Hopinc

Nothing wrong with buying something you like. Whilst I have never worn it myself, I can understand why some fisherman think it necessary. It can't hurt. I just don't want anyone falling into the trap of believing it is absolutely necessary. It does have the advantage that you can scare people by suddenly appearing out of the undergrowth I imagine that could be great fun - forgive me, sometimes I have a sick sense of humour.

You do have a point sir!

Joking apart, another consideration is distance. Do you really need camouflage if you intend fishing 20-100 yds away? Bearing in mind the fish are looking at you through a refracting surface, more often than not broken up by wind. Plus glare from the sky and suspended silt and other debris.

Now that brings up and interesting and very valid point. We expect (quite naturally) that everything - animals, fish included, see things the way we do - they don't. Many hunters now wear flourescent orange/red jackets, both for safety and because it has been found that their quarry cannot see it. Wouldn't it be ironic, if in a few years time it was proved that the fish can discern camouflage jackets easier than they can flourescent yellow or orange. Food for thought, perhaps .

I personally think that camouflage on rods and reels is just a method of selling something new - aimed at a particular section of the fishing fraternity, and is not necessary at all. Let me site an example of why I don't think it is necessary - did you ever see the Chris Yates and Bob James carp fishing program where, I think it was Chris, set up a man sized "scarecrow" right in the middle of a swim. This thing had very light coloured clothing and the fish got used to it very quickly. The idea behind this was to substitute himself for the dummy, of course. It worked! Movement and flash, not colour, is what gives things away in nature. If you keep relatively still whilst fishing a busy swim, and don't clump around like a bull elephant, it won't matter a hoot whether your reel and rod are camouflaged, or not. Just my thoughts on the subject you understand. I wouldn't, if I were you, get too hung up on the idea.

Have a go and let us know how you get on. Don't know about your location, but the local rivers are swollen quite heavily at the moment. With luck, if the rain keeps off, they will fine down in the next day or so.

Let me know if you decide to take up drop shotting - then we can compare notes. Just been reading your article on using bread flake - very nicely done. Don't you think it's strange how fashions can change in fishing and methods that were greatly effective get consigned nearly to memory only. Like your bread flake technique, spoons are a good example of this. Very much underused these days, but they sure do work well.

Rod choice in the UK is very limited at the moment, I hope that I have not jumped with my choice too early. Time will tell. Can't say I like vertical jigging much - it reminds me of the constant up/down of feather fishing for mackerel. Drop shotting is something altogether different. See this video of trout and perch:

Good morning Anderoo, I ordered the rod this morning - it is currently cheapest from Harris Angling. I will definitely post a short review of what I think of it. I have just had a 12 month lay off from fishing and returned to discover this new method. It has all the ingredients for being highly successful. There is a video on You Tube at the moment showing how fish react to these baits, it is demonstrated in a clear sided running water tank stocked with bass and trout. The trout really munch them down. Trout on the rivers are my primary objective, and I have one or two local spots in mind where this method should be very effective. Perch/Pike on the canal offer a very interesting alternative. It's definitely a finesse technique that I think demands a special rod. For others contemplating having a go, you may have trouble sourcing drop shot weights in this country, I had to order some Tungsten ones from the U.S. - I won't even consider using lead. Take a look at this web site: http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Drop_Shot_W...page-TTDSW.html The ones I chose are the "TD Tungsten Skinny" ones, and I will be using Zander Pro 4lb b.s. braid for the main line + flourocarbon for the weight/hook link. Hopefully these thin weights will be less prone to getting stuck in between rocks. The line is of the new red/pink colour that is becoming popular, and this will an aid in knowing where the lure is fishing. Hooks I have chosen to use are Daiichi Standout's Size 2, but I already have a full set of soft plastic worm hooks in larger sizes that might come in handy too. Plus of course, all the plastic worms, grubs, etc., I need as baits. There are only two knots you need to master - the palomar and the standard leader loop. Both are very simple to tie. Just make sure you wet the flourocarbon before you tighten it up. Information is available on the net as to how to tie the rigs and fish the lures. Anderoo, what set up did you use and what did you think of the Fox rod? P.S. - Just because these Drop Shot rods seem to be specialised does not mean that they cannot be used for general spinning - they can, and I belive that the extra fast, sensitive tips, will make them incredibly sensitive for spinning. I can't wait to try the rod out.

Hi Guys, I am just about to part with some cash for a drop shot rod. The one that I am thinking of purchasing is the Greys Prowla Platinum Drop Shot 7ft 2-piece 5-28g rod. Does anyone own of these? If so, what do you think of it - balance, action, comfort, feel through the blank, etc?

