Right guys. Couple of months back switched from 10ft rods to 12ft due to the distance required on a certain water. There is an area Of Water that can be covered by 2 pegs. One peg is comfortably reached at 120 yards.
The two times I have managed to get on the peg I have got amongst them.
The other peg is more challenging, in fact it's a 145yd Chuck. I swapped the10 ft for some 12ft Daiwa DF Whisker 3lb TC. With a .30 reel line and 50lb shock leader I can only Manage 135 yards Max no matter how much I put into the cast. Find 3.5oz leads to be the most consistent.
The 10 yards or so drops me short into 16 ft of water. The area they hold up in is around 6 ft deep.
Question is. Are the rods on the limit for that distance, or have I got to fine tune my technique further.
Personally I do feel the rods are quite soft, very for giving. Almost like a through action. Nice to play fish on though.
Tia
The two times I have managed to get on the peg I have got amongst them.
The other peg is more challenging, in fact it's a 145yd Chuck. I swapped the10 ft for some 12ft Daiwa DF Whisker 3lb TC. With a .30 reel line and 50lb shock leader I can only Manage 135 yards Max no matter how much I put into the cast. Find 3.5oz leads to be the most consistent.
The 10 yards or so drops me short into 16 ft of water. The area they hold up in is around 6 ft deep.
Question is. Are the rods on the limit for that distance, or have I got to fine tune my technique further.
Personally I do feel the rods are quite soft, very for giving. Almost like a through action. Nice to play fish on though.
Tia
In reply to Post #1
135 with 3lb is extreme distance, you can try 0,28 line, even shorter hooklink, smaller hookbait etc but getting a 3,5lb rod would be the best.
135 with 3lb is extreme distance, you can try 0,28 line, even shorter hooklink, smaller hookbait etc but getting a 3,5lb rod would be the best.
In reply to Post #2
Tbf the 135 yards is with wind behind. 130 is consistent as long as no side wind and conditions calm.
I raised the question to see if there was anything to be improved on before splashing out on more rods.
I keep seeing people saying they can hit distances that seem very extreme.
I would be perfectly happy to hit 140/150 consistently, without breaking the piggy bank.
Could try .28 line first has there are no snags at all. The pool is completely weed free.
Realistically how much distance could be gained by dropping from .30 to .28.
Tbf the 135 yards is with wind behind. 130 is consistent as long as no side wind and conditions calm.
I raised the question to see if there was anything to be improved on before splashing out on more rods.
I keep seeing people saying they can hit distances that seem very extreme.
I would be perfectly happy to hit 140/150 consistently, without breaking the piggy bank.
Could try .28 line first has there are no snags at all. The pool is completely weed free.
Realistically how much distance could be gained by dropping from .30 to .28.
Depends what you want to do really. If you want to make that range easier to achieve, a faster taper rod will make it so. The funny thing is, from reading guys posts on here, you don't have to break the bank and have an all singing and dancing rod to get where you want to get, always second hand too.
If you're going to just going to try and fine tune things, this video might help you get that little bit extra you need -->spool tapers
One thing I will say is that the smaller the line diameter, the smaller the margin for error, meaning: if your line gets damaged or rubs over an underwater feature or obstacle the greater the chance of putting fish in danger if you catch one. Conversely, the larger the line diameter, the greater the margin of error, blah blah blah, but I'm sure you know this.
I personally like to use 0.37 line and above, but with that the rods have to be fast taper which accommodates larger lead sizes.
If you're going to just going to try and fine tune things, this video might help you get that little bit extra you need -->spool tapers
One thing I will say is that the smaller the line diameter, the smaller the margin for error, meaning: if your line gets damaged or rubs over an underwater feature or obstacle the greater the chance of putting fish in danger if you catch one. Conversely, the larger the line diameter, the greater the margin of error, blah blah blah, but I'm sure you know this.
I personally like to use 0.37 line and above, but with that the rods have to be fast taper which accommodates larger lead sizes.
In reply to Post #3
If the water is weed and snag free then .28 should be fine, use a braid leader that helps
But depending on the taper of the butt section you might be maxing out your 3lb rods.
Have you tried using 3oz rather than 3.5oz You might find you can get a faster lead speed with a lighter lead on those rods.
If you do decide to look at some more powerful casting rods but don't want to break the bank, have a look at the Shimano TX range, TX2 and TX4 are excellent value, I've seen a TX4 13ft Intensity put a lead well over 200 yards
but it was by Terry Edmunds.
If the water is weed and snag free then .28 should be fine, use a braid leader that helps
But depending on the taper of the butt section you might be maxing out your 3lb rods.
Have you tried using 3oz rather than 3.5oz You might find you can get a faster lead speed with a lighter lead on those rods.
If you do decide to look at some more powerful casting rods but don't want to break the bank, have a look at the Shimano TX range, TX2 and TX4 are excellent value, I've seen a TX4 13ft Intensity put a lead well over 200 yards
but it was by Terry Edmunds.
If you are hitting 130yds consistently with a 3lb rod you are doing very well imo, from my experience of 3lb rods a 3.5oz lead is most suited.
Personally I would say you may have reached your potential with that rod, if you are able to sell yours and get a more recognised distance rod even 2nd hand (because lots of people are fooled into thinking a distance rod will solve all their problems) this should enable you the extra distance you require.
Personally I would say you may have reached your potential with that rod, if you are able to sell yours and get a more recognised distance rod even 2nd hand (because lots of people are fooled into thinking a distance rod will solve all their problems) this should enable you the extra distance you require.
In reply to Post #4
I here what you saying bud. I am spooled up for both really. I have .37 on my other spools to cover this scenario.
Problem is with .37 I can just about manage 120 yards which not only puts me another 10 yards shorter than I can reach with the lower diameter line and shock leader, but also puts me in even a greater depth of water.
I here what you saying bud. I am spooled up for both really. I have .37 on my other spools to cover this scenario.
Problem is with .37 I can just about manage 120 yards which not only puts me another 10 yards shorter than I can reach with the lower diameter line and shock leader, but also puts me in even a greater depth of water.
In reply to Post #5
Yes bud, tried 3/3.5 & 4 oz leads. The 3.5 oz hit the clip the most consistent.
Have been browsing rods tbf. After using 10fts for the last 3 years, the 12fts have felt strange to say the least. If I need to buy better distance rods, just want to make sure I buy once and once only.
Yes bud, tried 3/3.5 & 4 oz leads. The 3.5 oz hit the clip the most consistent.
Have been browsing rods tbf. After using 10fts for the last 3 years, the 12fts have felt strange to say the least. If I need to buy better distance rods, just want to make sure I buy once and once only.
In reply to Post #6
👍
👍
In reply to Post #1
13ft rod helps massively with distance and if you can use braided mainline you will hit that distance piece of pi**
13ft rod helps massively with distance and if you can use braided mainline you will hit that distance piece of pi**
In reply to Post #10
At 5ft 8 struggle to keep the rig clear of the ground prior to casting with 12ft rods, especially the water I mention.. Think 13ft rods would make this issue worse.
Plus no braided reel line.
At 5ft 8 struggle to keep the rig clear of the ground prior to casting with 12ft rods, especially the water I mention.. Think 13ft rods would make this issue worse.
Plus no braided reel line.
In reply to Post #10
13ft rods don't suit everyone - in fact, I find I can cast further with a 12ft.
I think the OP is bit under-gunned. My distance rods are 12ft Hi- S'ive ER's, excellent rods and not pool cues either. No test curve rating, but then that's usually misleading anyway. They'll handle leads up to 4oz, but 3.5 is the sweet spot. With 15lb mono straight through (no need for a leader or braid here), they'll hit 150 yards with ease, further if I really wind them up. Accepted, I am a good caster, but in less experienced hands, I am sure they'll still hit decent distances. I use them with Basia 45 SCW reels.
13ft rods don't suit everyone - in fact, I find I can cast further with a 12ft.
I think the OP is bit under-gunned. My distance rods are 12ft Hi- S'ive ER's, excellent rods and not pool cues either. No test curve rating, but then that's usually misleading anyway. They'll handle leads up to 4oz, but 3.5 is the sweet spot. With 15lb mono straight through (no need for a leader or braid here), they'll hit 150 yards with ease, further if I really wind them up. Accepted, I am a good caster, but in less experienced hands, I am sure they'll still hit decent distances. I use them with Basia 45 SCW reels.
In reply to Post #12
have you thought about a lesson with some of the casting gurus out there
have you thought about a lesson with some of the casting gurus out there
In reply to Post #11
The only difference with 13ft rods is when you're in a tight swim, it really can get on your tits with your tip nearer trees and what-not. If your swims are big and clear, no probs. I'm sure it wouldn't take long to adapt to a slightly longer rod.
If you do think of getting something with some more backbone, like a poster mentioned earlier, don't overlook the cheaper Shimano range. I was watching a video earlier with a guy smashing a lead with their 13ft 3.75lb TX2 Intensity; have no idea what diameter line he was using but hitting just shy of 200yds, with a rod costing just under £100, that's pretty phenomenal.
The only difference with 13ft rods is when you're in a tight swim, it really can get on your tits with your tip nearer trees and what-not. If your swims are big and clear, no probs. I'm sure it wouldn't take long to adapt to a slightly longer rod.
If you do think of getting something with some more backbone, like a poster mentioned earlier, don't overlook the cheaper Shimano range. I was watching a video earlier with a guy smashing a lead with their 13ft 3.75lb TX2 Intensity; have no idea what diameter line he was using but hitting just shy of 200yds, with a rod costing just under £100, that's pretty phenomenal.
In reply to Post #14
Like last post either get the shimano rods that nt break the bank or bait the margin or closer in the fish will find the bait just coz every one else casting to the horizon don't mean u have to do something different it works
Like last post either get the shimano rods that nt break the bank or bait the margin or closer in the fish will find the bait just coz every one else casting to the horizon don't mean u have to do something different it works