Andy Hull Posted July 31, 2018 Report Share Posted July 31, 2018 Hi all, I have purchased a 5lb tc Spod rod so that's sorted now but i want to get a Marker rod too. Would i be best buying another Spod rod as a Marker rod and marking 6inchs and 1ft marks on it or would i be best buying either a 3lb or a 3.25lb Carp rod and adding the mark or, a designated Marker rod? The reason i'm asking is that a few people have said that Marker rods are generally a bit too soft and the heavier Spod rods give better feedback on the tip. I will probably be using Braid on both rods or 15lb mono on the Spod rod and 30lb braid on the Marker rod. Your thoughts please guys Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salokcinnodrog Posted July 31, 2018 Report Share Posted July 31, 2018 Personally I have found I can feel features better with my marker rod with braid and a mono shockleader. I tried using a spod rod years ago on Ardleigh, but to get any feel on the lakebed I had to use 5oz leads. That and retrieving a spod meant the braid wore a groove in my tip and butt ring; since then I only ever use mono with a shockleader on my spod rod. I am putting loaded medium Spombs over 100metres, ironically further than I can now cast with my 2.75lb Marker rod as it has softened over the years. I have also used a 2.5lb fishing rod in the long distant past, but with the advent of braid, which I do not fish with due to my concerns on my waters of needing a leader to prevent damage to fish, I came to get a proper marker rod. I will say that with the increased size and buoyancy of modern marker floats, you need a larger lead. My found Korda marker float requires at least 4oz to feel the lakebed, as the float is so buoyant, compared to the 3oz of my last ESP Mini Marker, which I could see at range until I smashed it with a cast actually hitting it. Other large marker floats are the same, although if you can buy a decent bottom end pike float, it is a whole lot cheaper than carp taxed 'proper' marker floats. Personal choice is a designed marker rod, spod rod and my fishing rods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B.C. Posted July 31, 2018 Report Share Posted July 31, 2018 (edited) Just use your spod rod bud...…. A decent marker float and lead is quite a payload...….. Marker rod is generally too soft for spod work at any real distance but a spod rod will be ok for markering……… I'm looking to buy one myself after giving my 3.75 marker rod away, it was a bit soft for getting a spomb out too far. OK with mini spomb, but that means more casts...……….. Your spod rod will be ok for markering, less kit to lug about, too ,with just the one set up...…. Just tie a big loop in the end of the braid and you can quickly interchange marker set up to spod and vice versa...…….. Find a spot with marker set up, clip up on reel, quick change to spod set up on same rod, and you will hit the spot bang on when baiting...…...Allow for water depth if it's a tight spot.. Depends really on how much you need to fine tune your markering, or whether you are just looking for a clear spot...…. Edited July 31, 2018 by B.C. yonny 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B.C. Posted July 31, 2018 Report Share Posted July 31, 2018 2 minutes ago, salokcinnodrog said: I smashed it with a cast actually hitting it. That's funny...……. Can't get more accurate though 😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salokcinnodrog Posted July 31, 2018 Report Share Posted July 31, 2018 2 minutes ago, B.C. said: Just use your spod rod bud...…. A decent marker float and lead is quite a payload...….. Marker rod is generally too soft for spod work at any real distance but a spod rod will be ok for markering……… I'm looking to buy one myself after giving my 3.75 marker rod away, it was a bit soft for getting a spomb out too far. OK with mini spomb, but that means more casts...……….. Your spod rod will be ok for markering, less kit to lug about, too ,with just the one set up...…. Just tie a big loop in the end of the braid and you can quickly interchange marker set up to spod and vice versa...…….. Find a spot with marker set up, clip up on reel, quick change to spod set up on same rod, and you will hit the spot bang on when baiting...…...Allow for water depth if it's a tight spot.. Depends really on how much you need to fine tune your markering, or whether you are just looking for a clear spot...…. As good advice as that is, I do actually aim at my marker float, so need to use both spod and marker, hence my preference. B.C. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salokcinnodrog Posted July 31, 2018 Report Share Posted July 31, 2018 1 minute ago, B.C. said: That's funny...……. Can't get more accurate though 😀 It is not the first one I have killed like that😖😅😳 B.C. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B.C. Posted July 31, 2018 Report Share Posted July 31, 2018 Just now, salokcinnodrog said: It is not the first one I have killed like that😖😅😳 I like those mini marker floats, I trashed one by stepping on it, but the 2 pack lasted me 10yrs...