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-   -   Level-wind? (http://www.fishingbanter.com/showthread.php?t=19172)

Angus Robins September 12th, 2005 12:49 AM

Level-wind?
 
How does one wind in line on a multiplier without level-wind?
Surely a lot of distance is lost through uneven winding?

Newcomer to sea-fishing looking at reels: considering Penn or Diawa reels at
the moment. Any advice.
Rocky shores with some beaches in this part of N-W Scotland.

Cheers

Angus



Eric The Viking September 12th, 2005 03:01 AM


"Angus Robins" wrote in message
...
How does one wind in line on a multiplier without level-wind?
Surely a lot of distance is lost through uneven winding?

Newcomer to sea-fishing looking at reels: considering Penn or Diawa reels
at the moment. Any advice.
Rocky shores with some beaches in this part of N-W Scotland.

Cheers

Angus


Hi Angus,

If you're right handed you wind the handle with your right hand with the
reel on top of the rod, your left hand holds the rod just under and in
front of the reel and you use your left thumb to guide the line evenly back
onto the reel.

If you want distance then you definately don't want a level-wind ;-) With
practice you can get the line back on the spool just as evenly by hand as
with a level-wind, and even of the wind is a bit uneven you won't lose much
distance because of it. You will lose more distance by having a level-wind
as the mechanism will cause friction as the spool rotates during the cast -
also the level-wind will prevent you getting your thumb right over the spool
for a good grip.

Don't know much about Penn reels but I do like Diawa. I have a couple of old
7HTs in the tackle box and they are awesome. They aren't as fast as
something like an ABU 6500CT but they are much more 'fishable'. The 6500CTs
are great for distance but can be a bit fiery, whereas the 7HT will still
cast well but isn't so 'artistic' - especially with the wind in your face.
Having said that I have still managed over 200 yards on the tournament court
with a 7HT ;-)

If you're looking to fish rough ground from the shore then the Diawa SL20SH
or SL30SH ( SLOSHES ) are good for that. They are heavy duty casting reels
( they have centrifugal brakes inside ) the 30 being the heavier of the two.
You can load them up with 30lb line and really bully fish out of rocky areas
with them. I've got the 30 and it's retrieve ratio is brilliant - two or
three turns of the handle and the fish are on the surface.

Penn do similar reels to the 6500CT, 7HT & Sloshes but like I said I have
never tried them. They are supposed to be pretty good though, maybe
someone else can talk with experience ;-)

Cheers - ETV



Derek.Moody September 12th, 2005 08:03 AM

In article , Angus Robins
wrote:
How does one wind in line on a multiplier without level-wind?
Surely a lot of distance is lost through uneven winding?

Newcomer to sea-fishing looking at reels: considering Penn or Diawa reels at
the moment. Any advice.
Rocky shores with some beaches in this part of N-W Scotland.


Oops! You've been reading the wrong magazines.

[ Long range beachcasting is a specialist technique that you only need to
consider if you have very flat, featureless beaches and the fish swim at
extreme range. It so happens that there are a few venues like this near
London and home counties journalists naturally write about the conditions
they experience. Most anglers in the west - with a few exceptions in
Lancashire/Cumbria - could fish successfully for a lifetime without even
owning a conventional beachcaster. OK, most do use one sometimes when
fishing is slow or the whiting are running.
]

I'd be surprised if you wanted to bottom fish your area for much of the year
- unless you're fond of dogfish. Even so, in many places an 80 yard cast
will put you beyond the fish so level wind drag will be too small to
measure.

For the next couple of months concentrate on spinning and floatfishing.
Leave the bottom gear at home 'til you hear of a few decent catches.

And in rocky, graunchy or snaggy areas you need to retrieve as quickly as
possible so a big fixed-spool reel might be of more use to you than a
multiplier.

Hth. Cheerio,

--



seaside September 12th, 2005 09:26 AM

Angus,

Whilst it is absolutely true a level-wind reduces distance I'd
say that is only a meaningful statement for those wishing to blast
a lead 150yds plus.

I've fished for years, on both coasts of Scotland, with and without
a level-wind, and my preference is to have one as it allows me to
focus on playing the fish rather than setting the line correctly.
Also the fact that the level-wind does inhibit the cast a little
actually helps control the cast.

BTW, given that a lot of waters around Scotland are deep close in,
remember that you can actually 'overcast', fish are closer than
you may think.

As for reel choice, my own preference is ABU.



Angus Robins wrote:
How does one wind in line on a multiplier without level-wind?
Surely a lot of distance is lost through uneven winding?

Newcomer to sea-fishing looking at reels: considering Penn or Diawa reels at
the moment. Any advice.
Rocky shores with some beaches in this part of N-W Scotland.

