Loading a 5501c3 with braid...and searching for a rod!

[Neil G]

Oh yeah, as for the rod try an Ugly stik....come in around £40/50 and do 9ft and 10ft to around 50/60gr.

 

Can get them from Devon Angling

[Peter Waller]

This one rears its head every so often, might be worth a google of AN on the subject. Me, I'm a great advocate of the shorter rod, 7' or 7'6" long. The greater wind resistance when casting a longer rod all day is, I think, a minus point, as is the reduced tip control when retrieving.

 

I do think that a crisp tip action is a plus, and for that reason I would stay clear of soft tipped rods like the Ugly Stix. Probably great rods in their day, although I never rated them, but long since superseded by advances in rod making. The Wychwood range of lure rods strike me as being darn good value.

[Peter Waller]

By the way, if you insist on a longer rod with a heavy casting range then take a look at the Masterline Toothy Critter Boat Rod. I have two that I use for deads but also for sink and draw and lobbing heavy lures into the next county. Good kit, good price, crap name!

[Andy Macfarlane]

Usually when spooling up with braid I use a few wraps of insulating tape...seems to work

 

I said that already.....do keep up Neil.....

 

.....Regards.....Andy......

[Neil G]

This one rears its head every so often, might be worth a google of AN on the subject. Me, I'm a great advocate of the shorter rod, 7' or 7'6" long. The greater wind resistance when casting a longer rod all day is, I think, a minus point, as is the reduced tip control when retrieving.

 

I do think that a crisp tip action is a plus, and for that reason I would stay clear of soft tipped rods like the Ugly Stix. Probably great rods in their day, although I never rated them, but long since superseded by advances in rod making. The Wychwood range of lure rods strike me as being darn good value.

 

Depends on what lures you want to use really, I think the Ugly stick is a versatile rod if you want to use a multi but don't like casting foot long jerkbaits.

 

I'm a big fan of wychwood stuff but as far as I know the only rod they do with a trigger grip is the 6ft jerkbait rod....all the rest are rung for fixed spools

 

Aplogies Andy for mentioning insulating tape after you had already....happens a lot on forums

Edited February 12, 2009 by Neil G

[Phil Adams]

Im still leaning towards a longer rod, many of the places I fish on the Ouse can have some big nearside snags and reedbeds etc, leaning over these with a shorter rod can be a real nightmare.

 

I like the look of the Uglystik and also a Berkley that Ive found. To be honest though, unless there all hiding theres a limited range of longer triggergrip rods around.

 

Phil

[Peter Waller]

Phil says: 'theres a limited range of longer trigger grip rods around'. Peter says: 'I wonder why!?'

 

The Toothy Critter Boat rod can be bought with a trigger grip. So can some of the longer Daiwa rods intended for salmon fishing, but they tend to be dear.

[Dick Dastardly]

One draw back with longer rods is that yuour constantly hitting the water with them when working any lure that needs downward sweeps of the rod to work it!

 

I do have a couple of longer rods though I use these for wobbling or chucking big Bulldawgs from the bank. Mine are made from one piece Musky blanks (used as the tip) with short crank handled butts made from some old carbon and "recycled" ABU Speedlocks. Not hard to do.

[Neil G]

Im still leaning towards a longer rod, many of the places I fish on the Ouse can have some big nearside snags and reedbeds etc, leaning over these with a shorter rod can be a real nightmare.

 

I like the look of the Uglystik and also a Berkley that Ive found. To be honest though, unless there all hiding theres a limited range of longer triggergrip rods around.

 

Phil

 

Very tru, I had to search the net loads before I found something suitable

 

Did want a Savage Gear MP as they do really nice 9 & 10ft trigger grip rods but couldn't find one anywhere.

 

Agree with you on the manoueverablity of longer rods but nice having something longer you can bait fish with as well on rivers