Have you ever purchased any baits from "Baits Direct" on the internet. If so, can you recommend them? Just been reading an article on the AnglingTimes web site and they recommend pretty much the same as you: Trout are probably the easiest fesh bait for me to source. Pennine Trout Fishery is only about 6 miles up the road - I might given them a ring and see what they can offer. Scratch that idea, Pennine has nothing smaller that 3lbs.

OK Budgie, that makes sense. Instead of procrastinating and wondering if it will work or not, the obvious answer is to give it a go and see what happens. I guess that this will depend on the locality, but have you found any of the dead baits, Roach, Smelt, Mackerel or Lamprey work better for you than others?

Yes, you have a good point there. I think I might have the ideal tool anyway, I have a custom built 7ft 2-piece lure rod that I use for crankbaits, spinners, spinner baits, etc. It is rated at 10g to 56g. It has very good sensitivity yet will set the hooks easily at distance and has landed Pike to over 22lbs. I had wondered if the tip was a bit stiff and would rip the hooks out of a dead bait, but maybe I am looking at this all the wrong way. If that is slightly undergunned I have another 1 piece 6ft lure rod rated up to 4oz. That definitely has some backbone, but might possibly suffer from hook pulling. It might also kill the feel of catching smaller Pike.

That's interesting, as I build my own fly rods, and like yourself, usually base them on American blanks - a Thomas & Thomas LPS was the last one I built. Occasionally I use Harrison's, of Liverpool. I had a recent convseration with one of the representatives at Greys regarding this subject, as I too thought that a boat rod similar to their 10ft 6in Stalker would be ideal. This guy flumoxed me a little by suggesting that I should be considering 8ft spinning rods in the 20-45g range. This seemed a little contrary to everything I have ever seen published, but as I have no experience of chucking such softbaits as Roach, I don't know if he is right or not? I can well understand his reasoning though - that of feel, but I am not sure I would be entirely comfortable swinging 114g'ish of bait off a rod rated at only a maximum of 45g. Maybe I should just try it.

Thanks for your kind offer, but I am just making plans for purchasing tackle in the coming months, and just looking for recommendations as to what I should look at? My location is near to Halifax, West Yorkshire. Regards, Dave

Hi Guys, Can anyone recommend a good 2-piece rod for "wobbling" dead baits on a canal - baits would be in the 4oz'ish range, and I would prefer to use a baitcasting reel (not essential if it means missing out on a good rod) and braided lines of 30-50lbs b.s. ? There are a few surprisingly good sized Pike in our local cuts, a 30+ was recorded about 5 years ago, but I guess a good average would be 6-12lbs, and of course lots of jacks. Thanks for your help, Dave

Thanks Newt, but I don't get either the "delete" or "edit" options when I view my posts. Why don't I have those facilties? Dave

Ah - I see. OK. Thanks for the information Can you tell me how to edit one of my existing posts - I just noticed that I spelt "new" as "knew" and it's driving me crackers. Dave

I have another question for you guys, I know that I am knew here, and an unknown entity, but my posts still being viewed by the forum moderator. This is something I have never experienced on all the forums that I am a member of (most regarding none fishing subjects). Are everybody's posts scrutineered before they appear? In my last post I said that I would attach a picture of what is in my canal lure box, unfortunately I failed to do that. Here it is for anyone that might be interested - I am also trying to give the moderator a feel for my seriousness here. When I fish the canal I take very little with me. A single rod, baitcaster, wire traces, landing net and this lure case. I might cover 2-3 miles out and back in a 4 hour session. Sometimes I take a soft plastic bait or spinnerbait box. I have two favourite rods - one was custom made for me - a 7ft Corvette (rated 14 to 56gms) and the other a single handed Loomis baitcaster, 5ft 6in medium heavy action (1/4 to 3/4oz). I have other rods rated for heavier work, but these are the two I use most. Any other lure anglers amongst us that would like to show us their favourite fishing tackle. Dave

Hello, Sorry about that, I thought we had about done. Eight and half pounds Chub, yes. I caught it on a shallow diving fast vibrating mini lure that I bought from the old Harris Angling company (before it changed hands). Unfortunately, like a lot of other lures, this one is no longer available. I still have it though (see picture). Picture 2 shows where it normally resides inside my canal lure box. On the day in question, I came across a small dinghy moored at appx. 90 degrees to the opposite bank, and knowing this was a likely spot for a predator to be, cast the lure down the r/h side of the boat. First cast, nothing. Second cast, the fish hit the lure. It did not put up a startling fight as might be expected, I think it was too surprised and found itself in the net before it had time really react. I must admit that I thought from the first pull that it might have been a Perch, imagine my surprise! When I am roaming the banks of the canal I wear a 24in peel net on my back, and I had a bit of a struggle to get the fish into it. I was very surprised when it registered 8.5lbs on my digital scales. I looked around for a whitness, but there was no one around -this being about 6.30 am on a misty, but clearing, Sunday morning in late October. Next time I visited that particular spot the boat had gone, and I have never came across that fish again. Just returning to the reel for a moment, I have made my choice and ordered a Mach 3 XT 035 off Ebay - I think it was a good price at £48 inc. of postage. I'll let you know what I think when I receive it. Regards all, Dave

Re the pictures - will try to do, although I normally travel as light as possible. I like to keep on the move and not be weighed down by too much junk. I fish alone, and nobody ever seems to be present when I catch what you Americans call "lunkers." I suppose I should at least carry a camera. In the past I have missed out on recording and 8.5lb Chub and a 22.75lb Pike from my local canal, plus a 6.5lb wild brown (my usual quarry) that fought like a demon for 15 minutes on a 5 weight fly rod and 3lb tippet. That fish new all the tricks I think this post is about done so I thank you all for your contributions, they have been most helpful. Tight lines, Dave

Hi Newt, Yes, we are talking about the same technique - I expect to be using drop shot weights in the 1/8oz to 1/4oz range. I guess my comments about "relatively heavy" weights threw you a little. What I should have said is that rods particular to this method generally are able to cast a greater range of weights (because of their backbone), say from 3.5g to 28.4g (1/8oz to 1oz), normally a range that would exceed most spinning rods operating in light line ratings. We are both in total agreement about the sensitivity of the tip - that is crucial. Actually, I am looking forward to trying one of these highly sensitive tipped rods for trout spinning as well. I have long wanted a rod of this action, as I believe that UK anglers have been missing a lot of "feel" from the spinning process. Thank you for your kind offer of sourcing a rod for me - I don't think it will be necessary to go that far as I am pretty much decided on the Greys Prowla Platinum 7ft 2-pice rod. Regards and tight lines all, Dave

Hi Newt, I understand perfectly what you are suggesting, unfortunately there is not as great a selection here in the UK as you have in the States. Most spinning rods in this country definitely do not meet the requirements of having a highly sensitive tip sections, with a stiff backbone to cast relatively heavy drop shot weights. Most spinning rods in the UK typically have a through action, and generally quite insensitive tips. Things are changing slowly and there are a few exceptions coming along now - Greys (those people again) have developed a "Specialist" range of spinning rods for the European (German) market, and these have a much faster action. As for any other makes, I have no idea. Again you are better placed in the US as your rod manufacturers give much better descriptions of their rod's action. Here they tend to place a rod as to it's function rather than telling a potential purchaser just what action it has. Regards, Dave

Hi Budgie, Why a fixed spool reel - only because this reel has to meet dual functions - trotting and drop shotting. I must admit that amongst the reels I have been considering is the ABU 706. ABU seem to have got it right with the brass shaft, the "pipe" cleaners and ventilated spool. Two things put me off just a little - the plastic body and the lack of any information as to how many (if any) ball bearings it has. I know that there is one other option in the closed face reel arena, the Daiwa 125M, but of the two nearly everyone raves about the 706 most. I have not totally dismissed any of these reels yet, I am just looking for feedback, and you are all helping me to make my decision. Thanks for your help. Dave

Thanks for your input guys. Price wise the Shakespeare is by far and away the best option, and it has the distinct advantage of having all those lovely spare aluminium spools and case thrown in. As far as line twist goes with the Red Arc, I heard about this problem but my research showed that it was peculiar only to early releases of the reel. SPro reckon that they cured it on all later releases. That's what they say anyhow! Rod, I must admit to having a little bit of a fascination with centre pin reels and have give them considerable thought. In the end I have almost (but not quite) given up on the idea - due to the money required to buy a really good one. These days I am reluctant to spend more money than I have to - I didn't used to be like this, as my fly rods and reels collection will testify (Sage, Loomis, Thomas & Thomas, Hardy, Ari'T Hart, Lamson, Bauer, Loop etc), but times have changed. As far as Greys rods go, I know what you mean, I was put off them for years when I bought a 4-Piece GRXi spinning rod. With my ABU Suveran 4000 fixed to it (13.6oz), it needed 4.5oz of lead at the butt to come anywhere near to being balanced correctly. I sold it within a week and bought a 4-piece Daiwa, which whilst not as well finished, was much better balanced and nicer to use. Unfortunately the selection of Drop Shotting rods in the UK is currently very restricted. Fox make one, Shimano another, but I don't like the look of either of them. There is also the Balzer Outlaw, but that is quite expensive. So I am only really left with one choice - the Prowla Platinum 2-piece 7ft 5-28g. If anyone know of any others I should consider please let me know? Thanks again for 1) boosting my confidence on my choice of float rod and 2) confirming what I had hoped is the case with the Mach 3 XT reel. Regards, Dave