Cheers

Angus



Keith M September 12th, 2005 07:54 PM

Having both an Abu 6500C with level wind and a Mag Elite CT without, I am
now looking for a Hybrid reel ie one with a level wind but with the
additional space to get a solid thumb grip on the spool as offered by the
CT.
Then I'll have the best of both worlds.
It will have to be an ABU though 'cos I love 'em both to bits..
Any suggestions and I'll try to get a prototype conversion made.
Tight Lines
Keith M


"seaside" wrote in message
...
Angus,

Whilst it is absolutely true a level-wind reduces distance I'd
say that is only a meaningful statement for those wishing to blast
a lead 150yds plus.

I've fished for years, on both coasts of Scotland, with and without
a level-wind, and my preference is to have one as it allows me to
focus on playing the fish rather than setting the line correctly.
Also the fact that the level-wind does inhibit the cast a little
actually helps control the cast.

BTW, given that a lot of waters around Scotland are deep close in,
remember that you can actually 'overcast', fish are closer than
you may think.

As for reel choice, my own preference is ABU.



Angus Robins wrote:
How does one wind in line on a multiplier without level-wind?
Surely a lot of distance is lost through uneven winding?

Newcomer to sea-fishing looking at reels: considering Penn or Diawa reels
at the moment. Any advice.
Rocky shores with some beaches in this part of N-W Scotland.

Cheers

Angus




Eric The Viking September 12th, 2005 10:05 PM


"seaside" wrote in message
...
Angus,

Whilst it is absolutely true a level-wind reduces distance I'd
say that is only a meaningful statement for those wishing to blast
a lead 150yds plus.

I've fished for years, on both coasts of Scotland, with and without
a level-wind, and my preference is to have one as it allows me to
focus on playing the fish rather than setting the line correctly.
Also the fact that the level-wind does inhibit the cast a little
actually helps control the cast.


snip

How does the level wind inhibiting the cast help to control it exactly?

ETV



Eric The Viking September 12th, 2005 10:45 PM


"Derek.Moody" wrote in message
...

[ Long range beachcasting is a specialist technique that you only need to
consider if you have very flat, featureless beaches and the fish swim at
extreme range. It so happens that there are a few venues like this near
London and home counties journalists naturally write about the conditions
they experience. Most anglers in the west - with a few exceptions in
Lancashire/Cumbria - could fish successfully for a lifetime without even
owning a conventional beachcaster. OK, most do use one sometimes when
fishing is slow or the whiting are running.
]


Utter bilge.

Longe range casting isn't just for casting long ranges. When fishing into
the wind the ability to put some extra power behind the cast ( long range
techniques ) allows you to put the lead out far enough to get into calmer
water and get a grip on the bottom. Under such conditions you may still
only be getting 40yds - but anglers than can't cast as far end up packing up
and going home.

If you can cast long distances you have the option of fishing close in, or
far out. Anglers that cannot cast long distances can only fish close in.
The whole point is widening your options, if your limited to short range
you had better hope the fish are close in.

Furthermore distance casting in itself has developed into a sport enjoyed by
many anglers. The process of learning and prefecting the pendulum cast or
the back cast are both enjoyable and rewarding. Same goes for fly fishing,
the casting technique takes years to master but half the fun is in improving
your casting style and getting better at it each time you go.

With respect to beachcasters, what beaches do you fish on where the anglers
"use one sometimes when fishing is slow or the whiting are running"? Have
you been fishing since the 60's? Blimey even Mackerel fishermen use
beachcasters. I don't think I have fished a single shore match that didn't
feature dozens of beachcasters.

What strangely misguided advice.

ETV






Angus Robins September 12th, 2005 11:47 PM

Whilst not fully appreciating some of the points offered here I feel that
the response has been an enlightening one for me. I have gleaned some useful
stuff; however, am now asking more questions! Such is the price of progress!
BTW are dogfish a nuisance...I thought that they might offer a good bit of
sport on the right tackle and I was hoping that I might stand a chance of a
shore caught Tope. Perhaps I'm being a little over-optimistic: beginners
gusto, ignorance or something similar.
However, all I own are present are some carp rods, so I'll have to get
something to handle larger baits, weights and rough conditions. I'll listen
carefully to any more snippets on the pros and cons of multipliers but why
not use an 11' or 12', 4 - 6oz beachcaster even for quite close-in rocky
shore work? I was quite used to handling carp from the margins on a rod of
that length.

Thanks again for the advice and entertainment so far...much appreciated.

Angus
Applecross

"Eric The Viking" wrote in message
news:4325f0d2.0@entanet...

"seaside" wrote in message
...
Angus,

Whilst it is absolutely true a level-wind reduces distance I'd
say that is only a meaningful statement for those wishing to blast
a lead 150yds plus.

I've fished for years, on both coasts of Scotland, with and without
a level-wind, and my preference is to have one as it allows me to
focus on playing the fish rather than setting the line correctly.
Also the fact that the level-wind does inhibit the cast a little
actually helps control the cast.


snip

How does the level wind inhibiting the cast help to control it exactly?

