Long Rod & Braid Set up - what do you think....?

OK lads - I am seriously considering buying a long rod (18') and F/S reel, loading it with 50lb braid and using it for beach comps next year.

There are some good deals kicking around for the Penn Combo's.

I have already bought some 50lb braid and am considering the Rod & Reel.

Any one using this type of set up?

Any opinions on how it performs?

Any good for beach work?

All advise warmly accepted.....

Jude

Jude go for it! just don't get that crappy braid off ebay :lol: :lol: :lol: !!!!!

seriously though, long rods have there uses(i have been converted). 50lb braid is very heavy though. for better distance 20lb braid would be better and more than enough for clean beach. i have 65lb whiplash on a fixed spool for rough ground- bites are a joy to watch and it makes light work of snags. Bigphil uses it straight through in weedy seas and swears by it.

the K2 can cast a long way but it aint always easy to spot bites on. have to get some of the lighter stuff myself. bite detection at distance.

i reckon i'll have to sit around the streetcorners with a hat out in front of me with a sign 'need braid for christmas'. i am sure the masses with their christmas cheer will be woed by my unfortunate position and make me a rich man....

Cheers Mark,

I want to be able to use the braid straight through though....

Would 20lb be OK or do you use a shockleader?

Jude

? see the 'braid?' post/thread. different opinions....i'd say find out what suits you(not being smart!). i am gonna try it straight through myself after problems with shocknot catching in butt ring. long rods will help cater for the lack of stretch in the braid. you can overhead cast with a long rod and it will go out a long way, if it snaps it will head out to sea.

Tapered shock leaders on the braid anyone? Thats what I use and have had no problems. I have an Emcast 6000 loaded with 30lb Powerpro.

I used long rods in spain this year and also have been converted.

For exanple my first try at long rod was simply a 13ft penn rod and surfmaster fitted with 30lb braid and shockleader and even being only 13ft it seems to make a big difference to my casting and in turn enjoyment.

We in uk have used multiplier set for years and on the continent it has always been long rods and fixed even fixed on the boat. I took my penn 525s and 7ht to spain every year but this year went to a grauvell casting show and was converted big time. An at night time fishing fixed spool realy made life easy.

The spanish lads i fish with main set up is 13ft for general and rock or rough ground.

And 14ft to 16ft for beach and clean ground. And they realy can use them.

I will not sell my multipliers just yet, but plan to use my longer rods mainly this year and give it a real go.

I am now buying a 15ft grauvell to add to my collection.

All this is just my view so take loads of advice before you buy but if anything its fun to try

Jude, I feel you do need a shock leader especially if you are using 20lb braid. 20lb braid, great choice for clean beaches. 8) Even you, with that set up should make the 3rd breaker! only joking mate :wink:

If you are using the 20lb braid with no shock leader then you are restricting the lead size you can use safely. Thats what it really is all about at the end anyway, Safety. Just use the ratio 10lb shock leader for every oz of lead and you should be fine. The mono shock leader adds a bit of stretch also. Next time your at a club meet take a look at Jim's set up if he's got his braid outfit on, the tip never stops moving/bouncing and thats on a fairly strong Zziplex rod.

I'm not trying to put you off as I have a long rod, SRE set up with Shimano Ultregra 10000 and 30lb braid. It does have it's uses although I feel you need a reel with a shallow spool so as the braid doesn't bed into itself too bad if you have to retrieve a raft of weed from distance.

Steve

Have 20lb Whiplash on an Emblem and have had serious problems with the shockleader knot causing wring wrap on the butt ring. Very annoying. Are tapered leaders the only solution?

Liam

well, depends on the tapered leader....most start at around 18lbs and taper up to around 60/70lb. if you tie the 18lb end onto 30lb braid in my books that woould leave a weak spot.... hit a big fish and you would be chancing it.
i use 20 or 30lb braid and attach a 40lb leader of drennan greased weasal, this means that you have a bit of diameter in the mono in the knot, thus reducing the chances of the mono being wore through in it by the low diameter braid, i know its not a high breaking strain of shockleader and not recommended, but ive so far had no problems using it for 5oz and 3 baits... just needs checked regularly

straight through does fine for flicking in close or around the surf with 1, 2 or 3 oz leads, anything heavier and use a finger stall if straight through.

as for rods, well, in that department i use 16ft triplex, it does fine although for the lighter leads i would recommend a slightly lighter tipped, more through action rod, something like the competition tips in the likes of the grauvell tektron etc

personally i wouldnt go any longer than 16ft, seen 18ft rods in action and didnt really see any morer benefits, apart from giving the wind something more to blow on and wallop in the wind! :)