Thread: Sea Trout/Grilse Loch-Style Rods - What Do You Use? What Would You Like?

Originally Posted by colliedog

Ouch, I feel your pain. I have the 10'6" 6/7/8 version of the same and it is a beast to fish all day with. However it for years it was my go to rod for short sessions night fishing for sea trout due to it's no fuss, forgiving action. I still use it, but now in a modified form with an extended fore-grip, permanent extension handle and for the most part, 2 hands!

Bought the rod a couple of seasons back with the idea of it being adapted for low water on the river. Only fished it twice, first time on Watten caught my p/b wild brown at just over 3lb. Second time during this years drought, where it some how managed to pull out a salmon from the desert. The fish are very uncultured and seem to have no respect for the quality of tackle engaged in their pursuit.

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Originally Posted by liphook

I've a 12ft Bob Church (L.Mask/Conn???) somewhere, it's definitely for the real spinach eaters only. It'll develop a forearm akin to that of a praying mantis. Casting with it was bad enough but being played by a decent fish was another. Needless to say it was relegated to dust gathering almost immediately. Leverage is the real force at work in limiting the appeal of the longer rod. Theoretically the rod and reel could weigh nothing but the leverage factor won't go away unless you have no weight/resistance at the tip.

I seem to remember when I first started out in the early eighties there was I think an English international angler built like a brick **** house that use to fish with carp blanks. He seemed to out fish everyone. Can't remember his name?

Originally Posted by codyarrow

... an English international angler built like a brick **** house that use to fish with carp blanks. He seemed to out fish everyone. Can't remember his name?

Bob Draper, perchance?

Originally Posted by liphook

I've a 12ft Bob Church (L.Mask/Conn???) somewhere, it's definitely for the real spinach eaters only. It'll develop a forearm akin to that of a praying mantis. Casting with it was bad enough but being played by a decent fish was another. Needless to say it was relegated to dust gathering almost immediately. Leverage is the real force at work in limiting the appeal of the longer rod. Theoretically the rod and reel could weigh nothing but the leverage factor won't go away unless you have no weight/resistance at the tip.

I remember our club team won a competition in the 1980s. It was the McEwan's Lager comp. The final was on Keilder Water. The first prize was a Bob Church boron rod - I think it was a Lough Mask or Conn or some-such, but it wasn't as long as 12 feet. Maybe 11 ft? However, we didn't get presented with those, as one of our team, who shall remain nameless (and is sadly dead now), managed to persuade the organisers that the other rods were the ones for the winners. They went with it, and so the team that were second got the boron rods and we were each presented with a Bob Church 'Loch Leven Special'. It was 10 ft. I can't remember the line-weight? It was at least a 7, possibly more. I used mine for about one season and it gave me tennis elbow! Got rid! One of our team used his to the exclusion of almost everything else for the next 20 years! He was gutted when he broke it, but fortunately there were plenty gathering dust whose owners were quite happy to donate as a replacement. I don't know if he still uses it - quite possibly...

Col

Anyone wish to sell a Sage RPL 11' 3".

Originally Posted by williegunn

Anyone wish to sell a Sage RPL 11' 3".

There was an immaculate one for sale on ebay last week. Guy was reluctant to post though.

Originally Posted by williegunn

Anyone wish to sell a Sage RPL 11' 3".

Malcolm ,
think I can find you one ,thats if it will fit in the hire car early next month !

Originally Posted by ACW

Malcolm ,
think I can find you one ,thats if it will fit in the hire car early next month !

Andy that would be great.

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Originally Posted by codyarrow

There was an immaculate one for sale on ebay last week. Guy was reluctant to post though.

I hate these people who put local pick up only, I'm sure it must reduce the price they make.

Originally Posted by liphook

I've a 12ft Bob Church (L.Mask/Conn???) somewhere, it's definitely for the real spinach eaters only. It'll develop a forearm akin to that of a praying mantis. Casting with it was bad enough but being played by a decent fish was another. Needless to say it was relegated to dust gathering almost immediately. Leverage is the real force at work in limiting the appeal of the longer rod. Theoretically the rod and reel could weigh nothing but the leverage factor won't go away unless you have no weight/resistance at the tip.

I also had that rod ....I think it was the Loch Conn boron. Had a green blank. 12' o f misery. I got rid of it pretty quickly and it was the turning point for me. Pretty much 10'ers ever since

I have two longish rods that i regularly use on the Midlands reservoirs and on Scottish lochs when the opportunity arises. My favourite is the 11ft 3in Bruce and Walker Century aftm 4-6 which i bought back in the early 80's. I probably use this for 80% of my boat fishing, does not tire my arm and its length help control the hard fighting rainbows found on my local waters and is equally good on the northern lochs and rivers. When it gets windy, i will often switch to my 10ft 6in Bruce and Walker aftm 7-9 sea trout rod which comfortably handled the 12lb sea trout which i took on the Twyi last July. The later can be used as a double hander but is normally used as a singlehander and i have not found my rod arm tiring either way.

On the local reservoirs, i will typically use casts of 16-18 ft in length and have not found problems when landing fish onnthe tail fly. The rod length helps as does a decent sized landing net with a long handle.

Forgot to say that both rod had a middle action which means bigger loop on back cast (ie flies do not tangle) and less risk of hooks pulling out.

I had a Shakespear Boron rod I cant think why ,it was a dog, it might have done for fencing, round my garden! easker1