ETV




Eric The Viking September 13th, 2005 12:19 AM

Hi Angus,

Not sure about the specifics of fishing in Scotland, have only 'angled'
there half a dozen times when working near Faslane - and that was only when
I could slope away from work for a bit ;-)

Dogfish can be a right menace, speaking from the South West there are times
when your bait doesn't even hit the bottom before a Dogfish is on your it.
The real menace is when you're Cod fishing and you put about 3 quids worth
of quality black lug and peeler on the hook only to have it intercepted by a
Dogfish. Having said that, there are nights when you'd be glad of a
Dogfish - just to prove that there is life in the Sea ;-) Must admit I've
never tried them on light tackle but even on heavy gear a brace of 3 Dogfish
at a time gives you something to wind in.

Personally I own all kinds of rods but my favorites are a Diawa AWB 129 and
a Diawa TDXS 129 - both 12' 9" beachcasters. They are powerful enough for
the kind of "Long Range" antics described earlier, but are also good close
in - a rod only casts as far as you want it to ;-) The downside of using a
12' beachcaster is that you lose a lot of the enjoyment of the fight. The
heavier the rod is the bigger the fish you need to catch to put a bend in
it. If you catch a 10lb Bass on a carp rod the scrap would be immense, on
a 12' beachcaster the rod will tend to tire the fish very quickly and almost
bully it into submisison.

I do a lot of heavy rock fishing all along the Dorset coast and usually use
a really heavy beachcaster ( Conoflex Tournament Extreme ). It's more of a
scaffolding pole than a rod really but teamed up with a SLOSH 30 with 30lb
mainline straight through it will cope with the roughest environments. The
main use for this rig is Wrasse fishing ( not sure if you get many Wrasse in
Scotland? ). With Wrasse, they tend to grab the bait and dive straight under
a house sized rock, the only way to get them up is with animal gear and a
fast retrieve reel to keep them above the bottom. I'm not talking about the
6 - inchers you get on a float fished ragworm but the 4lb plus fish that
would give a Spanish trawler a fright ;-) The other use for this gear is
fishing for Congers from the shore - again it's a 'Take no prisoners' form
of angling. One good benefit of a heavy rod is that you have more chance of
craning up a fish if you are fishing from a high ledge.

If you already have a selection of carp rods, you're already setup for
spinning and float fishing - even light legering. You could get yourself a
12' beach caster for heavier fishing and it would compliment your existing
kit nicely.

The choice of Fixed spool or multiplier is down to personal preference
really. Multipliers are more difficult to start on as they tend to 'fluff
up' on you when you cast them. Out of the box the ABUs are more likely to
birds nest during a cast than the Diawa 7HT but the ABU reels are more of a
racehorse and are more highly strung. The topic of level winds has been
covered so I won't go there again ;-) But if you decide on a multiplier be
prepared for loads of 'fluff ups' for the first few casts. It's worth
making sure that a new multiplier has all the brake blocks fitted ( they
have little fibre cylindrical blocks fitted inside one of the reel caps )
unless you get a 'Mag' reel, and it's also worth putting a drop of 10w40
engine oil in each of the bearings to tame things down until you get used to
the casting action. Personally I prefer multipliers but lots of people
swear by and use fixed spools - both have good points and bad points.


ETV


"Angus Robins" wrote in message
...
Whilst not fully appreciating some of the points offered here I feel that
the response has been an enlightening one for me. I have gleaned some
useful stuff; however, am now asking more questions! Such is the price of
progress!
BTW are dogfish a nuisance...I thought that they might offer a good bit of
sport on the right tackle and I was hoping that I might stand a chance of
a shore caught Tope. Perhaps I'm being a little over-optimistic: beginners
gusto, ignorance or something similar.
However, all I own are present are some carp rods, so I'll have to get
something to handle larger baits, weights and rough conditions. I'll
listen carefully to any more snippets on the pros and cons of multipliers
but why not use an 11' or 12', 4 - 6oz beachcaster even for quite
close-in rocky shore work? I was quite used to handling carp from the
margins on a rod of that length.

Thanks again for the advice and entertainment so far...much appreciated.

Angus
Applecross

"Eric The Viking" wrote in message
news:4325f0d2.0@entanet...

"seaside" wrote in message
...
Angus,

Whilst it is absolutely true a level-wind reduces distance I'd
say that is only a meaningful statement for those wishing to blast
a lead 150yds plus.

I've fished for years, on both coasts of Scotland, with and without
a level-wind, and my preference is to have one as it allows me to
focus on playing the fish rather than setting the line correctly.
Also the fact that the level-wind does inhibit the cast a little
actually helps control the cast.


snip

How does the level wind inhibiting the cast help to control it exactly?

