Greys Prodigy?

[john]

Hi, could someone explain the use of the three tips with the Greys Prodigy Barbel rods please.

Would the lighter tip be siutable for lighter feeder fishing for Bream on stillwaters for example.?

Thanks, John.

[Pangolin]

I have one of these rods, but I only had two tips with it! Excellent rod for virtually anything: I've caught a few carp and pike on it, but thats not what the tips are for. As I understand it, when river fishing for barbel, the thicker tip is for high water conditions, where the flow would bend the lighter tip too much and make bite detection difficult. The higher water needs a heavier weight or feeder, which the thicker tip copes well with on casting. When the river is low, and the flow less inclined to pull the rod tip round, you use a smaller weight and the thinner tip is more sensitive. Thats what the guy who sold me the rod said anyway: its to do with the conditions and the weight you are casting. I dare say it would be a good rod for larger bream. The only thing it doesn't do well is light float work, where it is too whippy. missing a bite can result in the whole rig in the tree behind you!

[bingo]

I bought one of these recently too. I was speaking to the salesman and I said "I'm not sure whether I need all those tips. I don't know whether to just get a 'normal' two piece barbel/specialist rod without the tips"

 

He explained that you are not really paying much extra for the tips. They are a bit of a bonus as you can still use the rod as a normal two piece rod. He said that the tips can come in handy in winter when the fish are shy biting.

 

Also, the first time I used the rod they came in really handy. I had planned to fish for barbel but I came across a group of stonking chub hovering under a reed bed. So I changed the top 'avon' section and used the quiver tip section that day.

 

Didn't catch one of those chub though...............................

 

re: barbel rods. The way I look at them are like this. Please feel free to disagree with me. These are just observations.

 

i) You have the 'entry' level barbel rods. Wychwood do a £50 rod that people think very highly of.

 

ii) There are the also 'specialist' rods. Also called Avon rods. 2 sections. Normally 1.25 to 1.5lb test curves. These are what people used (and still do) before the tackle trade saw a market for 'barbel' rods. Can be used for tench, bream etc and trotting a float for chub and barbel on rivers. Very versatile but lacking that extra 'oomph' for fast, high, flood water conditions and for casting heavier weights?

 

iii) You then have the the rods with avon top sections and quiver tips (like the Greys prodigy). I bought the 1.75 version for the extra 'oomph'. Great for carp for floater fishing and fishing at close range when using the 'Avon' top .

 

iv) Then you get on to the specialst 'barbel' rods in the £180+ price range. Normally made from Harrison blanks. Normally 1.75lb test curve. No quiver tips. Again, great for carp for floater fishing and fishing at close range.