rod length

spunky · Post by **spunky** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 7:36 pm

hello all, am about to buy some kit and was wondering what size rod is best suited to a beginner? ive fished before (carp fishing) would i be asking for trouble going straight into a 16 ft?
cheers

Hebby09 · Post by **Hebby09** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 7:47 pm

personally i wouldn't choose a 16ft rod straight away as you may not be able to cope with it. A 14ft beachcaster should do a treat.

Hebby

sniggle · Post by **sniggle** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 8:29 pm

Your build and strength will have a lot to do with how big a rod you can handle. If you are 6ft 6" and built like a brick outhouse you may be ok with a 16ft rod and 8oz of lead. If you are 5ft and 7 stone it isn`t gonna be a good idea to go over 12ft.

eccles · Post by **eccles** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 10:36 pm

5'11", 13 stone, always done OK with 13 ft, don't see the point of bothering with anything longer, too dam awkward.

spunky · Post by **spunky** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 7:50 pm

ill get an 8 footer then

....thanks for the replies has anyone tried either sonik or salt rods?...........

eccles · Post by **eccles** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 8:22 pm

Got two salt rods. Not bad for the money but the tip paint/laquer soon starts coming off and my two year old salt 12 ft two piece has now started splitting at the tip. The other is a 13ft Salt Long Surf which has turned out to be a bit too floppy for me and now has one cracked ring. Have heard that Soniks can bust when put under a lot of pressure but don't really know.
Anyway, have now changed over to Firefly Rods which seem to be better quality than the Shakespeares for similar prices. I understand that they will be producing a new uprated rod early in the new year and from what I know it should be a real cracker for the money but we'll have to wait and see.

spunky · Post by **spunky** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 9:49 pm

cheers eccles would you consider telescopic rods ? and would 6oz be enough?

George6500i · Post by **George6500i** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 9:55 pm

ive had 2 12ft salt beach rods for just under a year and the tip paint has started to come off, and also the tip rings on both break very easily.
they both cast well thou

eccles · Post by **eccles** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 10:31 pm

spunky wrote:cheers eccles would you consider telescopic rods ? and would 6oz be enough?

Ask yourself this question:- Have I ever seen experienced anglers using telescopics for serious beach fishing?
Well spunky, I never have. I did buy one years ago and it fell to pieces when I first tried to give a real belt. There are supposed to be some better ones about these days but I don't think I could bring myself to try them. Why would you want one anyway, except perhaps to take on an aeroplane on holiday. Most three piece rods can be fairly easily transported - even on a push bike as I often do. Oh and by the way I only use 6 oz sinkers when out in the boat, 4 or 5 oz sinkers I find quite adequate on the beach.

spunky · Post by **spunky** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 11:22 pm

cheers eccles top man i asked because they were on offer
http://www.anglingcentre.net/acatalog/C ... _rods.html
about half way down the page ............do you fish the bristol channel much mate?

Post by **rabbi2** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:17 am

As eccles says telescopic are a no no, If you need to buy something compact then have a look at Shakespeare travel beach casters. I have 2 of them and use an Abu 7,500 reel on each of them.

They may not be top of the range but they do the job and I don't have to put anything on the roof of my car as my tripod is also compact and the whole lot fits in the boot of my car.
Cheers
keith

spunky · Post by **spunky** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 6:46 pm

thanks rabbi i think ive settled on shakesper salt but dont know weather to go for 14ft-15ft long surf 4-6oz or 13ft salt beach rod 4-8oz..........what would be better a longer rod with less weight to cast or shorter rod that can cast more weight ?..............bit confusing this

thejarv · Post by **thejarv** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 8:34 pm

Get the 13ft. It will cover every aspect of beach/shore fishing and will put a 6oz lead a decent distance.

westy · Post by **westy** » Fri Dec 25, 2009 12:39 am

hi, i had a 15ft salt about 4 year ago i ended up giving it away i couldnt get on with it. i think you should start with a 13ft and see how you get on with it. good luck with wot you chose

Post by **rabbi2** » Fri Dec 25, 2009 9:52 am

13ft every time. The longer the rod the more power you have to put into it
Cheers
keith