How long

[jimi]

I'm in the process of buying a second rod for bream spinning. I currently have a 6' Loomis IM6 (it's about 5 years old) that is a superb little rod for most fishing, but there are times when I would like to cast just a little bit further to get lures into the back of snags.

I've noticed that the top east coast guys are now using rods of at least 6'6" and even up to 7'. For my new rod I'm looking at a loomis S741 or one of the Strudwicks around 6'6". I'm probably leaning towards the Struddy at the moment as they are cheaper, and I've heard some good things about them.

What I'm wondering is, do people think that 6'6" is plenty for most casting, or would 7' be a better choice? I'm especially interested in its ability to cast smaller hardbodies into the backs of snags, as I find this is where my current rod is weakest.

I use 4lb fireline on my current rod, and will also be using it on this new one.

Cheers

James

[pw-bream]

Iam Miller and Steve Starling both seem sure that 7 feet and maybe even a bit more is better. Casting distance (and some say accuracy) certainly goes up with rod length (all else being equal).
If a longer rod will work in your situation, ie. you have room to wave it around, then it should give you the greater casting distance you desire. I've got a light 8 footer that I built for bait fishing for bream and it is good for getting distance with light sinkers or even un-weighted baits. It can get a bit unwieldy if there is close bankside vegetation or overhanging trees though.

[jimi]

Thanks pw-bream. I forgot to mention that all my bream fishing is done from a boat, so I have room to swing a longer rod.

James

[madaff]

James without sounding like a cynic and upsetting too many people I beleive that most anglers are using rods which are far to soft. What everyone seems to have forgoten or don't know is, just like a fly rod it's the unloading of the rod that will determine your distance and accuracy. If your using soft tip rods and can't through a lure or jig deep into a snag then something is wrong. Especially considering that everyone is using 4 and 6lb braid. All of my life I have used rods in 5'6", 6', 6'6" and 7 footers. The conclusion is that 6' is perfect for me either out of a boat or shorebased. In either case the rod tip is just on top of the water where it should be.

Stiff rods load and unload faster generating more tip speed as in flyfishing. Say for example you are using a GL2, just imagine using a IMX, how much more tip speed would you get. Heaps I would say. That would add what 10 meters to your cast. Your lures would then be well and truely up the bank and into the middle of next week.

Setting the hooks with stiff rods is just a formality, as the reaction time is enhanced quite alot.

I would have a good think about it before blowing a bucket of money on something that is still not going to do the job.

As a matter of interest I purchased a Tica rod a few weeks ago and instantly fell in love with it. It's called a Graphite extreme and is 6' long. It's a grunty stick with the worst butt configaration I have seen. I cut some of the butt off and now is perfect. The price $86.00. I can buy 3 and 1/2 and have something which works very well.

If you see me on the river this weekend come over and have a cast, you will see what I mean.

[madaff]

Sorry forgot to mention one vital point, all of my casting for the last 5 or so years as been lefthand backhand with a speed up and stop just like fly casting. This is a very powerfull way to cast and very accurate to. I use 10lb Power braid and makes no difference to the fish, leader lenght however does.

[Bream Master]

Rob showed me the little tica stick he is talking about and it is sweet. For the price it is a great little rod.

I have personally settled on 6'6" as my preferred rod length. In the $100 - $150 range there are probably 3 or 4 different rods I would recommend. They are in part, the Daiwa Heartland IM6, the Shimano Stella, the Penn Pinpoint, The Steve Starling Signature Series (you can still find them), and an awesome little Shakespeare Rod which I will rack my brain trying to think of the name.

James, I must admit not having picked up a Strudwick spinning rod that took my fancy. Perhaps you can give us a model name or number that we can peruse the next time we are in a store.

Warren.

[jimi]

Thanks guys, there's some interesting opinions there. Rob, I do like stiffer rods, and my current loomis is quite stiff compared to some of the noodle sticks I see around the place.

However, what I don't understand is, if you are casting very light lures, wouldn't they have trouble loading a stiffer rod for the cast, no matter how hard you punch it out? I agree with you about the similarities with a flyrod cast (ie. the speed up and stop is what does the casting).

Unfortunately Rob, I'm off to Walpole this weekend, so I can't take you up on the offer to cast your Tica.

Warren, the strudwicks I've been looking at are at bluewater. They are called softbodiez or something like that. They are the ones with green blanks, and a very small cork grip, including a section that covers the reel seat on the top.

I've also looked at those Heartland IM6's. Would you rate them as being fairly stiff (by Robs standards).?

James.

[ChrisN]

Jimi

Ian Miller did an article in the December issue of modern fishing which looked at rod length for bream spinning. In the article it said that a long rod can do anything a short rod can and many things it can't. He tried out an ultralight 8 foot rod and found he could cast further and have many other advantages. Though in WA there are some tight fishing areas so 7 foot is about the maximum. If you can get a copy of the mag and read the article you also find different ups and downs for certain rods. Hopefully this helps.

ChrisN

[madaff]

James I don't think I explained myself very well and missed a couple of vital points. When I say stiff I don't mean a broome stick(sorry). What I should have said was that it needs to recover very quickly ie load and unload. This gives you tip speed and accuracy. This is the case with the higher end in graphite modulas rods. This can also be accieved with composite rods ie (fiberglass/graphite mix) by adding graphite to the glass rods it makes them more sensitive, add a fast taper and then you have fairly pokey inexspensive rod which is also quite responsive.

So what you one look for.

For me it would be a very fine tip which responds very quickly and has a medium to fast action, which is 6 feet long.