ETV






seaside September 13th, 2005 10:12 AM

Angus,

..... BTW are dogfish a nuisance...


I'll try an analogy, to some daisies are pretty flowers, to others
they are weeds.

I thought that they might offer a good bit of sport on the right tackle


they can, but like mackerel, if they are around it's pretty difficult
to catch much else, unlike mackerel, they are considered to be *weeds*

and I was hoping that I might stand a chance of a shore caught Tope.

Perhaps I'm being a little over-optimistic

I'm afraid so, it used to be possible at one time, but now 'fraid not,
but that should not stop you trying - you never know

However, all I own are present are some carp rods, so I'll have to get
something to handle larger baits, weights and rough conditions.


True, and asking "which rod" is also a holy grail type question, my
suggestion FWIW, avoid spending a shed load of money initially, just
see a local tackle dealer and get a competent setup to gain experience.

Also sea fishing is not just about chucking heavy leads around, there
are many areas, particularly in Scotland, where spinning, floatfishing
or freelining for mackerel, saithe and sea-trout etc is really good fun.
Your carp rods would be fine for some of that and also for chasing
flatties.

Pig Sick September 13th, 2005 09:40 PM

....and going full circle on the rod thing, I too live and fish in NW
Scotland (a bit further N than Angus's Applecross) and have been
fishing here since kid-hood many years ago, mostly from boats. Just
this year I was looking to buy a carp rod so I could get more sport out
of catching all these hard-fighting Pollock ...


Derek.Moody September 14th, 2005 09:15 AM

In article 4325fa02.0@entanet, Eric The Viking
wrote:

"Derek.Moody" wrote in message
...

[ Long range beachcasting is a specialist technique that you only need to
consider if you have very flat, featureless beaches and the fish swim at
extreme range. It so happens that there are a few venues like this near
London and home counties journalists naturally write about the conditions
they experience. Most anglers in the west - with a few exceptions in
Lancashire/Cumbria - could fish successfully for a lifetime without even
owning a conventional beachcaster. OK, most do use one sometimes when
fishing is slow or the whiting are running.
]


Utter bilge.


:-) Go on, think about it...

Longe range casting isn't just for casting long ranges. When fishing into
the wind the ability to put some extra power behind the cast ( long range
techniques ) allows you to put the lead out far enough to get into calmer
water and get a grip on the bottom. Under such conditions you may still
only be getting 40yds - but anglers than can't cast as far end up packing up
and going home.


Some would check the weather forecast and put in brownie points at home
until the storm is dropping and the disturbed bait is dropping out of the
water column into the gutter...

If you can cast long distances you have the option of fishing close in, or
far out. Anglers that cannot cast long distances can only fish close in.


Fine. There are almost always more close in. Leave the specialist
long-range stuff 'til it's needed.

The whole point is widening your options, if your limited to short range
you had better hope the fish are close in.

Furthermore distance casting in itself has developed into a sport enjoyed by
many anglers. The process of learning and prefecting the pendulum cast or


Which is fine if that's what you want. Have fun. The OP is beginning
sal****er -fishing- and has been misled into following a standard form that
would result in him catching fewer fish than he might.

With respect to beachcasters, what beaches do you fish on where the anglers
"use one sometimes when fishing is slow or the whiting are running"? Have


Practically all of them. The pity is that many use them the rest of the
time too. By far the greatest number of the fish I catch from the shore are
taken flyfishing.

you been fishing since the 60's? Blimey even Mackerel fishermen use
beachcasters. I don't think I have fished a single shore match that didn't
feature dozens of beachcasters.


A classic story is the one where two anglers turned up at a local beach to
find a match in progress. Dozens of beachcasters. They wandered down the
beach flicking out plugs and spinners between the matchmen and caught and
returned a dozen or so bass, several of them sizeable. The match was won
with two smll flatties.

On another local beach (Chesil) organisers took to banning floatfishing with
groundbait for gar and scad because the same two or three anglers were
winning everything.

Just because match anglers all do the same thing it doesn't follow that they
know what they're doing.

What strangely misguided advice.


I don't think I've used a beachcaster in the last three years - but I've
caught plenty.

Cheerio,

--



Derek.Moody September 14th, 2005 09:34 AM

In article , Angus Robins
wrote:

BTW are dogfish a nuisance...I thought that they might offer a good bit of


Sometimes. Luckily they don't often get to a float fished bait.

sport on the right tackle and I was hoping that I might stand a chance of a
shore caught Tope. Perhaps I'm being a little over-optimistic: beginners


The few places where that is a possibility are way beyond long casting
(possible exception during the spring spawning run.) One I can think of is
a very flat estuary where you wade out at low tide, cast half a flounder
into the channel, wade back and retreat as the tide rises and begin to hope
for a take about an hour an a half and three hundred yards later. You can
understand the frustration if that turns out to be a small doggie...

