Rod for everything

[Dave-C]

Or, if you don't want to spend quite as much, how about a Greys Prodigy Specialist?

 

http://www.greysfishing.com/99-Prodigy_Specialist.html

 

 

I agree the Greys prodigy is ace, I've owned one for a few years and it's a lovely rod, well used and handles everything you can throw at it.

[Peter Waller]

Apart from my lure rods, the two that I would really mourn if someone nicked my gear, would be my two Daiwa 11' Avons. I suspect, if I asked, they would even make me a cup of tea, they are that versatile!

[Steve Burke]

Richard, your requirements are very similar to mine, except that I also wanted a rod particularly suited to perch fishing. To save time this is what I posted on a similar topic a little while back:

 

"As many of you will know I've spent a lot of time perch fishing over several decades and so not surprisingly I have definite ideas on the ideal perch tackle.

 

Many times you'll get away with a standard float or Avon rod of the appropriate power. However, perch have a wafer-thin membrane behind the lips, and if the hook lodges here it's all too easy for it to be torn out when using a standard Avon rod, especially with the way a perch fights by shaking its head. Of course Sod's Law it'll be a monster that you'll lose!

 

It's therefore important to have a rod that'll cushion such a hookhold. At the the same time though you may need to cast a loaded feeder or a live/deadbait with a lead heavy enough to stay put and thus minimise resistance. In other words you want the delicate tip of a float rod coupled with the smooth power of an Avon rod.

 

I couldn't find such a rod on the market and therefore had to design my own. Luckilly I ran a rod-building firm at the time and so I was able to design exactly what I wanted. I spent a huge amount of time cutting up and experimenting with various sections of carbon, and eventually ended up with a 12¼ foot 3 piece rod with a test curve of 1lb 2ozs. I christened the rod the Fledger as it could be used for both float fishing and ledgering. In fact, together with the optional quivertip top it covers all my bait fishing requirements for perch.

 

I can thus take just 1 rod with me and this saves carting more about, plus it results in a considerable saving in cost!

 

Moreover, the Fledger has the option to take more powerful top sections with or without quivertips, and so inexpensively covers all my fishing for species like tench, bream, barbel and mullet as well.

 

I'd add though I rarely use a quivertip when fishing for perch. The only time I do so is when fishing upstream. I've found that when quivertipping downstream big perch all too often feel the resistance and drop the bait. For downstream fishing I turn to touch ledgering, a bobbin or a drop-off indicator depending on the circumstances. For the same reason I never use a quivertip for perch in stillwater.

 

The last time this subject was brought up one of my former rodbuilders managed to find a handful of old Fledger blanks. Despite being retired though I kept on being asked for them – more so than any rod I’ve ever designed! A new batch has therefore been made and these blanks arrived a short while ago.

 

So if anyone is interested in having a custom-built Fledger made please e-mail me"

 

I expect of course you'd want to handle the various rods in the Fledger range. Unfortunately it'll involve another trip to Wingham!

[Kappa]

Unfortunately it'll involve another trip to Wingham!

 

Oh no not again!

 

Rich

[Mat Hillman]

How about a ball-park figure for a fully made up "Fledger" steve?

 

Mat

[Steve Burke]

How about a ball-park figure for a fully made up "Fledger" steve?

 

Mat

 

I'm not sure what the latest batch of blanks cost as I'm not directly involved any more, but a ball park figure would be from about £135 for a hollow top of any of the 3 test curves, £155 for a qivertip top (again any test curve). This would include your name and/or an inscription on the rod. A full cork handle (your choice of length) would be about £10 extra.

 

Additional top sections are about £40 for a hollow top, £60 for a quivertip top.

 

You can of of course have any rings, any colour whipping and any extras that you'd like.

[noodle996]

if you can find one the blue diamond avons by leeda are exeptional rods 12ft float and 11'6" quiver section.