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yonny Posted July 31, 2018 Report Share Posted July 31, 2018 I just use my carp rod with a bare lead to mark up. I carry a spod rod, needs must, but a marker is just one more thing to carry which offers no major benefit imo. Never use a float tbh. I can count the lead down to get a rough depth. Feeding carp probably serve as my most effective marker. If I can find a clear spot where they are or have been active I'm more than happy. B.C. and snowmanstevo 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Hull Posted July 31, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2018 I already have the spod rod and reel so was wondering if i should buy a marker rod or another spod rod (etc) seems i'd be better buying another spod rod for markering then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yonny Posted July 31, 2018 Report Share Posted July 31, 2018 32 minutes ago, Andy Hull said: seems i'd be better buying another spod rod for markering then? Just use the one you have dude. See B.C.'s post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salokcinnodrog Posted July 31, 2018 Report Share Posted July 31, 2018 2 hours ago, B.C. said: I like those mini marker floats, I trashed one by stepping on it, but the 2 pack lasted me 10yrs...... Only problem is I can't see the black topped one, so it is sat waiting for a tip top of blaze orange paint. 1 hour ago, Andy Hull said: I already have the spod rod and reel so was wondering if i should buy a marker rod or another spod rod (etc) seems i'd be better buying another spod rod for markering then? I find my marker rod invaluable. On Brackens I could be looking for exact spots on a feature, and the marker float gives me something to aim at with bait, spod or Spomb. (Or massive stringers) I also find, while I can do Yonny's method of counting the lead down, (roughly a metre per second), using a marker float on a link, I can find clearer patches in weed. If I just cast and count, I may not know exactly where the weed starts and finishes as I can't see it, whereas carefully dragging it back I can feel the clear or clearer spots, and then count the float up and down. I have lost count of the fish I have caught after baiting up to my marker. I can do 'wraps', or mark my line, but sometimes on a large inland sea, the marker float is extremely useful, especially if as I did on Earith, you map out the whole lake with exact depths. This week, the marker float served another purpose, it kept idiot sailing boats and safety boat from going over my line❗️😉 To be honest, I have been using a marker rod and spod rod since the 1990's, and they are both a necessity to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Hull Posted August 1, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2018 14 hours ago, salokcinnodrog said: I find my marker rod invaluable. using a marker float on a link, I can find clearer patches in weed. If I just cast and count, I may not know exactly where the weed starts and finishes as I can't see it, whereas carefully dragging it back I can feel the clear or clearer spots, and then count the float up and down. I have lost count of the fish I have caught after baiting up to my marker. I can do 'wraps', or mark my line, but sometimes on a large inland sea, the marker float is extremely useful, especially if as I did on Earith, you map out the whole lake with exact depths. This week, the marker float served another purpose, it kept idiot sailing boats and safety boat from going over my line❗️😉 To be honest, I have been using a marker rod and spod rod since the 1990's, and they are both a necessity to me. Morning all, I'm going to go with getting a dedicated Marker rod, i'm not disregarding what others have said but would like one for some of salokcinnodrog's above reasons. So, Would you get a Spod rod as a Marker rod or would you go with an actual Marker rod or a 3lb fishing rod marked up with 6 inch and 1ft marks? Thanks Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazlaaar Posted August 1, 2018 Report Share Posted August 1, 2018 Spod rod without question, I've yet to find a marker rod that will cast and work properly at distance. The further you cast the more buoyant (bigger) float you'll need to successfully pop up, which inherently means more weight from the float and lead. You may not be casting the distance at the moment but what if you fancy fishing a bigger lake in the future? I certainly wouldn't want to feel under gunned. Tie a 6" loop in the end of your marker braid to make changing between a marker float or spomb/spod a doddle. 2.75 to 3lb tc marker rods just don't cut it with me. Plus, don't neglect the size of reel. My normal fishing reels are 5000's but my marker/spomb reel is a 5500. Anything I can do to get that extra distance will make everything else that little easier. The best floats I've use are from a company called MCF, I use a number of their floats but the Thunderbirds really are the best all round marker float. B.C. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yonny Posted August 1, 2018 Report Share Posted August 1, 2018 3 minutes ago, Gazlaaar said: The best floats I've use are from a company called MCF MCF the best for sure. All I used when I did use them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazlaaar Posted August 1, 2018 Report Share Posted August 1, 2018 MCF changed their swivels over to plastic poo eyelets a long time ago and I went off using them because the braid used to eat through the plastic. Since they changed back, it's all I use. One other thing to mention, get the korda marker stems, their absolutely brilliant at reducing tangles. yonny 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greekskii Posted August 1, 2018 Report Share Posted August 1, 2018 Best float's i've used I made. Using balsa allows for a very short float with silly amounts of buoyancy which helps reduce tangles. Very easy to make and cost around 80p per float. yonny 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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