Choosing a 12-20 lb or 20-30 lb rod?

Hi Lads. I'm looking to pick myself up a new boat rod after my last one exploded into three pieces. As I only go out on five or six trips a year so I'm after an allrounder for in or around 70/80 euro.

All my fishing is done in Galway Bay. We usually do a variety of fishing at anchor or on the drift in depths of water from as little as 10m down to about 40/50m max. Target species are usually pollack, coalies, cod, ling, doggies, huss, ray, wrasse, flatties etc. We rarely target for tope/conger so not going to need a broomstick.

I'm thinking that a 12-20lb is the way to go.. but will it be heavy enough for what we will be doing? I want to get a rod that I can actually feel the fish fighting at the other end rather that winching them up .

At the moment I'm looking at a few rods including

Shakespeare Uglystik GX2
Fladden Maximus Nano
Shimano Vengeance Boat Slim
Penn Powerstik Pro

All opinions welcome.

For that range/average size of species I'd be looking at a 6-12lb class rod.
I have a Kensaki 6-12lb and its the rod I use most in similar situations as you describe. Grand with leads up to 8oz.

Make enquiries from your tackle shop about Daiwa Vertice Boat - they were available at 8lb and 12lb class and were very well priced.

I never even gave a 6-12lb rod a thought as I though it would be much to light. When the tide is running will 8oz will be enough to keep the rig near the bottom on the drift? Also would a 6-12lb rod be ok in handling up to 3 fish at a time (probably wishful thinking)? Sorry about the questions but haven't got a lot of experience out on the boat yet.

If 8-10oz is too little to hold...then you probably should not be drifting!
Yep the rod will cater for the majority of stuff out there.
A lot of the time anglers are catering for the exceptional fish rather than the norm. As I say, a 6-12 is my weapon of choice for the majority of scratching. I would move up to a 12-20 for wreck fishing, strong tide at anchor, congers, big blondes, shark etc.
If you want to feel this is the way to go.

Howdy, the rod I use is the fladen Maximus 10-20lb, well able to play up single fish, but as you've seen it has no problem bringing up triple shots of pollock, not bad when using 10lbs braid it will manage a spur dog no problem as for tope, hopefully will find out in the coming weeks.
As for holding bottom I use 3-6oz, the lighter braid helps.

I've the teklon concept big bait 662 that is marked for jigging at 50 to 150 g that is used off of the kayak for ray and pollock and works well for both then the bigger model that is weighted for jigging at 50 to 200g that I'll probably use for conger/ tope. Both are nice rods, Doug stocks them up in Westport.
The first rod or 662 probably converts to a 6 to 12 lb rod and the other up to 20 lb.

agree with the diawa good rods,
dont go near the tubertini had 3 of them snap in the very same place,
all great promises of a new one 3 months later still no sign of it,

6 - 12lb will see you get much more enjoyment, especially if you are hitting single fish. It might struggle if you hit a triple shot of Pollock or something larger. For me, I enjoy the fun and would opt for the 6 - 12lb rod, but a 12-20lb rod wolud cover you for more, although it will not be much fun when you are getting dabs, Gurnards, small coalies or such.

Thanks for the replies lads! Great advice as usual. I'm going to stretch the budget and get myself a Kensaki, but I'm think I'm going to go for the 12-20lb class. Although the 6-12lb rod would be more craic I think the versatility of the 12-20lb would suit me better. Maybe in the future I will get myself a second rod in the 6-12lb class.

I'll be christening the rod over the weekend so will let ye know how I get on!

The 12/20 is a lovely rod. It will do as a complete all rounder without being a broom handle. It is a very capable rod. Picture below from yesterday while connected to a rather angry blue shark

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Christened the rod on Saturday and managed to catch a good mixed bag of cod, pollack, dogfish, gurnard, wrasse, poor cod, pouting and mackerel. The rod preformed great. Nice and light to hold with plenty of backbone, while the the tip is very sensitive so I was able to pick up some very subtle taps from the gurnards and the poor cod. I'm happy I went for the 12-20 as at one stage I was using up to 8oz weights with large baits and it was no problem. Was out again for a few hours last night and got a nice thornie and a few small pollack. Very happy with my purchase and would imagine it would be some craic on the 6-12 lb version... Thanks again for the advice lads!

The 12/20 is a lovely rod. It will do as a complete all rounder without being a broom handle. It is a very capable rod. Picture below from yesterday while connected to a rather angry blue shark

What's that reel you have on it Jim?

That's a Shimano Calcutta 700s - I use it for shark fishing as it has a fairly slow retrieve and a nice drag. Ordinarily I would have a Penn 535 fitted.

Ordinarily I would have a Penn 535 fitted.

Mono or braid? I'm using a 525 mag original loaded with 30lb braid on my Penn 12/20 at the mo, but i have a 535 I'd like to get more use out of. Classic reel, just felt a bit hefty for that rod.

Always braid!
525 is a grand reel. I use them on my 12/20s too. And of course on my 6/12. Like that the 535 seems big but it is grand for wreck fishing.