Everyone has things that can bother them from time to time. Some might even seem quite trivial. We all have those certain pet peeves that, no matter how many times we see or hear them, we simply cannot get over it. Although there are some direct actions that do bother me (another story for another time), one of my tiny “pet peeves” is the misuse of a word or phrase to represent an item, action, or product.
As an example: Someone says “you’re an idiot” followed by the recipient saying “I resemble that remark”. The proper term would be “I resent that remark”. That is, unless of course you are actually an idiot. In which case, kudos for using the correct term!
How does that relate to fishing rods you might ask? It doesn’t! It was just an example. So, what is the misuse of a word or phrase (within the fishing community) that closely resembles the above example (see what I did there)? The use of the words: “Parabolic Action”!
What I am referring to is when someone utilizes the term “Parabolic” when describing the action of a fishing rod. I hate that term! Why do I hate it? Because, in fishing rod terminology, that word doesn’t exist. Now, before I get a hundred messages telling me that people do use the term (even companies) allow me to explain.
When describing the action of a fishing rod, we are dealing with six different types. Those are: Slow, Moderate Slow, Moderate, Moderate Fast, Fast, and Extra Fast. Below is a photo that depicts four of the six actions.
Attachment 311890
Slow Action will have a gradual bend starting at or about the handle and continue on to the tip. Remember this as it will be useful later. Notice how I said “From the handle to the tip”! The above photo actually depicts it a touch further. That photo, in my eyes, should actually be a Moderate Slow Action.
Moderate Action should start its bending process at about the 1/2 point of the rod and continue out to the tip of the rod.
Fast Action should start close to the 2/3rd point of the rod and continue to the tip.
Extra Fast Action usually starts with the last ¼ to 1/8th of the rod.
Many people confuse rod action with rod weight. There are several different weights in rods. Ultra Light, Light, Medium Light, Medium, Medium Heavy, Heavy, and some beyond that. The graph below shows four different rod weights. Each one has the exact same action! The action is actually a Fast Action. The bottom rod is an Ultra Light, the next is a Light, the third is a Medium Light, and the top is a Medium weight rod.
Attachment 311891
Okay Rich, where did the term “Parabolic Action” come from? Great question grasshopper! But before I answer that question, it is important to know what the word “Parabolic” means.
Parabolic- Having the form or outline of a parabola.
And, before you ask…
Parabola- In mathematics, a parabola is a plane curve which is mirror-symmetrical and is approximately U-shaped. It fits any of several superficially different mathematical descriptions, which can all be proved to define exactly the same curves. “U-shaped” is traditionally graphed and we must broaden our definition of a “U” in order to translate it to a fishing rod!
Below is a true depiction of what a Parabola looks like:
Attachment 311892
The below picture shows what an actual rod would look like under a true mathematical depiction of the word “Parabola”. Keep in mind that (A) would be where the handle was located. The mirror doesn’t start and complete until (B) and (C) in this photo graph.
Attachment 311893
If you took the above photograph and removed section (A) and slapped a handle on section (B), then YES, the rod would look like a “Parabola”. That however is not one of your action choices!!!! That photo would more closely represent a Moderate or Moderate Slow action. Remember what I said above. In a slow action rod, the bend really starts at the handle!
So, WHERE did the term come from? Well, it is believed that it is transferred from the old bamboo rod days. Bamboo rod makers credit Everett Garrison and Hoagy Carmichael with popularizing the graphs of stress curves. Bamboo rods can be roughly modeled by graphing their tapers as the deflection of a cantilever beam. If one graphs the stresses on a "Parabolic" rod using Garrison's mathematical model, the graph looks a little bit like a parabola. Notice “A little bit like a parabola”.
Am I grabbing at straws here? Is it really that big of a deal? To the average person, probably not. I will however say that if you go in to “most” stores looking for a rod with “parabolic action” they will probably look at you like you have something growing from your head! Ask a custom rod maker to build you one and, if they still have any hair left (which I do not) they will probably pull the remainder of it out!
Parabolic action was used in the 50’s and 60’s simply because the rod tapers (when graphed) closely resembled a parabola. Most people today don’t even know what that is! Like with other things, time tends to get rid of certain words and phrases. This is one of those words in a specific community that simply has not had enough time to completely be wiped out yet! I am however doing my part to try!
