[beefcake]

hi everyone
i am going to be going fishing at the weekend of the seabrooke area.
i have just bought a 12 beach casting rod and a fixed spool with my x-mas moneyi got.
i have only used a 9ft spinning rod before and was wondering if there is anything different?
i will be using squid and rag or lug maybe both.
i will most proberly be going around night time (depends on the tide).
THANK YOU

 

[Scrudgy]

Quite a bit is different - but the good news is not difficult.

Your new rod will probably be rated at 4-8 oz casting weight. Find out what it is, and remember this rating includes bait and rig etc.

You must use the correct weights for your rod. If you use too light a weight, you will not get the rod to bend and compress, and therefore will not be able to cast very far. Many people with a 4-6 oz rod use 5oz leads, and people with a 4-8oz rod will use 6oz leads.

If you are moving up from 2-3 oz weights to 5-6 oz, you will need to start using a shock leader if you are going to attempt distance casting. (There is a very long thread on shockleaders in the forums somewhere, please read it - especially if you are fishing in a area with lots of other people nearby).

The fixed spool reel is good for getting used to the rod, as not much will go wrong if you make a mess of your cast.