Tackle and Tactics
Mike Ladle
Information Page
SPINNING FROM THE SHORE Part 2 Rods, reels, etc.
I don't have a lot of gear. My present rod (which I use for 95% 0f my bassing) is a 12 foot carp rod which has long since lost its logo and brand name (it was not very expensive). The rod now has one or two replacement rings. The test curve is about two pounds although I don't think that it is too critical. However, many of the modern carp rods are very powerful with test curves of three pounds which, in my view, is too heavy for comfortable spinning. I like the long butt on my rod and tuck it under my arm when I cast but this is not to everyones taste.
I have two Shimano Baitrunner 6010 Aero GT reels which I use for both spinning and bottom fishing. I almost never use the baitrunner facility on these reels, probably because I am in the habit of holding the rod all the time and feeling for bites when I am bottom fishing. The reels are excellent for spinning and have never let me down. I changed to the Shimanos when ABU altered the design of their Cardinal 77 (my favoured spinning reel for a long time) many years ago. The first 6010 model had a few minor faults with the spool design and the bale arm return mechanism but these seem to have been overcome. To say that they are presumably designed as carp reels the 6010's seem to put up with an enormous amount of casting and retreiving. I do tend to flick the bale arm over with my finger rather than relying on the automatic return mechanism, largely because I like to tidy the first turn of line on the spool before reeling in.
Most of my spools are now filled with Fireline braid of 14 and 20lb BS. As far as I am concerned braided lines are a huge step forward for spinning. The Fireline has never let me down in any way. Having said that, this line starts off as a shiny charcoal grey colour and quickly acquires a furry white coating which looks awful. It does not appear to weaken the line at all. The only obvious problem is that the furry line tends to stick a bit on the first couple of casts of a trip. Other than that the line casts superbly, allows you to feel exactly what is going on with the lure and give an instant, firm contact with taking fish. One or two of my pals have been using Whiplash braid for a year or two and it may have some advantages (it doesn't go furry for a start) so I am about to give it a try. I have a couple of spools loaded with Maxima Chameleon monofil (8lb and 18lb) but I use them less and less as the years go by.
My lures are attached to the line by means of small, McMahon cross-lock clips. I don't bother with a swivel unless I am using a fast spinning lure. The clips I am using at present are 40lb BS - they are small, light and neat and more than strong enough for any spinning that I do. I actually prefer the smaller 20lb clips but find them almost impossible to obtain. My wire traces are made up with a clip on one end and the matching swivel at the other. Although I have had no problems when tying the clip direct to the braid (using a Palomar knot) this year I am using two or three feet of 12lb fluorocarbon between the braid and the clip. The main reason for this is to avoid any chance of a hook catching in the braid but it may (or may not) have the advantage of reduced visibility at the business end of the line. There is no need to have a link between the braid and the fluorocarbon, as an Albright knot will make strong and reliable connection.
If you have any comments or questions about fish, methods, tactics or 'what have you.'get in touch with me by sending an E-MAIL to - docladle@hotmail.com
INFORMATION SPOT
Spinning from the shore.
Rods, reels, etc.
'Casting a plug for bass'.
My pal Dr Stuart Clough using a 'carp' rod.
Effective rod and reel for bassing.
My Shimano loaded to the brim with 14 lb Fireline.
A plug attached by a small swivel and crosslock clip.
