12ft for spinning ?

Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 3:02 pm

I've got various ex-carp rods lying around that I think could be used for spinning

Is 12 foot too long for a spinning rod - either 1.75 or 2.5 test curve ? - I really don't fancy buying more rods for a once a year attempt at a bass off the beach / rocks

Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2010 8:48 am

im no expert but the spinning rods i see on sale in shops are generally a max of 10ft and a lot of the time their 7/8/9 foot.
saying that, when i only had 1 rod, a cheap 12ft beachcaster i had no problems whacking out spinners on it. probably doubling the distance i get now with my spinning rod. you just dont get the same fight from the fish tho as on the lighter rods and after a while my hands used to be hanging from the weight of the beach rod.
a carp rod would probably be a much lighter rod than what i had so if mine worked, then yours will to, probably much easier to use too.
make sure you give it a good rinse after the salt water tho.

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 12:40 pm

Cheers redmouse - I'll guess I'll have to give it and go and see how I get on. I guess the 1.75 lb test curve will be better than the 2.5 lb.

Cheers, Dave

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 1:11 pm

dont know anything about carp rods but go as light as you can.
a lot of people are using them as Bass rods as their light and a half decent fish will put a good bend in it.

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 1:20 pm

Very loosely the test curve relates to the casting weight in oz's - so a 1.75 ib test curve should be ok with leads up to 1.75 oz's - which sounds about right to me (if not still a little heavy) for spinning/plugging

cheers, Dave

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 4:53 pm

I use a 2.5 lb test curve carp rod for pollack, spinning jelly worms. It gives great sport with still enough power to try to stop the pollack crashing into the kelp. I wouldnt want a lighter or shorter rod for this.(imho)

However if you want to delve into bass fishing with the various methods currently in favour, a shorter rod with a quicker action would be needed to give life to the many styles of lure for different situations. Surface lures and poppers tend to need to be twitched, stopped, retrieved in all kinds of ways which involve flicking your wrist. Most specialist plugging rods are between 8 and 9 feet. It wont take you long to realise the extra three foot of rod will take its toll on your hand, notto mention the action of the lure

Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 6:07 am

As others have said, it's the weight of the actual rod that matters most. I have used both a 9' 6" and 12' bass rod for spinning, the latter being light and slim, because one can keep casting over and over without getting too tired. Trying to do it with a beachcaster though is not on, simply because one soon gets tired and a bit fed up with the exercise.
Your lightweight carp rod will probably do fine.

Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 7:27 am

Your carp rod will be fine, I bought one ages ago for mullet and found it much to heavy so now use it for spinning, I find the length gives a bit more casting range when using shads etc

Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 9:19 am

Thanks for all the responses gents - very much appreciated.

Cheers,

Dave

Joined: Jul 15, 2010 Posts: 1

i dont think you need a new one

Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 7:43 am

You probably won't get a good action into a lure with a crap..sorry a carp rod. If you're going to do spinning...get a spinning rod. It makes sense. Would you buy a spinning rod to go carping?

Quote:

Very loosely the test curve relates to the casting weight in oz's - so a 1.75 ib test curve should be ok with leads up to 1.75 oz's

I don't agree. 1.75 lb is 28 oz. The test curve is how much weight is applied to bend the rod 90 degrees.

Also you have to take into mind what kind of action the rod is...is it full through? Because it's likely to just sag and flop everywhere and not put any action into a lure. Just my 2 pence worth...

Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 4:07 pm

celticcatch wrote:

You probably won't get a good action into a lure with a crap..sorry a carp rod. If you're going to do spinning...get a spinning rod. It makes sense. Would you buy a spinning rod to go carping?

Quote:

Very loosely the test curve relates to the casting weight in oz's - so a 1.75 ib test curve should be ok with leads up to 1.75 oz's

I don't agree. 1.75 lb is 28 oz. The test curve is how much weight is applied to bend the rod 90 degrees.

Also you have to take into mind what kind of action the rod is...is it full through? Because it's likely to just sag and flop everywhere and not put any action into a lure. Just my 2 pence worth...

Also the test curve can be used to work out the optimum line strength for the blank in question- i.e. 1.75x5=8.75 lbs BS. I regularly cast out loaded swimfeders of about 3 to 4 oz with my 1.75 test curve Shimanos with no ill effects on the rods,also find most good carp rods are ideal for light sea work with appropriate sinkers(again- 2-4oz) Cheers,Mick happy

Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 7:44 pm

Both myself and my 2 boys use a Diawa carp rod for Flattie bashing in the bays and harbours, great bite detection with a 3 or 4oz weight
Cheers
keith big grin