The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

Macdescruple wrote:I use a trio of Shakespeare Alpha rods, the 13' Match, 9' Ledger and the 11' Carp all of which have served me well.

It's the carp rod that I have been looking for. For quite some time now too with no luck.

I have three:

Winfield (Woolworth) Roach Fisher, this is a great blank but the finishing is poor. T/c about 3/4 lbs. I've lost 3" off the tip and I was gutted about that. One came up on ebay the other day.

B&W 10' Avon, great condition but I've never used it and may sell. In original bag with full label.

Hardy 10' carp no1 bought in really mint unused condition, it remains close to mint. I keep as it's a useful rod.

I like them but they never instill a sense of awe like can rods can.

Why is it I've broken all the glass rods I've had in the past but most of you say you can get away with being Bullish with fish?

I lost my confidence with the ones I broke and I wasn't bullying the fish, the tips went on two of them. I can't recall what makes they were as they were given to me.

Kingfisher wrote:Why is it I've broken all the glass rods I've had in the past but most of you say you can get away with being Bullish with fish?

I lost my confidence with the ones I broke and I wasn't bullying the fish, the tips went on two of them. I can't recall what makes they were as they were given to me.

I used to regularly barbel fish at Ironbridge on the Severn with my East Anglian 12' Tipster float rod. A glass float rod that was just brilliant. Until I snapped the tip off when I ran into a fence on my pushbike. I could have so easily cried when that happened.

Just for your interest, Ladies and Gentlemen ...

When I first got this glass "Martin James. Banting. Redditch" 2 piece, 8ft. 3inch rod it was because I thought I could recycle the guides onto a cane rod, but when it arrived and I had a good look at it it's in such lovely condition I couldn't bring myself to do it.

Anyone going to the AGM want to give it a good home for a tenner ?

Lovely little rod, Sir. If only I was going to the AGM! I'm sure someone will give it a good home though.

I have an old glass rod in the shed that was rewhipped before I had it with lined Fujis. I will at some point get some low bells and do it justice. It is called the Gerry Savage Carp rod and made by Marco, the butt end has a funny shaped black ball shape to finish it off..
I have many glass rods that I bought for ring stripping/parts but to be honest most are too good to do this and I just cannot bring myself round to ruining them.

Now I would love to have a glass carp rod in my collection, just for the novelty value really as I have never caught a carp using a glass rod.

The water I fish has quite a lot of trees and bushes that make a 12 or 13 foot rod a bit awkward to use so I have recently got off EB*y a 10' 6" brown fibreglass rod which was probably a leger rod as it has a screw in tip ring .
It is a GEMKO by G M Kerr of Ilford and I suspect was not an expensive rod in its day , or these days , but I have been unable to find anything about it on the internet and wondered if anyone has any information on the make as it's not one I have ever heard of.
I tried it out yesterday evening float fishing and its nice and light and makes casting between/in front of the trees much easier .
Thank you

I still use a Sealey Specialist. It was the rod I learned to fish with. There is still nothing I'd rather catch a small gudgeon or perch on. Even fish of a few ounces feel big at first. It's super twangy and great fun when you accidentally hook into a small tench on maggot. The biggest tench I have had on it was 4.5lb. I never thought I'd land it!

My Dad saved it from a skip at the local tip, swapping it for a bicycle wheel in about '94 or '95 I guess. He then got "banned" from the tip for swapping items. Seems sensible to me in the throw away society of today, but there we go.