reflective tape or tip lights

thinking of buying reflective tape fpr the tip of my rod anyone know how this works does it stay on forever etc? should i just stick to tip lights

Can't say I've ever used tip lights, but I've heard stories of line snagging in them mid cast, and causing the rod tip to break. I'm sure this is quite rare, but I'd tend to stick to reflective tape and a headlamp myself. New rods are too bloody expensive these days!

You can get decent tape online from Veals mail order, or else pick some up in your local dinghy supply shop. It's quite cheap either way. Just cut it in strips and wrap it around the rod tip, it's normally self adhesive.

i would stick to tip lights, i have always used them. they r so bright so u can just relax back in the beach buddy and wait. and it also saves the sore neck the next day from looking at your rod tip 4 hours

I use isatopes for tip lights they last 15yrs plus and are thinner than any tip light i used before so less chance line can get raped.

you can tape them or have wipped onto rod like a eye is perfect

To cut down all chances of tangling the damn things just go for the Tape... Try a Zebra pattern! 8)

To cut down all chances of tangling the damn things just go for the Tape... Try a Zebra pattern! 8)

Zebra pattern were do i get this stuff?

Hi,

You can't always get tip lights when you need then and isotopes, whilst smaller than chemical lights still have to be fixed to the rod tip. The battery powered lights are the worst and can actually damage your rod over time and they do get tangled in your line. They all still add weight to the tip that it was never designed for.

Reflective tape is an easy fix and recommended by most rod manufacturers. It can also be bought in metre lengths from the likes of Halfords for a hell of a lot less than the 6 inch lengths sold from most tackle shops. I'd go with the tape and set your lamp in a position where you can see it comfortably.

Dave

Reflective tape .......deffo...............

Far superior

tape is the better option...

even though i've found sone tapes dont do there job too well, but what i've done is gone into an auto shop (the ones for boy racers) and got reflective tape there, ok it comes in 5 meter rolls and in red and white, but it is highly reflective, last competition i was at i could see the tape on my rods from 7 marks up 7 yards between, marks approx 50 feet away and couldnt see the tip lights on a couple of the rods inbetween, (a good headlight i presume)

plus theres no chance of tape flying off during casts...

hairyconger,
pm me and remind me friday, ill bring a roll of 3M yellow reflective to the meet on friday and you can have whatever you need of it.

hairyconger,
pm me and remind me friday, ill bring a roll of 3M yellow reflective to the meet on friday and you can have whatever you need of it.

Got some and all (sea match p-roduct)cheers anyway phil does this stuff last long or does it have to be changed regulary

I use reflective tape from halfords cheap and its been on for years comes in alot of colours .

should last for ages provided you put it on to a perfectly clean rod tip and fit it as tight as possible, it can be hard to get off most of the time actually!

Reflective tape is the best option for the reasons already mentioned, also the fact that the tip lights add to much weight to the tip, and alter the tips action, recovery speed when casting, causing the tip to wobble.
I will say that this problem will not affect most people though, and is rather picky.
I would definitely not use a tip light if pendulum casting.

Hope this as helped in some way.