Soft Plastics Article Draft #2

[Peter Waller]

Vidar said:

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 smile.gif smile.gif

 

I have no wish to argue, Vidar, I can only say it as I found it. In the particular instance that I was using it I found it just fine. I would agree that in the vast majority of cases a purpose made rod is the answer, and probably will give gtreater joy to the angler. But for dapping, under hand lobs and English sideways swipes, and being able to 'troll' down the center of a dyke, in practical terms it proved an ideal choice on the particular water that I have mentioned.

 

Lets put it another way, we enjoyed doing it, we caught, we were able to fish over a margin and walk our lures along. We were able to dap our lures in likely spots, something we could not have done with a short rod. In use we had no problems, only a solution to that particular situation.

 

By the book it may not be, but in UK terms plastic worm fishing does not yet have a book!

Edited February 28, 2007 by Peter Waller

[HOPPY4]

Newt, I found that a LONG Rod provided me with more options than a traditional Bass/Lure fishing rod while in Europe! The ability to cast over the reeds and other grassey water edges was a Big positive. The Shorter rods would have proven to be a hinderence more times than an attribute. A 10ft. rod would have been the best choice of rod for most of the places fished in my areas. JMHO!!!!!!!!!

 

HOPPY4

[Newt]

I'm trying to get an idea of a non-custom (so not horribly expensive) rod I could mention as being suitable for trying out soft plastics for an angler who is not sure about using them and would not really want to buy a rod that might not ever suit a fishing style they enjoyed.

 

Could someone please explain to me in simple terms exactly what an Avon Rod is.

 

What UK rods in a 9-11 ft length would be available in a fast action (limber in the end 1/3 but getting stiff very quickly below that) and would there be any with extra fast action (almost all the bending is in the end 1/4)?

 

At what point does a rod reach the beginning of a UK "normal" length? I know 5 or 6 feet is rare and only used by folks who have US style lure rods and fairly short ones at that. I rarely (if ever) read mention on here of anything much shorter than 10 ft but that could be that they are available but not talked about.

 

Vidar mentioned that it would be difficult to use a longer rod for flipping & pitching. Anyone who uses these casting techniques have an idea of the longest rod that would be suitable? I have never lure fished with anything over about 8 feet and never had occasion to flip or pitch from the bank so I'm pretty clueless.

 

And since the 'why use artificials when naturals are available' question needs answering in the article:

 

How common are frogs in and around UK waters? Frogs as opposed to toads so a froggish shaped reptile that started life as a tadpole and spends most of it's time in or very close to water?

 

How common are aquatic lizards?

 

Do you have any aquatic snakey critters other than eels? If so, how common are they?

[Peter Waller]

We have newts, liizards, and watersnakes, atleast on the Broads, and pretty common they are too.

 

An Avon rod does not fit your required specification although it is perfectly capable of casting, English style, and gently worhing a lure.

 

I suspect that a 9 or 10 ft lure rod 20/35gms is the most likely rod that UK anglers would own or use that has some pretention of being really suitable. What we call feeder rods sometimes go down to the 8 or 9 feet but, whilst they can cast an ounce or so, their tips are remakably fine being used as sensitive bite indicators. Other than an Avon I have only used purpose built lure rods so I'm probably the worst person to comment!.

 

A traditional UK Avon tends to have what I would call a 'through' action, whilst a modern one such as the Daiwa or John Wilson, tends to be 'progressive'. I don't know how that relates to US terminology. I found my Daiwa Avon surprisingly and pleasently usable and I suspect that the majority of UK anglers are likely to have what we call a twin tip Avon available, if they don't already own a lure rod.

 

I know that Vidar berates them, but that is the most likely candidate that yer average British angler is going to have. It is capable of casting, albeit not specialist casts, its is capable of retrieving, albeit not specialist retrives, it is capable of landing the average pike and is designed to land perch and chub, the two other predators that are UK anglers are most likely to catch. For a rod that has not been designed for the job an Avon would get someone out fishing, and that is what it is all about.

 

An Avon might not be the choice of a perfectionist, but they are usable. Maid of all and master of non they might be, but an Avon is a darned useful bit of kit. And I can't think of a rod that an average English angler is likely to own that is more suitable, unless it is purpose built. I can only suggest that folk try 'em and then make their own minds up, they might be pleasently surprised.

