New rod time....

Alright lads, I've been using my trusty Penn Powerstick 12-20lb class rod for the past couple of years to good effect and am more than happy with it performance wise etc. However, its getting a bit battered around the edges and is going to need a tip replacing ASAP also. The only gripe I had with it was its a little too short.

So, its new rod time. I'm quite keen on competition angling and a bit of extra length will not go amiss, I want a rod that will cover the majority of my fishing from general reef drifting to gilling etc. I dislike getting on board a boat with a bundle of rods as given the nature of bumpy trips etc, Gear easily gets damaged and broken, not to mention lack of room. I hate, with a passion, fishing too heavy and wont do it from either the shore or boat so I am not willing to go above 12-20lb class on it either. I suppose an uptider might fit the bill? It must be able to take a FS reel also, reason being in comps fast retrieve can be essential, especially if you are on a fairly quick drift over clean ground and may have up to 200 metres paid out in a bid to hold the bait on a spot for a while.

Your opinions please, I'm not going to skimp on it but neither do I want to fork out a pile of unnecessary cash either. Is there such a rod out there.....

mitchell tempest bolon 303, or a daiwa tdxu are both fantastic rods in the 9.5 -10 foot range. neither is suited to fixed spool but are both very capable rods imho

Fladden 10-20lb Solid-C, super light, responsive tip and smooth taper action, Highly recommend one!

FS use will be very minimal and will only be, as mentioned, during comps on a quick drift over clean ground. Thanks for the input lads. Which one of yours was I admiring on the boat the other day? I know I asked and you told me but I cannot remember for the life of me what you said.

it was the mitchell, i can see if i can pick you up one if you want but not sure if they have any left, special order of 10 that they got in

just checked and all 10 rods were sold, sorry

Just my 2 cents worth....
In my opinion the BEST allround rod for the type of fishing you will be doing is the Team Daiwa Boat 12-30, it is awesome, if you ever get the chance to fish some home international boat competitions out of the 20 anglers you will probably have 10-12 with this rod.
Perfect for Gilling, perfect length, fantastic rod for speed fishing with a big fixed spool and braid in places like Kilmore quay. perfect for drifting, I have seen common skate up to 165lb caught on them.
If I was told that I could only use one Boat rod for evermore it would be this one without question.
You will not be dissapointed with it, the rod itself was designed by and for the exclusive use of the scottish international team in the 80's, and has not been surpassed.
I have won more competitions with, and seen more competitions won with this rod more than any other.
You will not be dissapointed.
Dave

FS requirement makes it a bit tricky.

If you can find a Shakespear Uglystik model 1480, 15 lb class and replace the botom eye with a bigger one, you might be onto something.

My next boat rod is deffo going to be the ABU Suveran 12-20. Class of it's own. Who on here did I see with one, was it JGF or pete? Last year on Bonito, matched up with an Avet SX. Sexy combo, anyhoo.

FS requirement makes it a bit tricky.

If you can find a Shakespear Uglystik model 1480, 15 lb class and replace the botom eye with a bigger one, you might be onto something.

My next boat rod is deffo going to be the ABU Suveran 12-20. Class of it's own. Who on here did I see with one, was it JGF or pete? Last year on Bonito, matched up with an Avet SX. Sexy combo, anyhoo.

Gerry,

You did see both the rod and reel last year on Bonito, but Pete had the Suveran and i had the Avet (on a penn tidecutter 12-20).

what about the daiwa kensaki braid special? looks a deadly rod, with equal sections also...

FS requirement makes it a bit tricky.

If you can find a Shakespear Uglystik model 1480, 15 lb class and replace the botom eye with a bigger one, you might be onto something.

My next boat rod is deffo going to be the ABU Suveran 12-20. Class of it's own. Who on here did I see with one, was it JGF or pete? Last year on Bonito, matched up with an Avet SX. Sexy combo, anyhoo.

Gerry,

You did see both the rod and reel last year on Bonito, but Pete had the Suveran and i had the Avet (on a penn tidecutter 12-20).

Ahh, and the rest was just my imagination putting the two of them together..... that explains it.

what about the daiwa kensaki braid special? looks a deadly rod, with equal sections also...

i tend to dislike boat rods with equal sections as i dont really like having the curve of the rod coming across the joint, that being said the mitchel rod i mentioned above is a 3piece with ultra sensitve tip and a fantastic backbone to handle anything thrown at it. all of the joints are reinforced by metal so the joints are strong, team this up with the new shimano tekota range and its such a lovely very light weight very strong very versitile combo. well capable of picking up the bites of small dabs and i would have no reservations using it for specimen tope and conger

Many thanks lads for the advice, I plumped for a Daiwa TDXU at the finish, lovely rod and I hope it fishes as well as it looks and feels. Thanks all for your opinions and contributions. I will do a little modification or two to it at some stage, lowering the reel seat slightly and possibly fitting a larger bottom ring but that will be all. Thanks again lads.