>From the FF@ list anyone want to try casting with a carrot ?? Bugs would probably try eating the rod instead of casting it !!
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: improbable rod material (fwd) > > Just the material for the long rumored D Loowis > rods with piezoelectric guide-deicing technology: > http://www.lvrj.com/sports/8592772.html > Jul. 19, 2007 > Copyright C Las Vegas Review-Journal > > IN THE OUTDOORS: Carrots top reel innovations > C. DOUGLAS NIELSEN > > Pick up a fishing rod at your favorite sporting > goods store these days, and chances are that > printed somewhere on the rod are the words carbon or graphite. > > Those words have become synonymous with almost > unbelievably lightweight rods with equally > amazing strength and performance. But what if I > told you the future of fishing rods might be found in vegetables? > > Stop laughing. It could be true, especially given > the events that took place at the International > Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades last week in Las Vegas. > > ICAST is arguably the world's largest > sportfishing trade show and draws participants > from around the globe. As I walked through the > new product showcase, I came across a fishing rod called "The Carrot Stix." > > Below the orange rod were two placards; one read > Best Freshwater Rod and the other Best of Show. > The product description said the rod was built from carrot fibers. > > After taking a closer look at the rod, I realized > it was the work of Las Vegas resident Ken > Whiting, also known as the "Wizard of Rods." He > is the founder and former president of Airrus > Rods, where he won the ICAST Best of Show honors > in the fishing rod category on five occasions. > > Now with E21 Fishing, Whiting still is setting > the fishing world on its ear. With the 2007 Best > of Show award in his pocket, Whiting has won six of the last seven years. > > "We were lucky enough to receive an award for a > rod that is built around probably one of the most > outstanding and revolutionary composite materials > that I've come across," Whiting said. "The nature > of the technology, I think, is what put us over the top." > > While The Carrot Stix is orange, the rod's name > stems from the fact the rod is built from carrot > fibers. Two scientists in Scotland -- Dr. David > Hepworth and Dr. Eric Whale -- developed the > material, known as Curran. Both are avid anglers. > > The scientists began looking at cellulose fibers > from carrots about five years ago. > > "They are very tiny fibers; you can only see them > under an electron microscope," Hepworth said. "We > break the carrots down to an almost molecular level." > > Once the fibers are broken down, they are > combined with resins to create Curran -- > lightweight, biodegradable material that can be > molded into a variety of strengths, stiffness and flexibility. > > Hepworth and Whale said they think Curran one day > could replace carbon fibers in the industrial > world. In the United Kingdom, Curran is being used for fly rods. > > Whiting attributes his success to anglers who > have talked with him. He said he learned about > their likes, dislikes, what they would like to > see in tackle and what they would buy. > > "From that, I just went about to create pieces of > equipment that provide areas of functionality > that didn't exist in product that was available > on the market at the time," Whiting said. "And apparently it was effective." > > > Bruce Pencek > College Librarian for Social Sciences > University Libraries (0434), Virginia Tech > PO Box 90001; Kent St > Blacksburg, VA 24062-9001 > Professional email: bpencek{AT}vt.edu > Personal email: bpencek(AT)verizon.net > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Suuri Suomi -- Uraliin asti
