Marker rods and spod rods

[rebel squire]

Hi all I'm looking for some advice on marker and spod rods.

 

I've only recently started fishing again after a 15 year break I was primarily a pleasure fisherman usually float fishing on the local canal.

This year I started carp fishing and have managed to catch a few small carp to about 9lbs. 

I'm now looking to up my game and target bigger fish. I will be primarily fishing day ticket venues usually for single day sessions and hoping to bag carp to 20lb plus. 

The venues are usually 2-4 acres in size and hold a good head of fish and I don't anticipate having to cast long distances.

My question here is should I be looking to use a spod rod and if so do I need a proper spod rod or can I get away with using my normal carp rods which are a reasonably heavy 3.5 tc.

Or should I be looking to continue using solid PVA bags and forgo spodding all together.

Also would a 3.5 Tc rod suffice for leading to get a feel for what the lakes bed is like?.

 

Thanks in advance for your responses 

[salokcinnodrog]

Big question with some variables included.

Do you need a spod/marker rod?

I've added in the bracket marker as many spod rods now do both, use as a marker rod and spod rod.

When I was fishing the 2 acre Brackens Pool at Nazeing Meads I went 3 years without using a spod (rod), however my marker rod was used for precise location of the gravel, which if you missed, instead of fishing 7feet, you'd be in 22feet of water.

My baiting was solely with stringers and mesh, as much as 30baits on a stringer, and I caught plenty.

That is probably the last time I can recall not using a spod or Spomb.

Now what makes up the variable, is the size of waters, what is working and what you might do differently.

On a 4acre water, say going up to 10 acres, fishing boilies only, I don't think that you need a spod, almost every spot can be reached by catapult or stick, it is when you add in pellets and particles and mass baiting that the spod becomes essential, as anything above 30metres takes out cattie range.

Are you going to fish boilies only, or do you need particles?

Can you hit your spot with numbers of solid bags? It is different from most other people's fishing, it could be your edge.

That might be your answer there.

 

For a few years, my 3rd carp rod was my marker rod, it was 'ok', but not perfect, so I bought a marker rod and used braid. The feel was totally different, from gravel feeling flat, I could sudden feel 'the bounce', from weed feeling steady thick, I could feel pull back as it broke free. Braid may have been a lot of the answer, but the right tools for the job help.

Next question why 3.5lb TC rods?

On waters up to 4acres I wouldn't go above 2.75, even banging out big stringers or bags. I only use 3.25 TC rods on 45acres.

The test curve does not equate to how big a fish, or how powerful a rod is, the action also needs to be included, but higher (say above 2.75lb ) are designed primarily for long casting.

One 2 acre water I bailiff, with carp to over 20lb, you would be asked to leave with those rods. Other rules include No  leads above 2oz, and hooks no bigger than size 10.

When I fish there, I don't even take my carp rods, but use my specialist rods with a 1.75lb TC and believe me I've had many carp over 20lb and it's more fun on the gear.

[framey]

One of my set ups

I use a mini spod on my fishing rods with no drama the rods are 9ft 2.75 tc.

[kevtaylor]

I use my 4.5lb spod rod for spot finding and baiting up, it's a great rod, does more casts than any other rod so needs to be a good one IMO.  Never used my marker rod, that's packed away in the attic - pointless thing.  I'd have sold the marker but it's 12.6ft not everyones cup of tea so it got no interest online.

You can use your fishing rods for everything if they are strong enough and you have braid or flouro on, not mono, as you wont feel much.

[salokcinnodrog]

16 minutes ago, kevtaylor said:

I use my 4.5lb spod rod for spot finding and baiting up, it's a great rod, does more casts than any other rod so needs to be a good one IMO. 

@kevtaylor makes the point about the rod being a good one, I would say, avoid Sonik and Avid Hybrid Spod/Marker rods.

On both of them I have had rings lose the liners. The liners fall out in transit, and on the Avid rod, the liner actually broke. I have had to replace 2 or 3 rings myself, and reglue the liner into the frame.

I'm not sure what rings they are but 'lightweight fittings' now means cheap to me.

 

 

 

[rebel squire]

Thanks for the replies guys judging from the responses it sounds like I would be better off investing in a lighter rod set up and using my 3.5tc rod for light spodding/marker work?

[kevtaylor]

On 30/10/2023 at 17:05, rebel squire said:

Thanks for the replies guys judging from the responses it sounds like I would be better off investing in a lighter rod set up and using my 3.5tc rod for light spodding/marker work?

No I don't read that in the replies mate, you've got 3.5's, they're fine for all carping and you can chuck a small spod/spomb out with them no worries.

I've got 3.5's wouldn't swap them at all for all my fishing, the spod rod is 4lb+ but I'm chucking medium or large spombs.  I use that rod with just a lead on for feature finding just because why not, it's a great caster and has decent feel because it's stiff, it also pulls through weed well being strong and is light and used with a light big reel made for the job.

The only lighter rod I would ever use is a floater in 2.75lb - 3lb, 3lb preferably.

Depends on the waters you fish though I guess.

The only thing to consider is using braid for the feature finding, so having a spare spool of braid for your fishing rod, IF you are going to use it for feature finding and spodding at the beginning of the session. That's if you use mono for fishing.

I don't know if that's helped or made it seem more complicated lol

[commonly]

On 30/10/2023 at 16:20, salokcinnodrog said:

I would say, avoid Sonik

Agreed. I had marker rod, top ring came out within weeks. Had 3 x XTR's 3.25 tc. All broke within 8 years.

[B B]

I use a 12ft 3.25 rod for my marker and it doubles as my spod rod on large waters, It’s a old rod with a tippy action you could say it’s a freak of a rod light in hand and wafer thin and can handle medium spods easily iv used it at 24 wraps using braid on the reel. 

On 27/10/2023 at 22:44, rebel squire said:

Also would a 3.5 Tc rod suffice for leading to get a feel for what the lakes bed is like?.

 

On your water the rods you got would handle a medium spod easily 👍as long as your line is not to thin in diameter  

The water I’m on at the mo I use 10ft 3.50 rods 35mm mono line on the reels and I can tell when I’m on silt or hard clay but using braided line is better. I also spod with my rods 
Good luck catching your 20lb plus Carp  🤞…let us know how you get on 👍

 

[salokcinnodrog]

On 30/10/2023 at 17:05, rebel squire said:

Thanks for the replies guys judging from the responses it sounds like I would be better off investing in a lighter rod set up and using my 3.5tc rod for light spodding/marker work?

The problem is tackle brands need to sell tackle and convince you that you need the latest fashion.

Rods are the current 'must have', from high test curves, 3.5lb on 10acre lakes, to shorter rods. Shorter rods have their place; overhanging trees, stalking but not on most waters.

High test curve rods and rod actions are changing, but most high test curve rods tend to be fast action. The powerful tip may be a problem when playing fish close in, remember to be a little bit careful. The through action rods in lower test curves are often better for playing fish.

That's my view, so everyone is likely to have different thoughts.

On 27/10/2023 at 22:44, rebel squire said:

I'm now looking to up my game and target bigger fish. I will be primarily fishing day ticket venues usually for single day sessions and hoping to bag carp to 20lb plus. 

The venues are usually 2-4 acres in size and hold a good head of fish and I don't anticipate having to cast long distances.

Something else is that on day ticket waters, single days you may find that spodding bait in can kill your day. You could be far better fishing with stringers, or single baits.