BEST THROUGH ACTION RODS

[KINDFISHER]

Hi all, I am looking to buy some new rods.  I would like them to be through action, as I don't fish at any great distance.  I would like them to be either 10ft or 12ft with a test curve of between 2lb and 3lb.  I'm also on a bit of a budget, so nothing at the top end will be within my reach (I mean £800 for one of the latest Daiwa rods is a tad over the top).

All recommendations welcome, and some information about the rod if you have such knowledge.

 

Thanks in advance

[salokcinnodrog]

5 hours ago, KINDFISHER said:

Hi all, I am looking to buy some new rods.  I would like them to be through action, as I don't fish at any great distance.  I would like them to be either 10ft or 12ft with a test curve of between 2lb and 3lb.  I'm also on a bit of a budget, so nothing at the top end will be within my reach (I mean £800 for one of the latest Daiwa rods is a tad over the top).

All recommendations welcome, and some information about the rod if you have such knowledge.

 

Thanks in advance

Your big problem is fashion!

Since probably around 2010, test curves have increased to 3, 3.25 and 3.5lb, where (in my view) the best through action rod has a test curve of 1.75 to 2.5lb. Even a 2.75lb TC rod is a rarity today, and most of these higher test curve rods are faster taper tip action rods, frequently built for long distance casting rather than fish playing.

 

If you want a more through action rod, look at Barbel rods, which, while being able to cast big leads and feeders, are certainly capable of landing and playing carp.

 

[elmoputney]

I use 12ft 3.25lb and don't find them too stiff, I don't feel like new rods are as broomsticky as they used to be, if you are wanting to continue using solid bags I wouldn't want to go under 3lb tc 

I have daiwa crosscasts I think they are a nice all rounder, 

I also think before you go chucking loads of money at rods, just try a different rig material. You may find your rods aren't an issue. 

[framey]

1 hour ago, salokcinnodrog said:

Your big problem is fashion!

Since probably around 2010, test curves have increased to 3, 3.25 and 3.5lb, where (in my view) the best through action rod has a test curve of 1.75 to 2.5lb. Even a 2.75lb TC rod is a rarity today, and most of these higher test curve rods are faster taper tip action rods, frequently built for long distance casting rather than fish playing.

 

If you want a more through action rod, look at Barbel rods, which, while being able to cast big leads and feeders, are certainly capable of landing and playing carp.

 

Agree 

a few years ago 

barbel rods were only 1lb or so tc and they are now in the 2lb bracket 

soon be using these for roach lol

[kevtaylor]

Mine are 3.5lb, 12.6ft it was an all out casting rod turned players rod with the removal of the outer weave on the tip section.

I don't know what you'd call the action but it plays fish lovely, no hook pulls and has the backbone to deal with massive fish and pulling out of weed beds and it was the best casting rod at some point in time.  Not a broom stick by any means.

It's old technology now but I wouldnt swap - hoping they last the rest of my lifetime, I certainly look after them. 

I guess one of the factors in play is people using bigger leads than they did in the past.

[salokcinnodrog]

39 minutes ago, elmoputney said:

if you are wanting to continue using solid bags I wouldn't want to go under 3lb tc 

Funny thing is on my 2.75lb NG's and SP's I was casting a 3oz lead and 30bait stringers up to around 100metres with no problem.

Now admittedly Century aren't a cheap or budget brand rod maker as the rods cost me £600 and £750 respectively for the 3, but at no point did I ever need 'more grunt'.

 

39 minutes ago, framey said:

soon be using these for roach lol

I have used my barbel specialist rods for roach on Alton Water, landing fish to over 2lb on groundbait feeders, size 14/16 hooks. They have also landed 20lb carp on freelined dog biscuits and method feeders,12lb bream, 5lb chub and the occasional rogue pike (plural) that took a liking to slugs and a roach that I'd hooked on sweetcorn.

 

[elmoputney]

2 hours ago, salokcinnodrog said:

Funny thing is on my 2.75lb NG's and SP's I was casting a 3oz lead and 30bait stringers up to around 100metres with no problem.

Now admittedly Century aren't a cheap or budget brand rod maker as the rods cost me £600 and £750 respectively for the 3, but at no point did I ever need 'more grunt'.

 

I have used my barbel specialist rods for roach on Alton Water, landing fish to over 2lb on groundbait feeders, size 14/16 hooks. They have also landed 20lb carp on freelined dog biscuits and method feeders,12lb bream, 5lb chub and the occasional rogue pike (plural) that took a liking to slugs and a roach that I'd hooked on sweetcorn.

