Soft Plastics Article Draft #2

[Peter Waller]

First concern, Jan, my thoughts and prayers are with you both. A very precious lady is that girl!

 

Re longer, Avon style rods, not so limber that they can't can't cast an ounce, or set a hook at some distance. These rods typically have a 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 lbs rest curve, which is pretty much the same as some of my US bass rods.

Edited February 27, 2007 by Peter Waller

[Steve Burke]

Firstly and most importantly please send our love to Jan. Both Peggy and I hope all goes well and she's fighting fit in no time!

 

The 7½ footer you saw me use at Wingham has a quivertip built-in. True it has a flexible tip, but there's a lot of low down power as it has a pretty stiff butt as Vidar will confirm. I originally designed it for vertical jig fishing from a boat. However I've used it to catch carp when casting little grub tails and marabou jigs. The quivertip also means that it'll cast these ultralight lures better.

 

Bear in mind that a long rod picks up a lot of line quickly. However, I agree that a long soft rod can be soggy. Perhaps that's why I bring the hook point back out of a plastic worm and then push it back in as you described in the article.

 

I'd add that I haven't yet done enough of this sort of fishing to have formulated any firm opinions as to the best tackle.

 

The lure v bait issue is a key point for UK anglers I reckon. The question many of us will ask is why a plastic worm rather than a real one?

 

Finally, I forgot to mention that, apart from minute sizes, lead is banned in the UK in weights of 1oz or less. The only exception is if it's incorporated in the lure itself. I imagine that in a jig head lead's OK, but presumably in a Carolina rig it isn't.

 

Anyone know?

[Dick Dastardly]

I seem to have missed something,whats up with Jan? nothing serious I hope mate?

[Vidar6]

First concern, Jan, my thoughts and prayers are with you both. A very precious lady is that girl!

 

Re longer, Avon style rods, not so limber that they can't can't cast an ounce, or set a hook at some distance. These rods typically have a 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 lbs rest curve, which is pretty much the same as some of my US bass rods.

 

Steve's rod can in American baitcasting terms best be described as having an extra fast action, which is spot on for most types of soft plastic fishing

 

Through action rods, long or short, are simply hopeless tools for any types of soft plastic with the only possible exception when used in conjunction with lures that are straight retrieved.

 

Fast or extra fast action rods will have a soft tip allowing you to accurately cast or pitch lightweight baits, but still have the backbone to set a large single hooks.

Edited February 27, 2007 by Vidar6

[Steve Burke]

I seem to have missed something,whats up with Jan? nothing serious I hope mate?

 

It's in the amended text in post no. 1:

 

"I apologize for this process being a little slow and choppy but Jan is scheduled for a cardiac catherization in a few hours and we've been a bit distracted. She is the photo expert so the next revision in a few days will contain more and better photos."

[Newt]

Thanks again guys and I'll digest all of this later.

 

For now - good news. We are just back from the hospital where the Cardiac Cath procedure went well and the results showed no heart blockages that would cause any problems so even better news.

 

Steve - I thought the lead restrictions were that really small was OK and really large was OK and the 'tween' stuff was not allowed. Still and all, I will add details on steel and tungsten weights along with reasons for using artificical rather than naturals.

[Peter Waller]

Thats good news!

 

I am not a perfectionist in tackle terms, if it works in a manner that suits me, then thats fine.

I have looked at rods alegedly designed as specialist worm rods, don't seem any better than what I already have. So, in truth, I can't really pass judgement since I don't own one and have never ever used one, just waggled a few in shops.

 

Amongst my many books I have one called 'Advanced Tactics for Bass and Trout' by a US angler called Gerry Gibbs. Let me quote from it:

 

"Anglers who have begun using the longer blanks once again are realizing some other advantages. A longer blank will help you to quickly eliminate any slack line when you go to set the hook. You'll then gain increased leverage that will allow you to set the hook harder and easier. The result, naturally, is fewer missed fish. After hooking up, if you keep the presure on, you'll find it easier to slide a fish in one continuous movement away from heavy cover, and steer it to where you want to go."

 

Gibbs then goes on to tell us about longer rods, when used for flipping, and where he swings the lure underhand for a cast,generally results in the lure landing gently, and accurately on target. Which is really what my mate & I were doing on some small drainage dykes.

 

I have to say that I had forgotten my Daiwa Avons, in normal circumstances I would not even have thought of using them. But I don't own any long lure rods, and it was only when playing around with them that I thought, well, give 'em a go. To my unsophisticated way of thinking they proved to be well up to the job, with a gentle yet crisp tip and stacks of power when it was needed. I have long ago come to the conclusion that we can over work our lures with regard to pike fishing. The beasties are unable to see the target in their last lunge at it, so over working can result in snatching the lure out of the target area at the last moment. These Daiwas seem to me to do the job just fine.

 

I bought that book from one of the USAF bases a few years ago. It might still be in UK libraries, darn good read if you can get hold of it.

 

As a P.S. I will just add that in these days of specialisation and specialised rods we tend to forget what a very fine workhorse a well designed Avon rod is.

Edited February 27, 2007 by Peter Waller

[Newt]

Thanks Peter. As always, I learn more than I teach when one of these projects gets going.

 

I have the same problem with knowing the styles of rods and the names that will make sense to UK anglers and it really does sound like quite a few UK rods will do nicely with soft plastics. More detail would be very helpful from any who can add information.

 

Any other items like the use of 'drilled bullet' to describe a particular style of weight will be good too.

 

Steve - I'm working now on a short addition giving the various reasons for using soft plastics even when in some cases (like lobworms) there is a readily available natural of the same design.

[Vidar6]

Everything must be put in perspective as at the time the book was written the norm in America was rods around the 6 feet mark. Over the last few years the average length of rods used in America has increased among both Bass and Musky anglers, and for flipping techniques most anglers would use rods around 7.5 feet or absolutely max 8 feet.

 

Peter, an 11 to 12 feet Avon rod is a great tool for many things, but I can assure you it’s absolutely useless for flipping, pitching or skipping

[Dick Dastardly]

Thanks Steve.

 

Glad to hear Jans ok Newt.I will have to start thinking about dates for our visit.Ive spoke with Andrew and he can be quite flexible as well long as he has a months notice,in fact stuff it you tell us when would be best for you and we can work around that!