rufus

Interesting to note from the above post that the authorities are really only interesting in apprehending those who poach salmonoids. Even more startling is the thought that I must return, dead or alive, any salmon or sea trout that I might catch 'accidently' whilst fishing for bass. What are the bylaws set up to deal with? From what I can gather it looks like they are there to protect just one thing... the run of game fish into the upper reaches of select river systems and the interests of those well connected enough to fish for them. What I dont see is any consideration given to the interests of the sea angler.

Gave one of the pair a go today as second rod to a 'proper' beachcaster just to see how it would go. Chose a flat calm sandy beach with a lot of schoolies on it. ( Had to use a fixed spool (which it is designed for after all) but even so the outfit felt horribly wrong. Tried the multiplier on it and things were instantly better. The butt section is way too short, or rather the reel seat is too low, tho it never felt wrong at a lake, but biggest problem is that it just hasn't enough beef to shift the lead off its grips and strike hooks home in one go. The beachcaster in contrast felt great but overpowered for the conditions. I'm thinking of stripping down to a bare blank and completely redesigning with bigger rings spaced for a multiplier and coasters if I can find them small enough. Thanks for the spigot tips by the way!

Now got all the info and encouragement I need to carry on with this project, thanks chaps. One question tho... how can I cure spigot rattle? The spigots are not nice proper joints but those nasty types where the tip section pushes into the butt section. Fine when the rod is brand new but wear and tear exacts a heavy price.

Some of the marks I fish are so sheltered that 'a large lake' is just the right description. I expect to cast no more than three ounces with them anyhow.. as to chopping them in for real beachcasters! I reckon I might get a downpayment on a pair of telescopic holiday rods from Argos for them..

I'm about to convert a pair of quite sloppy 2.5lb test curve carp rods into beachcasters for light estuary work .. they may as well be useful for something now that I've given up carping and joined the ranks of the blameless! Does anyone know of any sites where I might find info on ringing, whipping, butt extention? (HO HO!)

The best place to go to buy bait such as tiger prawns is a Chinese supermarket, especially those in Chinatown, Soho. These places supply the local Chinese population and probably the hundreds of restaurants around this area too and so prices are startlingly low. Besides tiger prawns they also sell a very odd variety of unfamiliar sea food, all of which stinks to high heaven and would fish well for this very reason.

I have only tried it mono-to-mono so far, as I dont need to use braid for the style of fishing I do at the moment. Do you mean braid mainline to mono leader or braid to braid? I would imagine it would work for the latter but not sure if the braid with its reduced diameter would cut the mono leader. I'll try it out and report back soon as I know.

I'm asking for experienced anglers at the moment but anyone can test it if they want. I just want people who can analyse the knot and refine it because it is not foolproof at the moment and must be tied perfectly in order to work at full strength. For the record my combination is Penn Super Surf 15lb test & Penn Tuff Stuff 50lb test clear shock leader. I developed this knot after losing a good bass to an albright knot failure. The fish pulled the lead and dragged the bow of line that had developed in some heavy surf on the ebb across a snag and I had to pull for a break. I retrieved the rig and the fish later when the tide had dropped. When I examined the leader, the knot had failed. I tried the knot out at home and it failed every time way below the point where I would have expected it to. I was shocked! Having used the knot for some time in the relatively easy conditions around the Essex coast I had not had to put it under any real duress until then.

I'm developing a new leader knot after testing both the albright knot and the standard leader knot and finding that they are both incredibly weak, often parting at very low breaking strains and never anywhere near that of the main line. I think I may have cracked it. I have developed a knot which, if tied properly will not fail below the stated breaking strain of the main line and more often than not, the main line breaks instead. I need some EXPERIENCED ANGLERS, to field test the knot and possibly refine it before I publish. If you are interested in trying this new knot then email me direct at goeasy@beeb.net and will send you instructions, with the proviso that you feed back your results as soon as you have them.

Fished Walton two weeks ago for bass, under the cliffs and just along the beach between the breakwaters. Two caught, one 4.5lb and the other 2.5lb. I think there are much bigger fish there. Bait was whole calamari squid on a rotten bottom Pennel rig, 15 inch snood and size 4/0 Mustad Ultimate Bass main hook, lead 6 oz with the anchors crimped up tight. The bed is very snaggy but the fish like it! Rotten bottom is essential, especially in rough weather, because the tide and hooked fish drag you into the snags before you have a chance to retrieve, especially on the flat surf beach under the cliffs which is strewn with lumps of shale.