However, all I own are present are some carp rods, so I'll have to get


They will do for at least three quarters of your fishing. Carp rods are
made to deal with fish up to thirty pounds or so and there's not a lot you
can expect from the shore that runs larger.

carefully to any more snippets on the pros and cons of multipliers but why
not use an 11' or 12', 4 - 6oz beachcaster even for quite close-in rocky
shore work?


You can if you like but they're awkward to hold, lousy for playing fish
(designed for casting, not fishing) and vastly overgun most of the fish
you'll meet.

I was quite used to handling carp from the margins on a rod of
that length.


So use the carp rods. Only copy the other beachcasting anglers if and when
they are catching more and better fish than you.

Cheerio,

--



seaside September 14th, 2005 04:17 PM

Angus,

Which is fine if that's what you want. Have fun. The OP is beginning
sal****er -fishing- and has been misled into following a standard form that
would result in him catching fewer fish than he might.

Derek has a very good point here, horizon blasting can be necessary
to reach fish on very flat beaches but around your area there's plenty
of deep water close to and you can easily over-cast the fish as they'll
be feeding in the weedy/rocky margins rather than the 'desert' further out.

Blimey even Mackerel fishermen use beachcasters.


And that's a real shame, mackerel on light tackle = fun, mackerel on
a 6 feather string and beachcaster = waste.

Ian D September 14th, 2005 06:25 PM

On Wed, 14 Sep 2005 15:17:42 +0000 (UTC), seaside
wrote:

Angus,

Which is fine if that's what you want. Have fun. The OP is beginning
sal****er -fishing- and has been misled into following a standard form that
would result in him catching fewer fish than he might.

Derek has a very good point here, horizon blasting can be necessary
to reach fish on very flat beaches but around your area there's plenty
of deep water close to and you can easily over-cast the fish as they'll
be feeding in the weedy/rocky margins rather than the 'desert' further out.


There are areas where fishing close in demands very heavy tackle
indeed. On the east coast, particularly northwards from Northumberland
to NE Scotland, most anglers use heavy beachcasters and anything from
30lb bs line upwards to tackle the rough ground cod fishing.
The fish are usually close in, and you could quite easily use a carp
rod to reach them, and such a rod would be more than capable of
handling any fish likely to be encountered. What a light rod couldn't
do is get the fish out of the kelp tangles in the first place.
The anglers up there don't use heavy tackle because they're numpties
who don't know any better. In summer many of them use carp and light
spinning rods to tackle the pollack, mackerel and estuary flatties,
and even bass where they're to be found, but experience has shown that
such gear is totally inadequate to bully cod out of the real rough
ground.
Such fishing might not appeal to the 'purist' but demands skills of
its own, and to denigrate the use of beachcasters without taking into
account the circumstances which have led to them being the 'weapon of
choice'in some areas and at some times is as blinkered as saying that
only beachcasters have a place in sea angling.
I use everything from fly gear at one end of the spectrum to heavy
rock rods at the other, throughout the course of a year, and I'd be
hard put to say which gives the most pleasure.

Cheers
Ian D

Clint Sharp September 14th, 2005 10:55 PM

In message , seaside
writes
Blimey even Mackerel fishermen use beachcasters.


And that's a real shame, mackerel on light tackle = fun, mackerel on
a 6 feather string and beachcaster = waste.

Depends how long the barbeque has left to burn. Fastest time from sea to
plate was just a tad under 10 mins which I don't think you could achieve
if you are 'playing' the fish with light tackle.
--
Clint Sharp

Derek.Moody September 15th, 2005 12:39 PM

In article , Clint Sharp
wrote:

Depends how long the barbeque has left to burn. Fastest time from sea to
plate was just a tad under 10 mins which I don't think you could achieve
if you are 'playing' the fish with light tackle.


Why is the unhooking, killing, gutting and dropping onto BBQ process faster
if the fish is lifted from the water on a 50lb feather snood rather than a
6lb bs straight through freeline?

Cheerio,

--



Clint Sharp September 15th, 2005 09:33 PM

In message , Derek.Moody
writes
In article , Clint Sharp
wrote:

Depends how long the barbeque has left to burn. Fastest time from sea to
plate was just a tad under 10 mins which I don't think you could achieve
if you are 'playing' the fish with light tackle.


Why is the unhooking, killing, gutting and dropping onto BBQ process faster
if the fish is lifted from the water on a 50lb feather snood rather than a
6lb bs straight through freeline?

Cheerio,

Because you're not playing the fish for five minutes before you lift it,
I suppose I should have said from strike to plate really. It also helps
if you have a fully occupied 6 hook set of feathers if you're feeding
several people which I think you would have difficulty retrieving on the
rig you mention.
--
Clint Sharp

Eric The Viking September 16th, 2005 10:14 AM


"Derek.Moody" wrote in message
...
In article 4325fa02.0@entanet, Eric The Viking
wrote:

"Derek.Moody" wrote in message
...

