
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Posted By: Fishb8
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2010 at 7:24am
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I've gone U-shaped on graphite fly rods but you don't get any more pulling power - I've checked by connecting to scales and having someone read. That's an exercise worth doing to check drag and rod bend. ------------- Be yourself; everyone else is already taken |
Posted By: ThomasW
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2010 at 8:27am
| I am certain I go past 60 degrees on my surf rods when playing fish, but automatically reduce the angle if the fish starts to run. |
Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2010 at 9:54am
| If you are over 60deg, and the fish starts to really run, then wouldn't the load go lower down the rod, making for a more parabolic (sorta) shape, reducing the point loading on the rod tip section? If there was bugger all pull on the rod and it was only the tip being bent down, that'd be the meanest point loading then wouldn't it, right at the most delicate part of the rod? Then as you get closer to 90deg or worse, all the load would just transfer straight back to the tip again, and for sure go blammo.... |
Posted By: Cbro
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2010 at 2:10pm
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No I think the point is that after 45 you lose the parabolic shape and
the load increases on the middle top section with the load increasingly
going towards the tip as the angle gets increased. The further away the line angle the higher you can lift the rod... Quick diagram from my understanding...please correct me if im wrong?  |
Posted By: Capt Asparagus
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2010 at 2:35pm
| Yep, that seems pretty good. |