I'm thinking about a solid bag approach for winter fishing, mainly at close to medium range at my local Park lake.
Fox Rapide system will be my choice, but I am not sure what size bags I could realistically use up to 50 yards or so with my Freespirit ES 2.75 rods ?
Logic says use the smallest size, but I also wouldn't mind offering a slightly larger pile of attraction.
I do have a pair of 3.5 tc Avid Traction rods which I could use, but I love my ES's and have a set of three to give more options on the day.
Any thoughts/ comments would be appreciated as always, thanks .
I should add that I favour 3 oz pear leads, for hooking prooerties and really don't want to go much smaller.
Fox Rapide system will be my choice, but I am not sure what size bags I could realistically use up to 50 yards or so with my Freespirit ES 2.75 rods ?
Logic says use the smallest size, but I also wouldn't mind offering a slightly larger pile of attraction.
I do have a pair of 3.5 tc Avid Traction rods which I could use, but I love my ES's and have a set of three to give more options on the day.
Any thoughts/ comments would be appreciated as always, thanks .
I should add that I favour 3 oz pear leads, for hooking prooerties and really don't want to go much smaller.
In reply to Post #1
You can chuck medium solid bags at that distance with a 2.75 rod with no trouble, as I do.
The cast needs to be more of a lob that accelerates at the end so you don't overstress the rod.
Like chucking a big feeder when barbel fishing.
I was chucking big bags on my old tfg 10ft 2.5lb compact carp up to 50yds, and can do a bit further with my 2.75 12ft X-plus tfg rods that are quite soft.
You can chuck medium solid bags at that distance with a 2.75 rod with no trouble, as I do.
The cast needs to be more of a lob that accelerates at the end so you don't overstress the rod.
Like chucking a big feeder when barbel fishing.
I was chucking big bags on my old tfg 10ft 2.5lb compact carp up to 50yds, and can do a bit further with my 2.75 12ft X-plus tfg rods that are quite soft.
In reply to Post #1
Use the 3.5 test is what I would do, made for the job!
Using 2 3/4 test rods you will be lobbing them, not casting, I wouldn't use anything bigger than a golf ball max and I would also use 2oz max, saying that I have not used the ES rods, just based on my experiences with lower test rods
Use the 3.5 test is what I would do, made for the job!
Using 2 3/4 test rods you will be lobbing them, not casting, I wouldn't use anything bigger than a golf ball max and I would also use 2oz max, saying that I have not used the ES rods, just based on my experiences with lower test rods
In reply to Post #1
50 yards is not far, your 2.75lb will easily cope. I use my 2.75lb armalites with bags no problem. Obviously I wouldn't try to hit the horizon with them. I may be a lob as stated but you will still be able to hit a clip, just don't go mad
50 yards is not far, your 2.75lb will easily cope. I use my 2.75lb armalites with bags no problem. Obviously I wouldn't try to hit the horizon with them. I may be a lob as stated but you will still be able to hit a clip, just don't go mad
I use the Fox system (smallest size) with a 2oz lead and FS 2.75 t/c rods and give it the beans without issues. I'd say that there's plenty of food in there for this time of year (I use all year round to great effect), and it barely weighs 3oz all in. With a smaller lead, you could get more bait in.
In reply to Post #2
I do the lob with big bags as when I'm lazy and the fish
Are up for it I just hook the bag on.
I do the lob with big bags as when I'm lazy and the fish
Are up for it I just hook the bag on.
In reply to Post #1
I have the exact same rods the free spirit es and have fished around 55 yards with bags. I used the fox edges in the smallest size like someone else mentioned and didn't feel like it was overloading the rods I used 1.5 oz leads and micro pellets and boilie crumb I would estimate the bags was a little under 3 oz. I've since bought fs his ive er rods which obviously are a lot better for bag fishing as I needed to fish over 100 yards, but for 50 yards or less the es should be fine with smaller bags.
I have the exact same rods the free spirit es and have fished around 55 yards with bags. I used the fox edges in the smallest size like someone else mentioned and didn't feel like it was overloading the rods I used 1.5 oz leads and micro pellets and boilie crumb I would estimate the bags was a little under 3 oz. I've since bought fs his ive er rods which obviously are a lot better for bag fishing as I needed to fish over 100 yards, but for 50 yards or less the es should be fine with smaller bags.
In reply to Post #1
Should be fine with a small - possibly medium bag, but you'll want to be careful about the size of lead - I'd stick to no more than 2oz myself, but also depends on if you load the bags up with liquid too as that'll add to the weight.
50 yards isn't that far though - you could (with enough extensions) use a bait spoon - with the bag and some additional offerings. Or, if allowed you can use a bait boat - I'm relatively new to the whole bait boat thing, but still use it with PVA bags
Should be fine with a small - possibly medium bag, but you'll want to be careful about the size of lead - I'd stick to no more than 2oz myself, but also depends on if you load the bags up with liquid too as that'll add to the weight.
50 yards isn't that far though - you could (with enough extensions) use a bait spoon - with the bag and some additional offerings. Or, if allowed you can use a bait boat - I'm relatively new to the whole bait boat thing, but still use it with PVA bags
In reply to Post #8
Fifty yards is a bloody long way with a baiting spoon!
Fifty yards is a bloody long way with a baiting spoon!
In reply to Post #9
It is, but do-able, so long as they're not too much cross wind or ripple. But, you need a lot of poles I have 15 myself, but most of the lads at my last syndicate had bushwhackers and would gladly share poles - I'd usually leave mine in 4 pole sections and feed them out 4 at. time, but admittedly not to 50 yards. I have seen it done quite a bit.
Another option is from another far margin or from the corner of a bay etc that's not fished - passing the spoon out, casting across it with just a lead, drag the line in and attach your rig/bag and then ship it out to where you want it, only not needing so many poles - obviously depends on the water and if you can find a way of getting the pole out to cast across.
It is, but do-able, so long as they're not too much cross wind or ripple. But, you need a lot of poles I have 15 myself, but most of the lads at my last syndicate had bushwhackers and would gladly share poles - I'd usually leave mine in 4 pole sections and feed them out 4 at. time, but admittedly not to 50 yards. I have seen it done quite a bit.
Another option is from another far margin or from the corner of a bay etc that's not fished - passing the spoon out, casting across it with just a lead, drag the line in and attach your rig/bag and then ship it out to where you want it, only not needing so many poles - obviously depends on the water and if you can find a way of getting the pole out to cast across.
50 yard chuck on a local part lake implies to me that's a maximum cast with the reality being less.
You could easily get away with even softer trods, why sacrifice playing action and if snags much better chance of stopping the fish
2oz lead in a small PVA bag job done.
Just make sure the pointy end is razor sharp.
I would say spend a bit more time thinking about what you put in the bag it's all about maximising attraction as the water turns colder and the carp feed less.
You could easily get away with even softer trods, why sacrifice playing action and if snags much better chance of stopping the fish
2oz lead in a small PVA bag job done.
Just make sure the pointy end is razor sharp.
I would say spend a bit more time thinking about what you put in the bag it's all about maximising attraction as the water turns colder and the carp feed less.
In reply to Post #1
We used to blast 4oz leads around with 2.75tc rods back in the day. 3oz lead and a small bag wont be a problem.
We used to blast 4oz leads around with 2.75tc rods back in the day. 3oz lead and a small bag wont be a problem.