[ Long range beachcasting is a specialist technique that you only need
to
consider if you have very flat, featureless beaches and the fish swim
at
extreme range. It so happens that there are a few venues like this
near
London and home counties journalists naturally write about the
conditions
they experience. Most anglers in the west - with a few exceptions in
Lancashire/Cumbria - could fish successfully for a lifetime without
even
owning a conventional beachcaster. OK, most do use one sometimes when
fishing is slow or the whiting are running.
]


Utter bilge.


:-) Go on, think about it...

Longe range casting isn't just for casting long ranges. When fishing
into
the wind the ability to put some extra power behind the cast ( long range
techniques ) allows you to put the lead out far enough to get into calmer
water and get a grip on the bottom. Under such conditions you may still
only be getting 40yds - but anglers than can't cast as far end up packing
up
and going home.


Some would check the weather forecast and put in brownie points at home
until the storm is dropping and the disturbed bait is dropping out of the
water column into the gutter...


Some of the best fishing is in stormy weather, not to mention to
exhilaration of your nostrils being force fed sea air at 40 MPH! Or match
fishing for that matter, if you turn up for a match and it's blowing a
hoolie you will stand a better chance oif winning if you can fish the
conditions. Ok, match fishing isn't everything but it's another aspect of
fishing that benefits from a wide range of techniques and tools.

If you can cast long distances you have the option of fishing close in,
or
far out. Anglers that cannot cast long distances can only fish close in.


Fine. There are almost always more close in. Leave the specialist
long-range stuff 'til it's needed.


Absolutely, but remeber there are times when it is right to leave the carp
gear at home too.

The whole point is widening your options, if your limited to short range
you had better hope the fish are close in.

Furthermore distance casting in itself has developed into a sport enjoyed
by
many anglers. The process of learning and prefecting the pendulum cast
or


Which is fine if that's what you want. Have fun. The OP is beginning
sal****er -fishing- and has been misled into following a standard form
that
would result in him catching fewer fish than he might.


The OP actually started the thread by asking a genuine question about
casting distances and hasn't necessarily been mislead into anything. I
think its more misleading to summarily dismiss 'heavy fishing' and coax the
OP down a single route. Fishing is all about building skills in various
areas, sometimes light tackle is right, sometimes heavy tackle is right.
There is no single right way to sea fish, the best an angler can do - even a
beginner, is to just go out and fish without worrying that they are using
the right tackle, the right bait and the right techniques. This is all
knowledge that comes with experience.

With respect to beachcasters, what beaches do you fish on where the
anglers
"use one sometimes when fishing is slow or the whiting are running"?
Have


Practically all of them. The pity is that many use them the rest of the
time too. By far the greatest number of the fish I catch from the shore
are
taken flyfishing.


If you predominantly use a fly rod then you are going to catch more fish on
a fly rod. If you always use a beachcaster then you will always catch fish
on a beachcaster.

you been fishing since the 60's? Blimey even Mackerel fishermen use
beachcasters. I don't think I have fished a single shore match that
didn't
feature dozens of beachcasters.


A classic story is the one where two anglers turned up at a local beach to
find a match in progress. Dozens of beachcasters. They wandered down the
beach flicking out plugs and spinners between the matchmen and caught and
returned a dozen or so bass, several of them sizeable. The match was won
with two smll flatties.


I have fished matches where I have been stuffed by anglers using coarse gear
to catch Mullet - I fished for Wrasse with heavy gear and blanked, they used
match rods and weighed in 7 or 8lbs. I have also fished matches where I
have stuffed people using match gear, they caught no Mullet, I caught a 13lb
Conger. Who was right?

On another local beach (Chesil) organisers took to banning floatfishing
with
groundbait for gar and scad because the same two or three anglers were
winning everything.


I have fished these matches on Chesil, personally I think the ban is a good
thing as often 1st prize would go to 45lbs of Garfish. Thats just absolute
slaughter. Besides catching garfish after garfish after garfish just gets
plain boring after an hour or two. I usually fish two rods in these
conditions, beachcaster with big bait on the bottom at various ranges and
while waiting for a bite the carp rod goes out with a float on for a bit of
fun. The two styles of fishing aren't mutually exclusive.

Just because match anglers all do the same thing it doesn't follow that
they
know what they're doing.


True, but doesn't mean the techniques and tackle are to be 'poo-pooed'.

What strangely misguided advice.


I don't think I've used a beachcaster in the last three years - but I've
caught plenty.


Good to hear it. I've caught plenty on heavy tackle fished at long range
;-)

Cheerio,

--





Derek.Moody September 16th, 2005 03:17 PM

In article 432a9049.0@entanet, Eric The Viking
wrote:

"Derek.Moody" wrote in message
...