 

You are right they aren't a budget rod. Nearly £600 each now, 

https://johnsonrosstackle.co.uk/century-carp-rods/21509-century-c2-sp-command-control-carp-rods.html#/12223,choose,12ft-3lb-6oz

[KINDFISHER]

By the looks of it, I think I'm going to have to go second hand.  I assume ebay is probably the best bet ...

[commonly]

I just brought free spirit Helical. £115 each. Very nice nice rods for the money

[KINDFISHER]

2 minutes ago, commonly said:

I just brought free spirit Helical. £115 each. Very nice nice rods for the money

what test curve are they, and are they through action ???

 

[commonly]

I've got 3.5 tc 13ft.

They do 3.25 tc 

Reviews are good, although not specific on through action. I've been impressed so far

https://tacklebox.co.uk/free-spirit-rods/free-spirit-helical-carp-rod-12ft-3-5lb-50mm/

[elmoputney]

Daiwa crosscast have quite a nice fish playing action they do them in a 12ft 3lb tc I believe, I use 3.25lb and I can't remember losing many since I've switched to them. They are a nice  slim blank. And feel quality for the money, mine are a special edition total fishing tackle version that you cannot get now but the crosscast traditional seems to have a similar spec and Cork handles which look pretty nice 👍

[emmcee]

Ive had century rods, daiwa rods  but Harrison rods are all day long the best  for me for through action. I've got Harrison chimeras in 3lb tc and 3.5lb tc, a floater rod at 2.75tc and a 1.75tc barbel rod. My latest additions are 2 Harrison beach casters. The chimeras can put a lead 120yds plus and be just as forgiving fishing under your rod tips. That said its all about budget, preference etc. What one person finds excellent another might not, best going to a tackle shop and get the feel of a few rods before buying. Also what size lake are you fishing? Do you need to cast to the horizon or is it 60yds max etc, a lot to take into consideration.  

[framey]

35 minutes ago, emmcee said:

Ive had century rods, daiwa rods  but Harrison rods are all day long the best  for me for through action. I've got Harrison chimeras in 3lb tc and 3.5lb tc, a floater rod at 2.75tc and a 1.75tc barbel rod. My latest additions are 2 Harrison beach casters. The chimeras can put a lead 120yds plus and be just as forgiving fishing under your rod tips. That said its all about budget, preference etc. What one person finds excellent another might not, best going to a tackle shop and get the feel of a few rods before buying. Also what size lake are you fishing? Do you need to cast to the horizon or is it 60yds max etc, a lot to take into consideration.  

This is why one set of rods can’t do it all…

but 

if you can only have the one set do you go for a set that can cast to the moon or struggle to get over 80 yards??

 

im lucky and have a set for any situation I may encounter

if that means using a 6’ rod or a 13’ poker then so be it
 

[elmoputney]

46 minutes ago, framey said:

This is why one set of rods can’t do it all…

but 

if you can only have the one set do you go for a set that can cast to the moon or struggle to get over 80 yards??

 

im lucky and have a set for any situation I may encounter

if that means using a 6’ rod or a 13’ poker then so be it
 

I am building up to need a cast to the moon set I think. But then I also think is it my rods holding me back or Just me holding me back 😂 I know some people could cast my rods much further than I do but should I just keep trying or just get some beefier rods and hope that makes up the extra required distance, I haven't reached for the shock leader yet on my rods, I can get the distance on my spod rod with shock leader easier so maybe that's what I need first. 

[framey]

25 minutes ago, elmoputney said:

I am building up to need a cast to the moon set I think. But then I also think is it my rods holding me back or Just me holding me back 😂 I know some people could cast my rods much further than I do but should I just keep trying or just get some beefier rods and hope that makes up the extra required distance, I haven't reached for the shock leader yet on my rods, I can get the distance on my spod rod with shock leader easier so maybe that's what I need first. 

The write up for the rods you are using is 

this is based on a 3lb tc

im sure a friend of mine uses the same rod 

When he bought them we fished a lake that was 105m from one bank to the other and I could just about hit it but most of the time dropped about 5 yards short but that was a standard overhead thump with a 6 foot drop and a 3oz lead

Thanks to a dependable carbon weave material and a decent array of furnishings, Daiwa’s Crosscast carp rods are as easy on the eye as they are on the pocket.

For a modest amount of moolah you get ceramic LS-lined guides (including a 50mm butt guide and anti-frap tip ring), full flared shrink-grip handle and an original Fuji reel seat.

The 12ft, 3lb test curve model on live test duty is a ‘Steady Eddie’ of a performer that can turn its hand to just about any method. It will handle solid PVA bags and straight lead set-ups, and is just about soft enough on the top of its tip section for zig tactics using hooks as small as size 12.

