Middy Consumer CATALOGUE WEB - Flipbook - Page 68
TIPS & ADVICE
HOW TO CHOOSE A ROD
“Any rod will do the job” is what some people say, but they’re wrong. It might be true for newcomers to the sport, where a Bombproof
rod will get you fishing nicely, but as you progress you will inevitably want higher quality, better action and improved features. Choosing
the right rod for your style of fishing and venue will take quite a lot of studying. Here are a few pointers on the different types of rods,
to help you decide…
COMMERCIAL WAGGLER/FLOAT RODS
Usually, this type of rod is most ideal for up-in-the-water work, or
a pellet waggler on the bottom in around 5ft of water. For either
of these presentations, you will need a rod with a parabolic action
or through-action, so that it’s soft enough to avoid hook pulls when
landing carp. The ideal rod length is 10ft or 11ft, allowing you to
bring up the heads of the fish close to the platform. Responsiveness
is a really key thing to look for in all rods (i.e. how quickly does the
rod recover to static once bent and then let go of) – the quicker the
response time, the more control you will have on the cast and line
will be picked up quicker on the strike - both of these attributes
allow more fish to be caught. Cheaper rods like the Bombproof
will wobble in the butt and not settle so quickly, whereas a
Reactacore XZ will settle in a fraction of a second. So in summary,
for commercial waggler fishing, look for a responsive rod that’s no
longer than 11ft in length and has a parabolic or through action.
RIVER WAGGLER/FLOAT RODS
For river work you need even more control over the float, so a longer
rod is essential – at least 13ft and ideally 14ft if you can afford it.
You should be looking for more of a fast taper action like on the
Reactacore XZ Ultra Control 14’. This fast taper action is created by
laying the carbon sheets in a clever formation and it provides a quick
response in the tip, allowing fast line correction on flowing waters.
COMMERCIAL FEEDER RODS
On commercials, you’ll rarely want a feeder rod that’s any longer
than 11ft. You should look for a rod with a casting weight guide
of around 50g, so that it can achieve around a 60 yard casting
distance. A through action is best for handling the large carp found
in commercials. The 5G Method Feeder is a perfect example. There’s
also the 5G Mini Feeder for shorter chucks, but the Method model
offers greater scope. If you want something slightly stiffer to give
more accuracy in the cast, look at the flagship Quartix 11ft.
RIVER/PIT FEEDER RODS
For feeder work on rivers, pits and big lakes, where you will usually
be casting further, consider a rod no shorter than 12ft. The action you
need is more of a fast taper to allow pick up of line at distance. If you
have the money and you are going super long distance, choose a 13ft
feeder rod capable of chucking 4oz - the flagship Quartix is the best
out there at 13ft.
BARBEL RIVER RODS
A barbel rod is essentially a beefed up feeder rod for handling these
incredibly tough fighting fish. It’s a more specialist tool and needs to
be able to handle 6oz weights. A parabolic or through action will do
the job. The casting weight guide gives you an idea of a barbel rod’s
strength. The Power Phase M120 has got the power and strength
required for this task.
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The types of actions – when choosing a rod in-store, have a look
at how it’s bending.
THROUGH ACTION
FAST-TAPER ACTION
There is not just one type
of carbon. It can vary by
its ‘quality grade’ (e.g. 20
tonne, 30 tonne, etc.), the
amount of layers being
used in the construction,
as well as how those
layers are formed/
angled with each other.
If a rod costs more than
another, it’s because it
uses higher specification
carbon, allowing it to
be lighter and more
responsive without
compromising on
strength. That’s a large
part of why a flagship
rod like a Quartix has
a higher price tag than
other models.
Before you buy a rod,
check its balance.
When a reel is affixed,
you ideally want the
rod to sit level when
pivoting just a couple
of inches above the
reel – i.e. slightly
forward balanced. This
allows you to have a
better feel and control
when casting and
when landing fish.
The 5G Method feeder
rod is a great all-round
tool for commercials.
PARABOLIC ACTION