Some would check the weather forecast and put in brownie points at home
until the storm is dropping and the disturbed bait is dropping out of the
water column into the gutter...


Some of the best fishing is in stormy weather, not to mention to
exhilaration of your nostrils being force fed sea air at 40 MPH! Or match


I would never suggest a beginner fished in the teeth of a f8 gale. It's
risky even for experienced anglers especially in NW Scotland.

fishing for that matter, if you turn up for a match and it's blowing a
hoolie you will stand a better chance oif winning if you can fish the
conditions. Ok, match fishing isn't everything but it's another aspect of
fishing that benefits from a wide range of techniques and tools.


No sane organiser would continue in such conditions, there will be some
sort of alternative venue or a postponement.


The OP actually started the thread by asking a genuine question about
casting distances and hasn't necessarily been mislead into anything. I


It was clear from the question that he had already been misled.

think its more misleading to summarily dismiss 'heavy fishing' and coax the


I don't recall dismissing heavy fishing anywhere in this thread. Perhaps
you can remind me where I did so.

If you predominantly use a fly rod then you are going to catch more fish on
a fly rod. If you always use a beachcaster then you will always catch fish
on a beachcaster.


Quite. I bet I have more fun though :-)

I have fished matches where I have been stuffed by anglers using coarse gear
to catch Mullet - I fished for Wrasse with heavy gear and blanked, they used
match rods and weighed in 7 or 8lbs. I have also fished matches where I
have stuffed people using match gear, they caught no Mullet, I caught a 13lb
Conger. Who was right?


None of you. Matchfishing is another highly specialised regime which is
over reported in the angling press and seriously misleads beginners. You
would almost certainly have caught more if you had not entered the match in
the first place.

On another local beach (Chesil) organisers took to banning floatfishing
with
groundbait for gar and scad because the same two or three anglers were
winning everything.


I have fished these matches on Chesil, personally I think the ban is a good
thing as often 1st prize would go to 45lbs of Garfish. Thats just absolute
slaughter. Besides catching garfish after garfish after garfish just gets
plain boring after an hour or two. I usually fish two rods in these


So now light tackle is to be eschewed because you catch more?
My original point was?

Cheerio,

--



Derek.Moody September 16th, 2005 03:24 PM

In article , Clint Sharp
wrote:
In message , Derek.Moody
writes
In article , Clint Sharp
wrote:

Depends how long the barbeque has left to burn. Fastest time from sea to
plate was just a tad under 10 mins which I don't think you could achieve
if you are 'playing' the fish with light tackle.


Why is the unhooking, killing, gutting and dropping onto BBQ process faster
if the fish is lifted from the water on a 50lb feather snood rather than a
6lb bs straight through freeline?

Cheerio,

Because you're not playing the fish for five minutes before you lift it,
I suppose I should have said from strike to plate really. It also helps
if you have a fully occupied 6 hook set of feathers if you're feeding
several people which I think you would have difficulty retrieving on the
rig you mention.


I see.

If I ever want to feed a horde on mackerel at short notice I don't rely on
shore fishing.

Cheerio,

--



Eric The Viking September 16th, 2005 04:23 PM

snip

carefully to any more snippets on the pros and cons of multipliers but
why
not use an 11' or 12', 4 - 6oz beachcaster even for quite close-in rocky
shore work?


You can if you like but they're awkward to hold, lousy for playing fish
(designed for casting, not fishing) and vastly overgun most of the fish
you'll meet.


Only true for cheap beachcasters. If you get a decent rod like a Diawa TDXS
or a Zziplex it will throw a lead as far as you are able ( we've covered the
distance isn't everything bit ) and will still detect a pout fart at 100
yds.

I was quite used to handling carp from the margins on a rod
of
that length.


So use the carp rods. Only copy the other beachcasting anglers if and
when
they are catching more and better fish than you.


Don't just do what everyone else is doing, be adventurous, use your
imagination. This isn't life or death we are discussing here, only fishing.
It's a fun sport with many approaches. Try all the approaches and make your
own mind up.


Cheerio,

--



ETV



Eric The Viking September 16th, 2005 06:23 PM


"Derek.Moody" wrote in message
...
In article 432a9049.0@entanet, Eric The Viking
wrote:

"Derek.Moody" wrote in message
...


Some would check the weather forecast and put in brownie points at home
until the storm is dropping and the disturbed bait is dropping out of
the
water column into the gutter...


Some of the best fishing is in stormy weather, not to mention to
exhilaration of your nostrils being force fed sea air at 40 MPH! Or
match


I would never suggest a beginner fished in the teeth of a f8 gale. It's
risky even for experienced anglers especially in NW Scotland.


Ok my mistake, no one sane fishes in a force 8. My point was that there's
good fishing to be had in a bracing wind - conditions that warrant a heavier
approach than float fishing and spinning.

fishing for that matter, if you turn up for a match and it's blowing a
hoolie you will stand a better chance oif winning if you can fish the
conditions. Ok, match fishing isn't everything but it's another aspect
of
fishing that benefits from a wide range of techniques and tools.


