Dick Dastardly

Where do you live?

Multi rod use is a perfectly legitimate tactic.The old chestnut of what if you get more than one run is a bit lame.If the fishing was that productive then you shouldnt be using that many rods any way.It is a tactic that must be used sensibley and with a bit of consideration for other anglers.Always ensure that your bite indication is spot on and you have at least two means of indication eg audible and visual.Multiple rods must be watched religiously.If the water you are on is empty of other anglers no problem but you wont do your self any favours hogging the whole lake on a busy Sunday.I personaly think the rod butts in a certain space rule is ****** and actually encourages bad angling( remember we are talking Pike here).All the rods together but the lines cast out at wide angles (especially on narrow waters like rivers,drains and cannals can cause problems with bite indication and other anglers knowing where your lines are.I have no problem with the spreading out of rods over a sensible distance if all of the previous points are noted.I always do this when piking with bait.If ever you do get two runs at once then if you are fishing with a mate let him take it and be happy for him!

NEWT-When you have a fast fish running towards you. PETE-Yes I do some times!You are quite right a multiplier is a much stronger reel and the big cats certainly screw up the Shimmano 6500's we use.But in general I stick to the fixed spools.And why,GULP fashion I supose......oh er gets us all in the end I suppose! DEN-A valid point "cuting the corner"on the pendulm cast is a big factor in this.I too base this on my tournement casting days.Also long conversations with the likes of Terry Carroll.As an ex rod builder I have seen hundreds of examples of this.Bad casting style coupled with incorect spline alignment can literally tear the rod apart.Most common in the area where the softer tip section is grafted into the higher carbon.Your a Kent man arn't you? did you used to attend the tournements at Hawkinge Aerodrome and Southlands school?

Some good points there Newt.Where each individual has to decide where his own "line is drawn" I will happily use any suitable species of fish as bait.I would not condone the use of a 1 lb roach as I dont think it necessary or fair when that fish would be prized by others (myself included) I am quite happy to use a 2lb+ Carp as a Catfish bait but then the Ebro has many thousands of these.But I wouldnt use a frog or any other live animal.Strange, maybe conflicting standards but they are the ones that I am happy with.As with all angling, things have to be put in perspective.No matter how carefull we are with catching and handling Pike a lot still die as a consequence of being caught but we still fish for them.No matter how carefull we unhook those deep hooked 3" Perch we get whilst maggot bashing some still die etc,etc,etc lets have respect for our quarry and handle them as best as we can but above all lets keep it in perspective.

You are quite right Peter with the bending one way whilst casting and the other when playing a fish.But this is where the actual use of the rod must be taken into acount and the requirements prioritised.A good example is a high performance beach rod.The stress the blank is put under by a modern power casting style like the pendulum is far in excess of any stress reeling in a fish would put it under.I have seen rods where the reel seat/rings have been put on the wrong side of the spline (for whichever reel has been used) where all the whipping finnish has cracked as the rings have moved around the blank where the blank has tried to flex in the direction of minimum resistance.In extreme cases I have seen composite blanks (very common in top of the range beach rods)starting to break down.If you look at the 2 most common styles of power casting (pendulum and back cast)they need oposite spline alignment to each other,even with the same reel style! On the other hand my cat fishing rods which have a through action are under a lot more pressure whilst playing a fish than casting so I always ring them on the soft side of the spline.Extreme examples admitedly.Now for the old chestnut,Wot about when you cast with a fly rod I hear people say Ah erm!!!!!In all fairness in most cases it doesnt really matter if you ring on the spline or soft side but never ,never on the side and make sure any matching rods are the same.As I said it only takes a few seconds to get it right. [ 08. September 2003, 10:35 PM: Message edited by: BUDGIE ]

Yes DF you are quite right used to be a very common practice.Especially on very thin rods where the spline is more apparent to the eye.This is still done on a lot of mass produced rods for asthetic reasons.Admitedly in some situations it dont really matter but as it only takes a couple of seconds to get it right...Over the years I have been amazed how many rod building companies dont understand spline alignement believe it or not even some who make their own blanks.

Firstly I use multipliers for a lot of my Piking and all of my sea fishing so dont think Im anti them but I am afraid youve not got the right end of the stick here Andy.It is not gear ratios you need to look at mate but retrive speeds ie the amount of line recovered per turn of handle not the amount of turns the spool makes in relation to turns of the handle.Not an opinion merely a fact.

The reason it is said is because of what is called spine or spline alignment on the rod blank.Keeping it simple imagine when the cloth is wraped around the mandrel when the blank is made there is an over lap this makes the blank wall slightly thicker on one side than the other.This means that the blank/rod will bend easier in one direction than the other what the rod is used for dictates the side of the rod ie spline or soft side that the rings are put on.Also with a multiplier being fished on top of a rod there is a need for more rings spaced closer together.This stops the line touching or going below the rod when under pressure.The way spline alignment is used in rod building varies but it is important it is used otherwise you can have various problems.Ever owned two identical rods that feel different when you cast or play fish on them? if so they have most likely been rung on different planes of the spline.Hope that explains or if it has just bored you then stuff you!!

