Continental tactics?

[Mono]

Keep reading about these "continental tackle and tactics" that are supposedly influencing the uk scene so much. Have many people here adopted these tactics? I know of nobody. My local tackle dealer did try to nudge me in that direction last time i bought a new rod. Wasn't having it. Is this just a tackle manufacturers' conspiracy to persuade us to revamp all our gear? Or am i bit cynical? All hail long rod revolution?

[castleden]

Keep reading about these "continental tackle and tactics" that are supposedly influencing the uk scene so much. Have many people here adopted these tactics? I know of nobody. My local tackle dealer did try to nudge me in that direction last time i bought a new rod. Wasn't having it. Is this just a tackle manufacturers' conspiracy to persuade us to revamp all our gear? Or am i bit cynical? All hail long rod revolution?

personally sounds to me like a gimmick to sell more gear, i live in spain are have rarely seen anglers using long rods though have spoken to some who do now and then...

[m.b3]

long rods, longer traces, lighter lines and often leads too - good for small fish at different ranges. very effective.

standard beach gear is ideal for fishing for rays, dogs and the like or when the winds make holding and casting a long rod difficult/impossible!

[Codhead Bob]

Not sure why it would have to be one or the other really.I use a couple of Grauvell long rods,but also traditional stiff rods,soft rods,carp rods,spinning rods,float rods,feeder rods,just whatever I fancy at the time.They all do a job and provided a little bit of variety as well.

[m.b3]

Bob any flapper rig over say 8' long is difficult to cast on a standard beachcaster. a long rod with light line on a fixed spool can overhead cast them a good distance- they are more effective for doing such things. they also allow the use of lighter rig bodies too as there is no need to swing the lead during the cast. but like you say it's down to preference.

[steve w]

I'm tending to use smaller hooks,and finer longer traces off the beach,more and more because the bigger fish don't seem to be around anymore.

[phil6283]

Long continental "floppy" rods were designed for use in seas where there is no tide and calm gin clear seas,and targetting shy biting species like mullet and bream.
long rods are probably more to do with marketing and sales, but the same could be said for bass rods and flattie rods.
The mainstay of our fishing ie Pouting whiting and dabs could be caught on a hook tied to a length of chain.

[m.b3]

Long continental "floppy" rods were designed for use in seas where there is no tide and calm gin clear seas,and targetting shy biting species like mullet and bream.
long rods are probably more to do with marketing and sales, but the same could be said for bass rods and flattie rods.
The mainstay of our fishing ie Pouting whiting and dabs could be caught on a hook tied to a length of chain.

bass rods are often used without a tripod standing in the surf... much more manageable than holding a 14' beachcaster with a reel down the butt. bass rods have there uses.
long rods may have started off on the continent but they are used here frequently to deadly effect- so why not use them? i honestly dont think it is just a marketting ploy. for clean beach and scratching around they give more options, longer lighter traces, great distances with small baits and simple casts, all adding up to putting fish on the bank. cant be bad then?

[Rob]

Places like Spain have clearer water with minimal tide run and anglers generally target smaller species. Match anglers have really kicked off the market for continental long FS rods and reels with light tackle and small hooks, but for general purpose sea angling I believe it has a limited use.

[Codhead Bob]

One thing that I'd say I've found with the long rods is that they are incredibly accurate as far as casting goes.Up here there are virtually no clean beaches and 99% of fish are found in kelpy areas.Sometimes the clearish patch to land your bait might be something like the size of a motor car at usually 50 to 80 or 100 yards tops,and these rods seem to be very easy to control your cast to the extent that you can regularly hit your mark.

[ickypimp]

i am using 14 foot rods at the moment, love em ...

[topnot]

Keep reading about these "continental tackle and tactics" that are supposedly influencing the uk scene so much. Have many people here adopted these tactics? I know of nobody. My local tackle dealer did try to nudge me in that direction last time i bought a new rod. Wasn't having it. Is this just a tackle manufacturers' conspiracy to persuade us to revamp all our gear? Or am i bit cynical? All hail long rod revolution?

