It is quite impossible to hand somebody here a rod with a matched head
and let him cast it, and so the only reasonable alternative is to
explain as carefully as possible what is involved and why.

Simply stating that it is as it is would be quite pointless, as nobody
would believe it. This is the result of many things, not least
industry propaganda, and the constant drive to sell "new improved"
rods etc etc. This is not a "conspiracy", but the result is the same.
Loads of extremely fast powerful rods which hardly anybody can load
using the rated line. Certainly not at close range.

The whole thing with a matched head is designed to make casting
easier. It has nothing to do with distance per se.

My pupils don´t know anything at all about casting as a rule. I give
them a rod set up with a matched head, and simply show them how to
cast it. Most are casting reasonably within an hour. After a maximum
six hours communal tuition, they can easily perform the accuracy and
distance tests required for the mandatory casting test with the set-up
I have given them.

Other instructors, using different methods and different set-ups
always have trouble. Indeed, I often get sent "hopeless" pupils from
other courses. I never have any trouble, and neither do they.

Quite a few take my "build-on" courses, after passing the test,
usually dependent on what type of fishing they want to do, and whether
they need to learn a double haul or not.

Lastly, if you don´t want information about fly-fishing on a fly-
fishing newsgroup, what is the point of it?

TL
MC