Hope this made a little more sence.

[peter bear]

rob where did you get the tica from,i run a tica reel "libra 3000" on a loomis sb721 and it is great .

i'am looking for a second rod to back up the loomis combo.
peter.

[madaff]

Pete, I brought mine from Baileys bait box in Port Kennedy. I think I grabed his last one, but because I call on many tackle store I did notice that most had them. Prices vary from $86 to $99.

[Ozy]

Hey Warren,

A mate of mine bought a Shakespeare "Synergy" 6'6" last week and it looks and feels really good, is that the rod you are thinking of??????

He also looked at the Shakepeare "Catera"

[Bear]

Guys,
I have managed to get a Breamreaper to take down to Walpole to check out and have a cast, I also have a Daiwa that I think a few of you will be interested in as well.

I'll reveal all down there.

[Cindy]

Hi Jimi,
Good to see a keen bream fisher! For the kind of fishing you mention you could try our other model of the Bream Reaper; it's 7 feet and rated for 3 to 5 Kg line. It has a much more moderate action than our other model and is rated for lure weights 1/16 to 5/16 oz.
It was designed for the kind of fishing you described, where distance with light lures and light line/leader combos was a priority. 7 feet of rod length will give you much more distance, but it's real feature is the moderate action, which allows the rod to load with light lures properly and cushions the shocks of strikes to protect light leaders (similar to a fly rod). If you're fishing to rock walls or isolated stucture or very fussy fish, this is the rod of choice.
Our 2 to 4 Kg Bream Reaper (rated 1/4 to 3/8 oz. but will cast to 1/4 to 1/2 oz. quite well) was designed for 'knock down-drag out ' style of fishing, such as oyster leases, dense snags and wharf stucture. It has a sensitive tip for casting and a very powerful butt to put the angler in control from the strike.
I suggest that when you're shopping for your rod, take along your reel and an appropriate sized casting plug and test cast each rod you like the look of. That way you'll be sure of getting the right action and balance your looking for in a rod. (Remember you'll be doing LOTS of casting with this rod: if it feels heavy after 2 or 3 casts, imagine after 3 or 6 hours of casting!) If the shop won't let you test, find another shop!
Regards,
Steve Ross
Black Diamond Tailored Rods

[peter bear]

hey rob had look at midland gunmart and they have a couple of ticas, I forget which one you mentioned so i 'll ask again what particular model is it .
pete.

[peter bear]

p.s will you be in walpole, i'm going as a nonboater.

[madaff]

Pete it was called a graphite extreme 6' 2pce. As I said it's got a weird looking but and I trimed it back to suit. It has a ferrule system which may look like the job wasn't done properly. However this is the correct way to have a 2-pce graphite rod. It's built as a spigot and a section is left exposed this allows the ferrule to wear evenly and always provide a firm connection. It also eleminates flat spots.

Tell Paul or Greg that I sent you.

[madaff]

Originally posted by peter bear
p.s will you be in walpole, i'm going as a nonboater.


Wouldn't miss Walpole too may fish down there.

[Bear]

Not long to go now guys.

[Dave W]

Don't forget about the Diawa Procaster-X 602LFS (6' light fishing special) and the Okuma Epix rods as well (you'll need to trim the butt length) - I've had the Procaster for a while and absolutely love it, and haven't felt the need to go longer.

I recently made the change to a full (98%) graphite rod recently. The casting difference is awesome. The rod is the Shakepere Pflueger which is the model above the catera ans synergy. The rod is awesome but unfortunately the 1-3kg stick is 5ft6, so i bought the 2-6kg stick which is 6ft. The higher weight class is better for me anyway as i fish for bonito and other ball tearers aswell!!!

[Bear]

Guys,
just picked up the Breamreaper. Very nice.

See you at Walpole.

[Duncan M]

Chris,
How much do the Tradition Plus series sell for? I could always go and have a look in bluewater, but, well, you know...
The Struddie TPS flyrods are so sweet, I just about wet myself casting one. If the spin rods are anywhere near as good I'm very interested.

Duncan

[jimi]

Thanks guys for the huge range of opinions, lots to think about there.

Duncan, I was in Anglers Anonymous today, and Sewelly recons a TPS will set you back about $430. He only had one TPS in that was a little light for my likings, but he's getting some more in very soon. They are a very sweet looking (and feeling) rod.

Ian rates them better than Loomis's. I'm inclined to agree with that.

James.

[Dave W]

Originally posted by Bear
Guys,
just picked up the Breamreaper. Very nice.

See you at Walpole.

You'll have to give us some feedback on the Reaper Bear - I've been eyeing one off for a while;) Just don't tell my lady:D

[Bear]

Hi all,
Just got back from a great 5 days at Walpole. Gave the Bream Reaper a good going over and all I have to say is I'm in love. It casts like a demon and can take on a BIG bream really well. I had a bit of a tussle with a 1.2kg snorter with Steve Pankhurst (AKA Pom on the Swan for DohDohDoh readers) and just loaded up the BR and let it do all the work. It took it no worries.

I love the way it loads up in the top third, leaves the wrists feeling like they could go again. The Fiji guides are well placed and it was great to fish with a rod that had short grips as standard.

Ran into Steve Gray from the forums on Friday and he ordered one on the spot. Good advertisment considering he just bought a Loomis Drop Shot. I have it for a bit longer if any one wants to check it out.

Just drop me an e-mail.

[Bear]

Forgot to add the proof.

Caught in the Deep River, Walpole.