You need to tie a couple of feet of mono onto the spool first then tie the braid to this mate! What is hapenning is that due to the braid having no stretch it does not grip the spool.The stretch in the mon does! A common mistake.Ive had a lot of top anglers bring their reels to me and tell me the drags are broke because of this so you are in good company!!

LOng shanked hooks are not a problem.Curved,cranked,piggyback or what ever you want to call a hook that tries to mimick the charecteristics of a bent hook are.Why are we going through all this again?didnt enough damage get done with the origonals before we learnt?

Great drags,great for casting...one problem a totally pants retrieve rate! thats why they are not and never will be used for carp in general.

When a fish is used as bait it is that ie bait it is the fish that is being targeted that is the quarry.As I have said each to his own.I make no one live bait it is their own choice.Disagree with my ethical/moral choice by all means but dont take the holier than thou atitude by saying I dont care about the fish,even the ones I use as bait.I respect your choice please respect mine.

Eddie,everyone is entitled to their own opinion.But never delude yourself in to thinking that live baiting is unnessasary like some do! A lot of waters lives will outfish deads 20:1 on some you couldnt buy a run on a sea deadbit.Most people when they first get into Piking dont like the idea of lives me too many years ago.You soon learn different.I have took many mates Piking and many paying customers Catting who all said they would rather not use lives.I have respected their views and set them up with deads/alternative baits.Every last one of them has ended up changing their mind after seeing the results!Dont get me wrong on some waters deads are very good and when Piking I still put deads out along side lives on most waters.One example is the Sussex Rother.Each winter I fished it I used two lives and two deads I averaged over 15 pike a day but only had three on deads all year!The moral/ethical dilema of cruelty that you inevitabley go through is no different to the initial one we all face when we first get into fishing.

Globe's got a good point there.I still think about a mullet I lost at Paignton harbour when In was 12 years old! A boat went across my line whilst I was playing it.That was over 30 years and god knows how many mullet ago!

Tony,problems with linetwist in braid????????

"Sticking sharp hooks into fish" isnt that what we all do when we go fishing?

I would get rid of the ring (they are prone to comming off)Go to your local shop,take the tip with you so you can see the required size and have a connector fitted.Only costs a couple of bob and a lot easier.These are great for flick tips.I would however consider elasticating your pole as it will enable you to deal with any bigger fish you may hook.Once again take the pole down to your shop.If they know what they are on they will be able to help you select the correct size of bush,bung,connector and elastic.Hope this helps.

For me it would depend on the individual water fished but in general:- live roach or trout fished on a sunken float paternoster rig, half mackerel or dead roach on a free running ledger rig,whole sardine popped up, a toss up between the Kussumo Proffesor/ArboghastDoctor and the largest Landa Pikko for spoons,8" Dahlbergh Diver in white for fly fishing and as for plugs well too much choice I am afraid! The job they are required for dictating the model,size etc.

Quite normal,especially if you do a lot.After a very busy period of guiding I have no interest in Catting at all.But as allready said a bit of a change is the answer.One year Me,Luke and Pat got so into bleak snatching matchs it was unbelievable,every spare moment between fishing and preperation was spent in fierce competition.We had all brought specialist carbon whipps the lot customers were some what amused to say the least!One important thing to remember is if you aint enjoying it you dont have to do it!Give it a rest then gfo back out when you really want to. [ 06. September 2003, 02:42 PM: Message edited by: BUDGIE ]

Julian has really hit it on the head.You really need to decide exactly what you would like.Despite being a guide myself I would gladly give you information on various guiding companies and also any DIY info you would need.Ive done a little bit in France!!

Carp anglers fishing Casien often catch 20lb tench......they also catch 6lb roach and 30lb gudgeon......or is it just that they smoke to much wacky baccy!

I have used artificial corn, hemp, tigernuts/peanuts and floaters.I have found all to work.BUT only if you have the fish confidently feeding on the real thing.

I use braid for every thing but general float fishing now and have done so for over ten years.I would have no hesitation at all thiugh in reccomending Maxima Chameleon,in all its many sizes.Used this for 25 years BB (before braid!)

Thanks for taking the time to post that Vagabond well interesting.

Ziffy,DONT YOU BELIEVE IT! the shop is bullshitting you mate.Mitchells are very easy to work on.They are very basic inside compared to modern reels.Spares are still available.Excalibur is quite right look at the pin.When you take it apart you will see how the various parts fit.If your crap at this sort of thing just take a few pics with a digi cam to remind you.Give it a go,if you come across any problems I can bail you out.