Soft Plastics Mega Rod Test Session.........pinkie

Did a quick after work session to tests the soft plastics rods out....given I have only caught a few undersize pinks on softy, it is not much of a PB, but it is a start. Went 56 cm, released to fight another day. Was also my first fish on left hand wind........hillareous. Most unco-ordinated thing you will ever see. Deckie is still laughing!

 

A rat sambo and 4-5 good sized snook kept things interesting for me and the deckie. Surprised to see how dark it was with fish still hitting softies......

On the mega rod test.......well, at least the 3 light rods I own:

- Tierra 7 ft 8-17lb flick rod...quite nice, butt a tad short, rod a tad long, a little stiff for 3/4oz. Indicates 6'6-6'8 length optimum.

- Salty Fighter - very nice, tad short at 6 ft. Broke a runner........I spose thats what you get for a $100 rod.....confirms you need to pay to get quality.

- Alexander PE2 jig rod - long butt a pain, but still usable. Confirms this is a nice jigger.........

 

Salist bay rubber rod is looking like a contender for a PE1.5-2 soft plastics rod.......

 

 

 

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Boston Whaler 235 Conquest......getting the flogging it was built for.

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Posts: 9358

Date Joined: 21/02/08

Nice pink john, even better

Wed, 2011-06-22 09:50

Nice pink john, even better on plastic. Not sure I could release that v's pan frying myself ;)

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scere_182's picture

Posts: 335

Date Joined: 27/01/09

Nice work!

Wed, 2011-06-22 10:14

Some handy info too... i had this dilemma with finding a suitable soft plastics rod just recently also...

Havent tried a bay rubber yet would love to hear a review if anyone is running one atm also.

I ended up going with a Hearty Rise Sylphy 6'6" 10-60g Max PE2. The old model though which i found to be less stiff than the weaved blank being used on the current models.

Verry happy with the way it performed in J Bay. Maybe one too look at.

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Rob

building designer | architectural draftsman

https://www.facebook.com/robertsceresinidesigns/

Posts: 81

Date Joined: 29/06/09

Hey mate.On using rods for

Wed, 2011-06-22 15:52

Hey mate.

On using rods for pinkie fishing. Out of the 3 the i would pick the Tierra.

You said it was a little stiff for working the jigs, but i have found the stiffer the rod the better action it imparts on the plastic. A slopier rod absorbs the jigs and while the rod look like it giving action (by bending) its actually absorbing it and preventing it from transfering down the line and onto the lure.

 

I manily use 1/2 and 3/8 as we have been finding that the pinkies really like that slow drift down and will mainly hit it on the drop.

A mate fishes 1/4 and has even more success than myself however i dont like how you cant feel any weight on the end of your line.

 

Hope this doesnt come off like me sounding like a know it all. Just trying to give out a few things i have picked up over the years.

Best of luck on the next trip

JohnF's picture

Posts: 2839

Date Joined: 07/07/10

Cheers mish, great feedback,

Wed, 2011-06-22 17:37

Cheers mish, great feedback, that's what it's all about. I went to a 1/2 head and the Tierra rod felt better, but missed two Hookups as the hook on the 1/2 was too small on the TT jig heads. May need to look at squidgy.

Yeah, I did not like that feel with the light jigs either, but will take your advice and give it ago as they do seem to like the drop. Bit like squid, the movement just gets em interested......

Ta

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Boston Whaler 235 Conquest......getting the flogging it was built for.