There is much discussion around the optimum length for Euro nymphing rods. For many years, most rods were produced at 10 feet. This was due to the fact that many companies had light rods in the #2 weight to #4 weight categories in existence so they became the choice for Euro nymphers in the early days. In recent years, anglers have experimented with rods up to 11 feet and even longer. Many now consider the rods between 10 feet 3 inches and 11 feet are preferable with 10 feet 6 inches being a common happy medium. They all work well but some better than others. However, it is not the rod length alone that dictates how good a rod is. This is just one variable that is hugely dependant on the materials and components used along with the resulting swing weight.
Top quality carbon fibre materials are becoming progressively stronger and lighter and can yield better swing weight. This is an important consideration as Euro nymphing involves hundreds of casts in a session, often at a rapid fire pace. Lighter rods and those with better swing weights, make casting easier and less tiring on the arm. Although #2 weight rods are invariably lighter than #3 and #4 weight rods, this doesn’t necessarily translate into better swing weight. Heavy guides will have a negative effect on swing weight as will painted and varnished rods. Downlocking reelseats aid swing weight compared to uplocking reelseats and are increasingly fitted to Euro rods. The recent fad for lightweight fly reels however, has been reversed with Euro nymphing as a heavier reel on a downlocking reelseat is considered better for swing weight.
Add to the mix, a need to fish with heavy flies and even split shot as we do during the winter spawning runs in New Zealand and a #2 weight rod will collapse under the strain. So, heavier rods up to #4 weight are better tools for the job but of course, this means greater actual physical weight as more carbon material is used in the blank construction.
As if we have more than enough variables and influencing factors at play, now add casting distance into the mix. On big rivers such as the Tongariro, it is often necessary to fish across a main current seam to reach the fish. This may mean having between 20 feet to 35 feet or even more line outside the rod tip which is 30 to 45 feet from the angler. All par for the course to an flyline-&-indicator angler, but few Euro rods have the backbone to cast heavily weighted rigs anywhere near 40 plus feet from the angler's position.
I have done extensive tests on the Quantum rod prototypes with different weighted rigs and different distances, comparing them with other name brand rods I own. Some Euro rods just collapse soon after 25 feet of line are outside the rod tip or if heavy flies or split shot are used. The Quantum Power rod is designed specifically to be able to cast a gram or more of shot or tungsten with comparative ease when there is up to 35 feet to 40 feet of line outside the rod tip which equates to around 40 to 50 feet from the angler's position.
So, where does rod length come in to all this? Check out Devin Olsen’s blog on his Tactical Fly Fisher website for the article on Euro rod length and reach here: https://www.tacticalflyfisher.com/blog/rod-length-and-reach-a-trigonometry-perspective/. The longer the rod, the greater the reach. On initial reflection, this seems ideal for big rivers and keeping as far away from the fish as possible. Devin has done the maths using trigonometry to determine the reach of rods of respective lengths at varying angles to the water. In reality, a 10 foot rod has only a couple of feet less reach than an 11 foot rod but with a better swing weight and less actual weight. Extra reach could play a vital role where fish are easily spooked or when you want to a distant current seam. However, longer rods have greater actual weight and greater swing weight by default and can make netting big fish in fast water during winter trickier at times. So, there is always a trade off.
The Quantum Power and Quantum Elite rods have been carefully thought out with these requirements and parameters in mind with the aim of achieving an optimum for most situations most of the time. The Quantum Power is designed with a powerful butt region for controlling big fish in fast water, but this also leads to some extra physical weight and less bend when netting fish. One size will never fit all but the Quantum rods are designed to go close.
Part of Devin Olsen’s trigonometry table showing rod length and reach
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