Ideal roach fishing rod

[Mark Wintle]

I've tried several rods for the Thames roach on the tip. Current choice is a pair of Daiwa TDR feeder rods of 11ft and 12ft to be used depending on flow. Very very slim and light, much sweeter to use than anything else I've tried including a Drennan 1.25lb Duo Specialist.

[Anderoo]

Thanks for that Mark - are those OK with very light hooklengths? Which length have you found most useful?

[Matthew Simmons]

Tough decision Anderoo - on the one hand you've got the flow to contend with on the Thames but you want to use light tippets. A mate who used to be in one of the top match teams 15 years ago, had special rods made up for him for fishing the far bank of the Thames at venues like Marlow for the chub on light tippets 1lb-2lb. These rods were stiff in the butt but with a very soft top section and quiver tip and were fished with a downstream bow. Bites were drop backs. Until you intimated that you had tried Avon rods, I would have suggested that the Wilson Avons might be a good bet, I use them for bream on the Thames near Pangbourne with 5lb main and 3lb bottom and they seem very forgiving. However, being soft, at Wallingford I do feel they get out of shape in the stronger flow there. I know that my match fishing friend would suggest a faster taper with a 1lb TC - not sure what fill that bracket to be honest.

 

M

[Phone]

All,

 

One of the "best" parts of river fishing over here is that "you never know". How do you disengage larger fish on such equipment?

 

Phone

[Mark Wintle]

Thanks for that Mark - are those OK with very light hooklengths? Which length have you found most useful?

So far I've used the 11ft most; that said I only got the 12ft last winter. Both are OK down to 0.10mm bottoms (the new equivalent of what we used to call pound bottoms- 1.1 Bayer - but now more like 2lb line). For shorter range the 11ft is better with the 12ft edging it at over 20 yards and in stronger flows. Both weigh less than 6oz and very slim so a delight to use. In more gentle flows I have used my old Normark No. 2 quiver (has No. 1 tip as well) and that is a brilliant rod but a bit undergunned when it's flowing hard.

 

As for Phone's question we use tackle that is as balanced as possible and it's amazing what exceptional fish can be tamed and how quickly. The last 4 double-figure carp I have had have all turned up whilst roach/dace fishing and all landed on very fine lines and fine-wire hooks. Not an issue really if you've got a lot of experience with this gear. One water I fish in winter for roach with either size 22 or 24 barbless hooks and 0.06 or 0.08mm hook length. Carp turn up from time to time (usually 6-8lbs) but the extremely soft-actioned match rod means I can usually get them out in under 30 seconds.

[Leon Roskilly]

All,

 

One of the "best" parts of river fishing over here is that "you never know". How do you disengage larger fish on such equipment?

 

Phone

 

 

I'll echo what Mark said Phone.

 

On any number of times I've hooked into a decent pike whilst fishing worms (mainly for perch), or had it taken a silver-fish I'm bringing in, and even hooked on a single maggot!

 

So long as the line isn't bitten through, playing it carefully often results in a banked fish.

 

(Using circle hooks when using worm has really upped my ratio of unexpected pike landed as they tend to engage in the corner of the mouth, so the line isn't in amongst the pike's teeth).

[Tigger]

One water I fish in winter for roach with either size 22 or 24 barbless hooks and 0.06 or 0.08mm hook length. Carp turn up from time to time (usually 6-8lbs) but the extremely soft-actioned match rod means I can usually get them out in under 30 seconds.

 

 

Mmm, I think you may need new batteries for your watch Mark lol.

[Mark Wintle]

Mmm, I think you may need new batteries for your watch Mark lol.

Normark Microlite II, light steady pressure, get them moving gently towards the bank, net in very gently, DON'T wake the carp up, gently does it, lift net, all over - 25 seconds. Then the carp wakes up big time but it's too late, he's in the net. Done it a load of times, they don't know they're hooked, but only when it's fairly cold. Do the opposite and wake them up and you won't even see a carp again on that gear. It's quite funny in that I've seen other anglers playing the same sized carp for ten minutes in the same conditions on much heavier gear but they've well and truly woken them up from the moment they hook them.

[Phone]

Mark,

 

Ha ha - you are obviously not familiar with the "Texas Whip Hook Set". The one where you fall out of your chair backwards setting the hook.

 

The world record Bluecatfish was caught that way. 130 lbs on 4 lb line.

 

Phone

[Tigger]

Normark Microlite II, light steady pressure, get them moving gently towards the bank, net in very gently, DON'T wake the carp up, gently does it, lift net, all over - 25 seconds. Then the carp wakes up big time but it's too late, he's in the net. Done it a load of times, they don't know they're hooked, but only when it's fairly cold. Do the opposite and wake them up and you won't even see a carp again on that gear. It's quite funny in that I've seen other anglers playing the same sized carp for ten minutes in the same conditions on much heavier gear but they've well and truly woken them up from the moment they hook them.

 

I have a microlite mk II and it is a brilliant rod. Those carp must be very tired and sleepy not to wake up when hooked :yawn: