[Bob Pauli]

When Alexander Grant made his humongous cast, was he standing elevated above the water? How high?

Was the line Mr. Grant used a fishing line as well as a distance casting line?

These questions are prompted by watching the great casters at Spey O Rama.

 

[Steven Mear]

When Alexander Grant made his humongous cast, was he standing elevated above the water? How high?

Was the line Mr. Grant used a fishing line as well as a distance casting line?

Hi Bob,
I don't know about the Thames, but the unofficial world record cast was made from a boat if I'm not wrong.

Alexander Grant was known for more than just these casts: he was demonstrating rods as I understand it when he made his cast on the Thames. He fished very often with the narrowest of angles, with double hooks - often fine hooks, with lines that use the same concept as the modern "tips" lines with a loop to loop connection with finer tips for summer conditions, and of course with single taper lines which were not shot. If you refer to the table of lengths that appears elsewhere these were based on the caster not being deeper than knee height in water.

"Fine and Far Off"

Regards

Steven

 

[speyghillie]

Alexander Grant

Hi Bob,
Steven is right in what he says,Mr Grant only really wanted to show what his rod could do,and never meant to set any records, on some of his casts he cast the entire line length, and had no more line on the reel, it was never his intention to show what he could do, but what his rod could do, he was a very modest man, of slight build and 10st, was no 7ft giant and of huge build, with arms like tree trunks, that most people believe you need to be to cast greenheart.
The line was a fishing line, not a casting line, and one he used on the river when he was fishing.
Gordon.

 

[Bob Pauli]

Thank you Steven and Gordon.

If Mr. Grant was standing in a boat, then his feet would be about at the level of the water surface, plus or minus 6-8 inches. Does that sound about right?

Bob

 

[Steven Mear]

Hi Bob,
Steven is right in what he says,Mr Grant only really wanted to show what his rod could do,and never meant to set any records, on some of his casts he cast the entire line length, and had no more line on the reel, it was never his intention to show what he could do, but what his rod could do, he was a very modest man, of slight build and 10st, was no 7ft giant and of huge build, with arms like tree trunks, that most people believe you need to be to cast greenheart.
The line was a fishing line, not a casting line, and one he used on the river when he was fishing.
Gordon.

Hi Speygillie,

Just something you mention there that I would comment on - the greenheart rod and size of person using it. I once bought a pair of officer's riding breeches from the 1WW. Pure wool, brand new and unused, right waist size but really spindly legs below the knee. I think that we sometimes under-estimate how small people used to be, including members of the upper-classes who in another era (prior to 1918) were those who had most opportunity to wield greenheart salmon rods.

I use modern carbon rods, but also have a spliced Sharpes 14'er from 1964. I have a silk DT line on that. I'm not oversized, and perhaps a little bit lighter than my usual 'fighting weight' because of a hefty cancer treatment last year, but I really can't understand that people 20 years my junior find my Sharpes extraordinarily heavy. It's wood, and wood is heavy! I hear this comment about modern carbon rods, and sometimes wonder what sort of feeble creatures are being produced today! In Norway, a high percentage of the recruits here (they have conscription here) are sent home on health grounds: I suspect that in common with other countries younger people spend too much time in front of the PC. (Whoops.... better get out there!)

Listening to people around the river during the summer complaining about the weight of their rod and feeling tired, I wonder if a lot of the weight perception comes from anglers not varying the intensity of the grip on the fishing rod?

Regards
Steven

 

[speyghillie]

Alexander Grant

Hi Steven,
A quote from the time (we claim for it that, having full power for weight, it is lighter and has far more lifting and driving power than any other rod, it is practically unbreakable. It requires less effort using any style of casting, and the angler has complete control over the fly).
The casting stlye, is so different, some of the old rods had a big button on the butt for a reason, not cosmetic like some of the stuff now, i think some people are trying to cast greenheart ,in what is now called speycast style with heavy plastic lines, the old lines only came in 6 sizes, nothing like the heavy lines, and i think everybody takes it that big rod, big heavy line, not so.
Gordon.

 

[sven kalmar]

Hey, having experimented a little this winter with rods 20-23 feet and very long lines, i have the feeling that holding the rod differently, is a major point.
I have tried to follow the instructions from "far and fine.." and what is described there is actualkly very natural, when you are confronted by these long stix. I made a wood butt on one that was designed so that the rod "sat" upright in the palm of the lower hand. Rod almost vertical. Hands much closer together. With a 22 footer i vas actually able to keep the line lets say 45meters going around my body in a kind of helix, It was even possible to rteverse the helix without the line collapsing. this i did by making very small motions with my hands, just some a few inches. Trying to cast a 21footer line many treat a 14.15 footer ofcourse will be very tiring.due to the long leverage, not the weight...Give it a shot, its really big fun , and taken in small doses youll get used to the "weight2 and perhaps as me begin to actually LIKE the feeling of "something" in your hands. I cant wait to get the 21foot greenhart from Clan, but i guess ill have to...