Soft Plastics Article Draft #2

[Peter Waller]

You have a problem Vidar! Not a bad problem, if you can afford it! Only the best for the job will do!

[Newt]

So in summary,

- the UK does not have frogs

- exactly how an AVON rod might be defined is a mystery but an old one is not likely to be at all suitable

- no UK angler will have a suitable rod unless they own a lure rod with a lighter action that a jerk bait rod?

 

Peter - progressive action certainly describes a rod in terms I can understand. Fast & extra fast action rods simply progress really, really quickly.

[Colin Brett]

I have found the Shimano 6 piece travel rods to do all I require in my lure fishing exploits. Available in 8'/9' and 10'/11' these 2 rods cover a multitude of situations. They are powerful enough to land 20lb+ Pacific salmon and delicate enough to let a small pike give a good account of itself. The length variations also sort out the overhanging vegetation problems. See here

 

Colin

[WickerDave]

So in summary,

- the UK does not have frogs

- exactly how an AVON rod might be defined is a mystery but an old one is not likely to be at all suitable

- no UK angler will have a suitable rod unless they own a lure rod with a lighter action that a jerk bait rod?

 

Peter - progressive action certainly describes a rod in terms I can understand. Fast & extra fast action rods simply progress really, really quickly.

 

No, the UK does have frogs and toads.

 

See http://www.threadnaught.net/~caleb/ukanura.html and to quote it "Three species of these tailless amphibians are regarded as native to the UK- the common frog, common toad, and natterjack toad. A fourth species, the pool frog, is also thought to be native, though this is not universally accepted."

 

Not sure how often others see them actually in the water, I only see them very occasionally in the water around spawning time in Spring.

Edited March 2, 2007 by WickerDave

[Newt]

Ah so. Well, if you got them, fish see them and eat them.

 

The funny looking "feet" on these make a slight throbbing sound/vibration which preds seem to fancy but if you didn't have anything similar the lure would not be very effective.

 

[Peter Waller]

In reality, Newt, a pike/chub/perch is likely to encounter frogs, toads, grass snakes, voles, rannies, mice, newts, lizards, crays, water foul and other fish.

 

An Avon has limited use, but should not be totally dismissed. However, I would not suggest buying one just for use with soft plastics. They are quite a limber rod but for floating surface baits down to chub, for example, or use on narrow dykes with lots of cover, where casting is mimimal, then they are very useful, another tool in an anglers armoury.

Edited March 2, 2007 by Peter Waller

[Newt]

Peter - I have tried soft plastics on very limber rods and for me, at least, they tend to deaden the feel I often rely on to detect a bite. Otherwise, they can certainly be used and on a fairly still day when line watching is easy, should do fine.

 

Errr - water foul should maybe be water fowl or do you folks have some strange rituals I am not familiar with?

 

:D

[Peter Waller]

Bit of a fowl up!

 

You guys fish differently to us Newt, or so it seems. I've come up against this on blurb for Shakespeare rods, especially for Ugly Stixs, it seems that you guys watch the tip. Maybe some of us do but by and large I suspect that most of rely on feel.

[Steve Burke]

In days gone by I was a confirmed tip watcher and designed lure rods to incorporate quivertips. The advent of braid with its lack of stretch changed all that, and now for most lure fishing I rely on feel. However I still watch the tip when using certain lures, including jigs. If I didn't do so I'd miss a lot of takes that I didn't feel.

 

There's arguements for and against long rods. For casting from a boat I'd prefer a short rod; for casting from the bank I'd in most cases prefer a long rod, especially if the margins are overgrown and/or I needed to cast a long way.

 

However the type of lure has a bearing as well. For this reason many US anglers have a multitude of rods in their boat for different purposes. In the UK most of us bank fish and so carrying lots of rods would be impractical. Our rods therefore need to be compromises.

 

The action of a rod is also important, and different types of lures ideally call for different actions. All other things being equal a long rod will have more of a through action than a short one.

 

For instance the 7½ footer that I mentioned earlier I call the Seducer. It's based on the top 2 sections of the Fledger that Newt will be familiar with as I gave Jan one as a present. The Seducer has a fast action, the Fledger has a much slower action just because it's longer.

 

BTW Newt, the Seducer is based on the Fledger with the lighter tip. Putting the heavier tip on the Fledger will increase its test curve but make the action slower. It would then have a progressive through action and many would call this an Avon. Hope this helps.

[Newt]

It does help Steve since I have seen that one in action.

 

I'd ask the woman to let me try the rod for myself if I didn't value my life. :D