 

These links might help you Newt, http://www.waterlogmagazine.com/displaythr...p?parentid=2127

http://www.anglingdirect.co.uk/catalog/pro...roducts_id=1190

Edited March 1, 2007 by Peter Waller

[Vidar6]

We have newts, liizards, and watersnakes, atleast on the Broads, and pretty common they are too.

 

An Avon rod does not fit your required specification although it is perfectly capable of casting, English style, and gently worhing a lure.

 

I suspect that a 9 or 10 ft lure rod 20/35gms is the most likely rod that UK anglers would own or use that has some pretention of being really suitable. What we call feeder rods sometimes go down to the 8 or 9 feet but, whilst they can cast an ounce or so, their tips are remakably fine being used as sensitive bite indicators. Other than an Avon I have only used purpose built lure rods so I'm probably the worst person to comment!.

 

A traditional UK Avon tends to have what I would call a 'through' action, whilst a modern one such as the Daiwa or John Wilson, tends to be 'progressive'. I don't know how that relates to US terminology. I found my Daiwa Avon surprisingly and pleasently usable and I suspect that the majority of UK anglers are likely to have what we call a twin tip Avon available, if they don't already own a lure rod.

 

I know that Vidar berates them, but that is the most likely candidate that yer average British angler is going to have. It is capable of casting, albeit not specialist casts, its is capable of retrieving, albeit not specialist retrives, it is capable of landing the average pike and is designed to land perch and chub, the two other predators that are UK anglers are most likely to catch. For a rod that has not been designed for the job an Avon would get someone out fishing, and that is what it is all about.

 

An Avon might not be the choice of a perfectionist, but they are usable. Maid of all and master of non they might be, but an Avon is a darned useful bit of kit. And I can't think of a rod that an average English angler is likely to own that is more suitable, unless it is purpose built. I can only suggest that folk try 'em and then make their own minds up, they might be pleasently surprised.

 

These links might help you Newt, http://www.waterlogmagazine.com/displaythr...p?parentid=2127

http://www.anglingdirect.co.uk/catalog/pro...roducts_id=1190

 

Ehh, who is berating what?

 

Ten to twelve feet through action spinning/casting rods are very useful for many applications and fishing techniques, and I use such rods exclusively every time I go back to Scandinavia for some Trout, Sea Trout or Salmon fishing.

 

However, I thought Newt’s intention was to come up with recommendations and advice for soft plastic fishing, and long through action Avon rods are probably the least suitable tools imaginable the for the applications in question.

 

I would be a very interested spectator to anybody trying efficiently fishing a Super Fluke, a surface frog, a Senko or a finesse worm with a 12 feet Avon rod.

 

The average British coarse angler normally has a wide variety of rods suitable for various techniques thus realising the importance of choosing the right tool for the job, so why should it be any different when it comes to lure fishing?

[Peter Waller]

Newt said: "What rod & line: For most types of lure angling, you can use the rods and reels you already own and have fun."

 

Okay, so the majority won't have a lure type rod, so, can we use what we might have?

And, as I understand it, Newt then asked what sort of rod is the average British angler likely to have that would be suitable? Unless someone else can suggest something better I still think that a modern Avon would do, if only as an introductory rod. I don't think yer average carp rod would be much cop, and nor would a match type, so that leaves the Avon.

 

Vidar, do you own an Avon? For heavens sakes don't just go and buy one for plastic worm fishing, they are not idea!. But if you have one, just try it.

 

Meanwhile everyone else sits on the margin and watches us two have a debate! Surely someone else has an opinion, even if it's that I'm an idiot!

Edited March 1, 2007 by Peter Waller

[Vidar6]

Vidar, do you own an Avon? For heavens sakes don't just go and buy one for plastic worm fishing, they are not idea!. But if you have one, just try it.

 

Yes, I have eight of them ranging from 0.75Ib to 2Ib test

[Peter Waller]

But have you tried one!?

Edited March 1, 2007 by Peter Waller

[Dick Dastardly]

Continuing with the slightly off subject Long v Short lure rods-

 

Only advantage/need for a short rod (I can only base this on my use of a 6 1/2' rod for most of my jerk baiting) is that you dont hit the water surface with the tip of the rod when in a boat or low bank! Definately dont cast as well.As Peter said about longer rods "exagerating" the action you are imparting to the lure it is just a matter of allowing for it.

 

Incidently my idea of a "long" lure rod is 9-10'.

[Vidar6]

But have you tried one!?

 

Yes, even that