Dem New Big Beachcasters - Better than Older Ones

I've noticed this trend towards 15, 16, and 17ft beachcasters a while ago - some kind of European style I am told by people who know better than I. But will they help me cast further than with my old ABU Atlantic 484? I think not, even if the technique remained neutral...

Surely it's a question of physics, as with a 17ft rod you'd need a corresponding increase in your own height in order to gain a leverage advantage.

The 400-500 euro price makes me think again anyway, but I would be interested in know opinions on whether the "longer" rods will deliver on increased casting distance over the "older" 11.5 or 12 ft equivalents I am used to... or is it all marketing hype?

Hi uvox,

I think this claim that they can "cast further" or cast comparable distances to conventional tackle is a bit of an exaggeration. I bought into this long rod thing and have been messing around with them for a while. Sure, if you cannot cast ot just prefer an overhead thump style then these longer softer rods do help you to cast good distances. Don't stand next to someone winding up a pendulum on conventional gear and expect to hit the same kind of distances.

They're longer and softer and to me feel awkward and clumsy when reeling in heavy weights or lumps of weed. A shorter conventional rod and multiplier setup gives me much more control and power in these situations.

The setup I've found best for these continental rods is a fixed spool with 20lb braid chucking small baits into the surf. They are excellentat casting delicate baits such as maddies reasonable distances. Oh and you can get away with much longer traces too. I like them for small fish fishing but for anything more serious than that I would personally stick to a more conventional setup.

Lots of top match anglers use these outfits now so don't take my opinion as gospel. Maybe they mostly scratching around shallow beaches or maybe I'm missing out on something here but I just don't get the hype.

Just my two cents
Liam

One of the senior guys in the Shannon Town club who passed a way recently had a Titanium K2 and with a good simple casting style with braid on a fixed spool could hit the same distance a one hook trace as a good pendulumn caster could hit a 3 hook rig. He also took some big fish with it. In one competition he had two 25lb congers and 3 other double in figures in a ferocious tide on this setup but he was a a big fella.

I bought the softer K2 blue metal recently to fish longer traces with lower diameter lines and use soft baits. The longer rod is supposed to allow the use of lighter breaking strain leader when overhead thumping creating less warp in the sea and not put off small fish.

Donagh