Very well suited to smaller or middle-sized venues, it will chuck up to 65 yards with ease, and will achieve 100 yards-plus in the hands of an accomplished caster.

However, the Crosscast is definitely not a horizon-buster, but more of an all-round tool for the newbie carper looking for a dependable and good-looking carp rod on a realistic budget.

[elmoputney]

1 hour ago, framey said:

The write up for the rods you are using is 

this is based on a 3lb tc

im sure a friend of mine uses the same rod 

When he bought them we fished a lake that was 105m from one bank to the other and I could just about hit it but most of the time dropped about 5 yards short but that was a standard overhead thump with a 6 foot drop and a 3oz lead

Thanks to a dependable carbon weave material and a decent array of furnishings, Daiwa’s Crosscast carp rods are as easy on the eye as they are on the pocket.

For a modest amount of moolah you get ceramic LS-lined guides (including a 50mm butt guide and anti-frap tip ring), full flared shrink-grip handle and an original Fuji reel seat.

The 12ft, 3lb test curve model on live test duty is a ‘Steady Eddie’ of a performer that can turn its hand to just about any method. It will handle solid PVA bags and straight lead set-ups, and is just about soft enough on the top of its tip section for zig tactics using hooks as small as size 12.

Very well suited to smaller or middle-sized venues, it will chuck up to 65 yards with ease, and will achieve 100 yards-plus in the hands of an accomplished caster.

However, the Crosscast is definitely not a horizon-buster, but more of an all-round tool for the newbie carper looking for a dependable and good-looking carp rod on a realistic budget.

At least it is not just me, I can just about get them100yds with no shock leader maybe I Do need some bigger rods 😂

[framey]

9 minutes ago, elmoputney said:

At least it is not just me, I can just about get them100yds with no shock leader maybe I Do need some bigger rods 😂

Tx2 seem to get good reviews but not sure if they bend as much as the crosscast

[commonly]

I was looking at the TX range.

After asking around & having a feel, the free spirit helical, does feel (& look) a better built rod.

[emmcee]

15 hours ago, framey said:

This is why one set of rods can’t do it all…

but 

if you can only have the one set do you go for a set that can cast to the moon or struggle to get over 80 yards??

 

im lucky and have a set for any situation I may encounter

if that means using a 6’ rod or a 13’ poker then so be it
 

I ended up using my 3.5lb tc's all the time simply because they could be fished at long range or under the rod tips. OK they won't be good in little poke holes but for everything else they were spot on. 

[emmcee]

11 hours ago, elmoputney said:

At least it is not just me, I can just about get them100yds with no shock leader maybe I Do need some bigger rods 😂

I watched a video of some bloke with £25 beach rod which was floppier than a floppy thing. I wouldn't grow runner beans up it let alone fish with it and he cast this rod 140yds on his first cast with it with ease. Its all about technique in my opinion.  I'm not a big caster or I wasn't should I say. Watch Terry Edmunds on YouTube,  he's done a few videos lately full of tips. So maybe work on your technique first as it might just save yourself a few hundred quid.  

[elmoputney]

3 hours ago, emmcee said:

I watched a video of some bloke with £25 beach rod which was floppier than a floppy thing. I wouldn't grow runner beans up it let alone fish with it and he cast this rod 140yds on his first cast with it with ease. Its all about technique in my opinion.  I'm not a big caster or I wasn't should I say. Watch Terry Edmunds on YouTube,  he's done a few videos lately full of tips. So maybe work on your technique first as it might just save yourself a few hundred 

I have watched some of his vids and they do seem to help tbh, next thing I need to learn to adjust is my hands I need to put one more finger the front side of the reel, I've enquired about going today, my boat isn't charged so I may just go manual for once and use the spod/leading rod to the max  😲

 

[emmcee]

30 minutes ago, elmoputney said:

I have watched some of his vids and they do seem to help tbh, next thing I need to learn to adjust is my hands I need to put one more finger the front side of the reel, I've enquired about going today, my boat isn't charged so I may just go manual for once and use the spod/leading rod to the max  😲

 

I've seen one of his recent videos and he recommends putting your whole hand in front of the reel. Feels weird but works 

[elmoputney]

8 minutes ago, emmcee said:

I've seen one of his recent videos and he recommends putting your whole hand in front of the reel. Feels weird but works 

I'm going today now so I will let you know how I get on, 👍

[emmcee]

Just now, elmoputney said:

I'm going today now so I will let you know how I get on, 👍

What lb line do you use and size of lead can I ask?