I keep seeing the Angling mags recommending these rods.But when ive fished harbours, rocks and jetties abroad all the locals were using telescopic rods.
These sorts of rods are being pushed at anglers who cast overhead and dont want to learn(or their type of fishing doesnt require them to learn )other styles of casting.
For some anglers these rods may be usefull and suit them well,as with most new items ,i suppose only time will tell if they catch on.
Myself personally ,i wont be purchasing these style rods.
If i want to fish lighter then ill use a Bass rod,Carp rod or a spinning rod. For beach or Rock fishing ill stick to the Normal style of rods that we already have.

[Snaggletooth]

Open beach and I always use a 15ft rod. Perfect for otg or overhead and that suits me. For rocks, piers and harbours always scale down to a 12ft or 10ft rod. My opinion is that these rods do have a place in the anglers armoury but they aren't the only thing to use.

[David Gould]

Open beach and I always use a 15ft rod. Perfect for otg or overhead and that suits me. For rocks, piers and harbours always scale down to a 12ft or 10ft rod. My opinion is that these rods do have a place in the anglers armoury but they aren't the only thing to use.

Come on Snaggs ... confess ..what rod is it , how does it take a 6 ounce weight /8 ounce one? what reel & runners. etc. PLEASE !

David

[sdewis]

One of my rods is a 16'8" (5m) Shakespear K2 Blue Metal.

I love using it. It casts amazing distances with a simple overhead thump and is very bait friendly (i.e no shower of worms when you cast :))

Cheers

Sean

[MartynG]

As a self-confessed crap caster I find that if I cast with a 15ft Penn Powerstick I can make a respectable distance above that reached by a 13ft Ron Thompson rod, but when I cast with a shorter 12ft Fladen Warbird I well outdistance the 13ft rod (but still short of the 15ft rod).

I'll admit that size does matter, but build quality and rod action also has a big influence on my casting :)

[FROGGY1]

Some days I have to batter an 8oz lead into a force 7 onshore using standard beach fishing gear. Some days I can use a quiver tip in the same place in gin clear water bright sun & calm seas. You have to have tackle to use in relation to the circumstances. Last year I used a 12 ft rig body with 3ft snoods at Hurst point. I had 13 black bream up to 2lbs & all on the top hook. Rods, reel, line, hooks just adjust your gear to the circumstances in line with the circumstances.

[Snaggletooth]

Come on Snaggs ... confess ..what rod is it , how does it take a 6 ounce weight /8 ounce one? what reel & runners. etc. PLEASE !

David

Penn Powerstix and I almost always use a 5 oz weight on it, suits the conditions I'm fishing.

Now looking at a 14 or 15ft Grauvell to go with it which should cope with a 6 oz well.

[m.b3]

Some days I have to batter an 8oz lead into a force 7 onshore using standard beach fishing gear. Some days I can use a quiver tip in the same place in gin clear water bright sun & calm seas. You have to have tackle to use in relation to the circumstances. Last year I used a 12 ft rig body with 3ft snoods at Hurst point. I had 13 black bream up to 2lbs & all on the top hook. Rods, reel, line, hooks just adjust your gear to the circumstances in line with the circumstances.


could not agree more...

[anotherbarrelMrHooper]

I think one of the main reasons that long rods are popular on the continent is alot of anglers fish of the cliffs very high up, and so need to be able to retrieve thier tackle clear of the cliffs.
Plus the water is so clear that due to fish having a visaul advantage traces have to be longer and lighter.
Just my opinion.

[Codhead Bob]

Now looking at a 14 or 15ft Grauvell to go with it which should cope with a 6 oz well.


No problems there mate,I have the RC Surf and the cheaper MG Surf and they both cast 6oz without any hiccups.

[Snaggletooth]

No problems there mate,I have the RC Surf and the cheaper MG Surf and they both cast 6oz without any hiccups.

Thanks, always nice to know I'm thinking in the right direction.:fishing: