I currently have a Cygnet prodding stick that basically consists of various hollow section of metal tubing that snap clip together. Whilst it is extremely light and does the job, I find that it fills with water when in use which makes moving it through the water incredibly difficult when you may be drifting over an area in a boat and want to prod different spots underneath.
At the moment I have to pull the whole thing out and then submerge it in another spot. All the time I am doing this the water is then cascading out of the holes and I get drenched! Add in a strong croswind when in boat and trying to hold steady on a particular spot and I end up getting very angry and wet!
I k ow hat both Nash and Solar do solid bodied versions but before spending nearly £90 on a replacement I wondered if anybody on here had any better suggestions or had tried any for themselves> Yes, I know a long piece of wooden dowel would do the same thing but the ability to separate the different sections is key to storage and transportation.
Many thanks.
Richard
At the moment I have to pull the whole thing out and then submerge it in another spot. All the time I am doing this the water is then cascading out of the holes and I get drenched! Add in a strong croswind when in boat and trying to hold steady on a particular spot and I end up getting very angry and wet!
I k ow hat both Nash and Solar do solid bodied versions but before spending nearly £90 on a replacement I wondered if anybody on here had any better suggestions or had tried any for themselves> Yes, I know a long piece of wooden dowel would do the same thing but the ability to separate the different sections is key to storage and transportation.
Many thanks.
Richard
In reply to Post #1
The Nash prodding stick I have is hollow and has holes up the side so the water runs out the same as the cygnet one at a guess
I haven't used yet it as a France trip fell through
The Nash prodding stick I have is hollow and has holes up the side so the water runs out the same as the cygnet one at a guess
I haven't used yet it as a France trip fell through
In reply to Post #1
How deep are you prodding in.
I used a cheapo extending washing line prop that extended to about 10ft, so good for maybe 8ft deep, and being heavier it gave a good solid donk on hard areas, I could feel the gravel rattle through the pole.
Two of these 10ft poles for £16. Fit a big float and a length of paracord, maybe a wrist loop too.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Telescopic-Extendable-Washing-Clothes-Extenedable/dp/B094253J3H/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?adgrpid=54846700242&hvadid=593781698636&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9046558&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=8348743379407999882&hvtargid=kwd-339968797338&hydadcr=26160_2651823&keywords=extra+long+washing+line+prop&qid=1690325053&sr=8-3
How deep are you prodding in.
I used a cheapo extending washing line prop that extended to about 10ft, so good for maybe 8ft deep, and being heavier it gave a good solid donk on hard areas, I could feel the gravel rattle through the pole.
Two of these 10ft poles for £16. Fit a big float and a length of paracord, maybe a wrist loop too.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Telescopic-Extendable-Washing-Clothes-Extenedable/dp/B094253J3H/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?adgrpid=54846700242&hvadid=593781698636&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9046558&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=8348743379407999882&hvtargid=kwd-339968797338&hydadcr=26160_2651823&keywords=extra+long+washing+line+prop&qid=1690325053&sr=8-3
In reply to Post #1
Maybe too oldskool these days,but I've seen people use drain rods.Not too sure if they suit the purpose but maybe something to look into.
Maybe too oldskool these days,but I've seen people use drain rods.Not too sure if they suit the purpose but maybe something to look into.
In reply to Post #3
I will look into that, thanks.
I will look into that, thanks.
I use the carp spirit stick and it also fills up with water, but can't say that's ever caused me any issues or soaked me. A stick full of air might be buoyant, that would be more annoying. Solar stick does look decent, not sure if it's sealed or not. If you're not getting on with a stick what about donking the bottom with a short rod, lead and braid instead?
In reply to Post #4
Drain rods also come with a screw attached robber disk that is good for feeling silt.
Drain rods also come with a screw attached robber disk that is good for feeling silt.
In reply to Post #6
I use the carp spirit one too. Never got soaked by the pole as such, just my woeful boat control combined with poor balance seems to do the trick for me. Not sure if you can still get it but was a good bargain when i purchased it. Can't see drain rods being much use, far too flexible to get a decent 'prod' unless you are out in absolutely flat calm conditions or maybe shallower water. Edit. The rubber disc though would be useful as per previous post. The carp spirit stick had a number of attachments including a disc shaped one which did the same job...
I use the carp spirit one too. Never got soaked by the pole as such, just my woeful boat control combined with poor balance seems to do the trick for me. Not sure if you can still get it but was a good bargain when i purchased it. Can't see drain rods being much use, far too flexible to get a decent 'prod' unless you are out in absolutely flat calm conditions or maybe shallower water. Edit. The rubber disc though would be useful as per previous post. The carp spirit stick had a number of attachments including a disc shaped one which did the same job...
Drain rods are crap to use in deeper water as they are too boyant and float that's through past experience
I dont like the Cygnet stick at all after a short while if you use them regularly its like a floppy dick as the screw joints are riveted and wear with the prodding of the bottom, Solar's looks of similar construction, the best by far that I use and I've done plenty in boats is the Nash stick.
All of them have the holes to enable them to sink otherwise your trying to force them down full of air trick is as you pull them up leave the tip pointing at the water until its drained or move them around low to the water on the angle if you're trying to be quick moving it from one side of the boat to the other as you drift.
Ultimate have copied Nashy's effort and half the price atm it is the same three sections just shy of 15 feet but with the Nash stick you can buy separate extensions .
I've used the Nash Stick up to 4 sections after that I get the donkin rod out TBH these days I mostly use a donkin rod anyway.
FISHDEAL - ULTIMATE PRODDING STICK
All of them have the holes to enable them to sink otherwise your trying to force them down full of air trick is as you pull them up leave the tip pointing at the water until its drained or move them around low to the water on the angle if you're trying to be quick moving it from one side of the boat to the other as you drift.
Ultimate have copied Nashy's effort and half the price atm it is the same three sections just shy of 15 feet but with the Nash stick you can buy separate extensions .
I've used the Nash Stick up to 4 sections after that I get the donkin rod out TBH these days I mostly use a donkin rod anyway.
FISHDEAL - ULTIMATE PRODDING STICK
In reply to Post #10
This. I use a donking rod in deeper water. Or I use B&Q cheap bamboo canes. I think they are around £10 for a pack of eight 4m canes. I would always want to be fishing in less than 4m if possible anyway.
It's a prodding stick, and a marker too. I clean them up with a stanley knife taking off all the large burrs. Sharpen the thin end up sightly and they are simple to push into the bottom as well.
Winner winner.
I could have an expensive prodding stick for free, nada if I want one.
I like my bamboo canes. I also have no problem poking them into bramble bushes and leaving them in various swims around a pond for later. Au naturale. If you ever fish anywhere that I have previously fished.... Look in the brambles. You will need to look hard, as I always hide them well. But there are free prodding sticks there already for you.
This. I use a donking rod in deeper water. Or I use B&Q cheap bamboo canes. I think they are around £10 for a pack of eight 4m canes. I would always want to be fishing in less than 4m if possible anyway.
It's a prodding stick, and a marker too. I clean them up with a stanley knife taking off all the large burrs. Sharpen the thin end up sightly and they are simple to push into the bottom as well.
Winner winner.
I could have an expensive prodding stick for free, nada if I want one.
I like my bamboo canes. I also have no problem poking them into bramble bushes and leaving them in various swims around a pond for later. Au naturale. If you ever fish anywhere that I have previously fished.... Look in the brambles. You will need to look hard, as I always hide them well. But there are free prodding sticks there already for you.
In reply to Post #11
Same as that on a few of my home waters Mark to save all the nonsense of prodding all the time etc.. when you know the lake its easier I generally use them as a sighter or for quick reference for a drop in the area, they are pretty shallow less than 6/7 feet at the deepest out in the pond and a couple of feet in the margins and only a few acres in size so the wind doesn't really effect much, I'll jam a cane in a margin etc to line up with, out in the pond I have some 20mm black plastic conduit cut into various lengths from 4' up to 8' feet as they fit in the van which I push coils of lead as a tight fit into the bases, around 100mm to 150mm length of lead packed into the conduit in 50mm long lengths as they're easier to push in in sections then I seal them off with solvent cement and push a cap on I then cap the conduit at the top so it is full of air.
Pick the right length about a foot over depth for the spot and literally they will stand on the spots upright but I do push them in about six inch's as it's soft claggy silt just to stop them drifting off if a really big storm gets up, if a fish kites past the line will still slide up and over out at a distance with them pushed in the bottom, always got a boat if they dont and decide to wrap around the pole a turn or two just go out and pull them up and replace after.
Same as that on a few of my home waters Mark to save all the nonsense of prodding all the time etc.. when you know the lake its easier I generally use them as a sighter or for quick reference for a drop in the area, they are pretty shallow less than 6/7 feet at the deepest out in the pond and a couple of feet in the margins and only a few acres in size so the wind doesn't really effect much, I'll jam a cane in a margin etc to line up with, out in the pond I have some 20mm black plastic conduit cut into various lengths from 4' up to 8' feet as they fit in the van which I push coils of lead as a tight fit into the bases, around 100mm to 150mm length of lead packed into the conduit in 50mm long lengths as they're easier to push in in sections then I seal them off with solvent cement and push a cap on I then cap the conduit at the top so it is full of air.
Pick the right length about a foot over depth for the spot and literally they will stand on the spots upright but I do push them in about six inch's as it's soft claggy silt just to stop them drifting off if a really big storm gets up, if a fish kites past the line will still slide up and over out at a distance with them pushed in the bottom, always got a boat if they dont and decide to wrap around the pole a turn or two just go out and pull them up and replace after.
In reply to Post #10
Has anyone used the Ultimate one? Used a Nash one before and it was fine until I trod on it.
Has anyone used the Ultimate one? Used a Nash one before and it was fine until I trod on it.
Never used any proprietary ones, mainly because they didn't exist at the time. Always used
Boiler/toilet overflow pipe, not the newer regs at 40mm but pre that it was more like 20mm iirc. No problem with holding water as its just a hollow tube, a few lengths, a few straight connectors, cheap as chips, tho not as Carpy. Lol
Boiler/toilet overflow pipe, not the newer regs at 40mm but pre that it was more like 20mm iirc. No problem with holding water as its just a hollow tube, a few lengths, a few straight connectors, cheap as chips, tho not as Carpy. Lol