Which float rod

[TF_blounty65Participant]

Hi all, New to the site and have just returned to fishing after 25 years. I am looking to buy a new float rod as the one the tackle shop sold me was a 10″ feeder rod and i have been told i would be better off with a longer float rod. the problem i have is A. im on a small budget. B. there is so many to choose from. I only fish a waggler on still water. but would appreciate any feedback from you guys…..

[TF_JohnH]

Choice of rod depends on what you expect to catch and therefore the sort of terminal tackle you will be using. There are some excellent low cost rods around thanks to imports from China. Also the second hand market is full of some quality gear at super low prices.
If you are fishing a smallish pond you also might want to consider a pole where presentation will be much better than rod and line.
Lets start with your target fish and work from there.Please post up some more detail and we will work around that.

[TF_salenko]

If you’re looking primarily at fishing commercials with pellet waggler for carp, the MAP Carptek & Shakespeare mach1 or 2 ranges are good budget end rods

with his method you generally don’t need a rod over 12ft length, 11ft being a pretty standard size

however, if you’re after a general purpose waggler rod for silvers & the odd bonus fish, you’re probably going to be looking at somethng with a softer action than these ‘pellet waggler’ rods

in this case I’d be looking at a 13ft model with a light tip action but progressing through the middle section

as budget is a concern have a look at something like the Garbolino Squad range (although not the lightest of rods around) they are reasonably good for the money

[TF_blounty65Participant]

Hi guys, it is a fairly small pool with carp to low 20’s (i dont expect to catch them) i’m aiming for good sized roach, perch, tench, the odd bream and crucian if i can the rod at the moment is a 10″ feeder rod and ive done ok with it but as i said i was told to get a 13″ i did try one but it was an old fibre glass one and very heavy but the length felt better. terminal wise im fishing on 3lb bottom size 18 hook although i was using a 16 hook and i just use No8 shot shirt button pattern to drop the line. im not a match fisherman its pureley for pleasure so it would be nice to get the odd bonus fish……

[TF_JohnH]

How much do you want to spend?
It seems you are looking at a general coarse fishing 13 foor carbon fibre rod, as I have said these do come quite cheap now, even top branded rods such as Daiwa can be found second hand quite cheap too.
If you want new, Garbolino or Shakespeare is a good place to start looking.
3 lb hooklengths is quite strong for skimmers roach and crucians, you should be able to use 1lb or 1.5lb to land those ok, unless you have weed to contend with.

[TF_blounty65Participant]

i was hoping to spend about £30 it doesnt sound very much i know and i wish i could afford more, but having bought a lot of stuff already and it seems like i was poorly advised in the shop, i have only so much i can put up for a new rod

[TF_blounty65Participant]

i’ve located a garbolino hd 13″ carp waggler rod priced at £24.99 could this be the answer to my dillema??

[Anonymous]

You need a 12ft or 13ft “MATCH ROD” for the type of fishing your planning on doing. Dont get caught out by the name “match rod”. Match rods are designed for silver fish and the odd bonus fish that you describe and have nothing to do with match fishing.

Stay away from anything carp orientated in name like the carp waggler rod you have located as these rods are designed for the commercial bagging waters and will be to powerful for the type of fishing you intend to do.

My suggestion is for you to go back to your local tackle shop and ask to see the cheaper priced match rods in your price range. If they have none. Then, find another tackle shop! There are plenty of match rods available costing between £25-£35 and they are all as good or better than the very best match rods 25 years ago.

Im not sure the advice by JohnH about 3lb hook lengths being to strong for the type of fishing your doing is really correct. If your hoping to catch the odd tench, bream and crucian and even the odd carp to 20lb. Then, you do need reasonably balanced tackle with a bit of strength now that things have warmed up. 3lb hook lengths should be fine betwen now and early November unless your struggling for bites. Dropping down to 1lb-1 1/2lb hook lengths might give you extra bites. However, you would have more difficulty in landing any of your bonus fish you manage to hook. As you suggest that you are catching a few. I see no need to change to lighter hook lengths at the moment!

Hope this helps.

[TF_JohnH]

TB I assumed the 3lb was “reel line” not hook length line. I can recall years ago never going heavier than 1.7 bayer which seemed like bullrope. Big tench skimmers chub etc never broke it. I think the poster mentioned 20lb carp but stated he would never get them out so I discounted them. If he is using 3lb standard line the odds are it will break nearer 5lb.

[TF_blounty65Participant]

hi guys,
have now sourced a 13″ paralite match rod for £30.00 have taken on board all your advice on line and hook legnth strength, i am at the moment catching plenty of roach and the odd skimmer am i right in thinking its a little early for tench at the moment…

[TF_JohnH]

Sounds like you are enjoying yourself, thats the whole point of what we do!! Tight lines, I hope the rod works out ok.

[Anonymous]

Its not to early in the year to be catching tench. I,ve been catching a few since late Febuary. Early morning or the last few hours of light are normally the best parts of the day to target tench.

You could try being a little more selective with bait if you want to catch a few tench. Sweet corn takes some beating as does bread flake. Less bites from the smaller roach and skimmers but these baits normally pick out the bigger species of fish if your preared to wait for bites at the right times of the day. Also remember that tench are bottom feeders. So, fish over depth/fish on the bottom.

JohnH, i was not having a go. Most of what you where suggesting is sport-on. I agree that 1.7 bayer was seen as quite strong line 25 years ago. It was my line of choice for targeting almost everything in summer, including tench in open water. However, 2.6 bayer was a better choice when the tench where having it. 1.7 bayer is 0.12 in diameter. 0.12 = 3lb line in almost every hook length line these days. So, no loss of presentation when comparing moden lines to the likes of bayer that we used in the past. The second reason for suggesting that 3lb hook lengths should be ok is because blounty65 is catch a few fish. Nothing worse for a new or returning pleasure angler than to be getting snapped up whenever they hook a bonus fish.

[TF_JohnH]

None taken TB I think we read the post slightly differently. I got the impression the poster was catching mostly small fish and thought going lighter would help to increase his enjoyment with more bites. Big carp are a challenge for us all even on heavy gear!!

[TF_blounty65Participant]

hi guys, i have took the plunge and put my hand deep deep deep into my pocket and bought a maver abyss 13″ match rod and to be honest it felt so mutch better than the feeder rod i have been using. i managed to get it for £45 bit more than what i budgeted but it just felt so good to hold

[Author]

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