No sane organiser would continue in such conditions, there will be some
sort of alternative venue or a postponement.


You're right, they are often turned into 'rovers' if conditions are
dangerous. But you still have more choices if you can deal with an in your
face wind.


The OP actually started the thread by asking a genuine question about
casting distances and hasn't necessarily been mislead into anything. I


It was clear from the question that he had already been misled.


In your opinion.


think its more misleading to summarily dismiss 'heavy fishing' and coax
the


I don't recall dismissing heavy fishing anywhere in this thread. Perhaps
you can remind me where I did so.


"[ Long range beachcasting is a specialist technique that you only need to
consider if you have very flat, featureless beaches and the fish swim at
extreme range. It so happens that there are a few venues like this near
London and home counties journalists naturally write about the conditions
they experience. Most anglers in the west - with a few exceptions in
Lancashire/Cumbria - could fish successfully for a lifetime without even
owning a conventional beachcaster. OK, most do use one sometimes when
fishing is slow or the whiting are running.
]"

I think that's pretty dismissive considering a lot of people adopt this
technique all over the country.

If you predominantly use a fly rod then you are going to catch more fish
on
a fly rod. If you always use a beachcaster then you will always catch
fish
on a beachcaster.


Quite. I bet I have more fun though :-)


I bet you don't ;-p


I have fished matches where I have been stuffed by anglers using coarse
gear
to catch Mullet - I fished for Wrasse with heavy gear and blanked, they
used
match rods and weighed in 7 or 8lbs. I have also fished matches where I
have stuffed people using match gear, they caught no Mullet, I caught a
13lb
Conger. Who was right?


None of you. Matchfishing is another highly specialised regime which is
over reported in the angling press and seriously misleads beginners.


Match fishing can positively encourage beginners. Most clubs are founded on
match fishing. For that matter most clubs I have ever been in have juniors
sections for the youngsters ( beginners ) to compete in.

You
would almost certainly have caught more if you had not entered the match
in
the first place.


How do you come to that conclusion?

On another local beach (Chesil) organisers took to banning floatfishing
with
groundbait for gar and scad because the same two or three anglers were
winning everything.


I have fished these matches on Chesil, personally I think the ban is a
good
thing as often 1st prize would go to 45lbs of Garfish. Thats just
absolute
slaughter. Besides catching garfish after garfish after garfish just
gets
plain boring after an hour or two. I usually fish two rods in these


So now light tackle is to be eschewed because you catch more?


My point was that the ban was probably introduced to stop people killing
several hundreds of pounds of fish that aren't going to get eaten. Not due
to sour grapes between some imaginary "Carp Rod" vs "Beachcaster" divide. My
old club nearly banned dogfish in matches because too many were coming to
the scales in bin bags. I said nothing about avoiding light tackle in fact
if you quoted my whole paragraph you would say that I said I fish both
styles.

My original point was?


Your original point was that distance casting is a specialist technique that
only applies to London and the home counties.

To which I replied "Utter bilge"

Cheerio,

--



ETV



Clint Sharp September 16th, 2005 07:12 PM

In message , Derek.Moody
writes
Because you're not playing the fish for five minutes before you lift it,
I suppose I should have said from strike to plate really. It also helps
if you have a fully occupied 6 hook set of feathers if you're feeding
several people which I think you would have difficulty retrieving on the
rig you mention.


I see.

If I ever want to feed a horde on mackerel at short notice I don't rely on
shore fishing.

A horde would be a different matter, I generally only feed four or five
but the fish is always very popular. Having said that, when I've gone
for mackerel for the barbecue, I've never not caught enough to
generously feed the four or five people who eat the fish and have some
left over.

Cheerio,


--
Clint Sharp

Derek.Moody September 17th, 2005 02:05 AM

In article 432ae6b7.0@entanet, Eric The Viking
wrote:
snip


(designed for casting, not fishing) and vastly overgun most of the fish
you'll meet.


Only true for cheap beachcasters. If you get a decent rod like a Diawa TDXS
or a Zziplex it will throw a lead as far as you are able ( we've covered the
distance isn't everything bit ) and will still detect a pout fart at 100
yds.


So? It means you have to wind in 100 yards to find out whether you
hooked it. Overgunned.

Cheerio,

--



Derek.Moody September 17th, 2005 02:20 AM

In article 432b02ed.0@entanet, Eric The Viking
wrote:

"Derek.Moody" wrote in message
...
In article 432a9049.0@entanet, Eric The Viking
wrote:


think its more misleading to summarily dismiss 'heavy fishing' and coax
the


I don't recall dismissing heavy fishing anywhere in this thread. Perhaps
you can remind me where I did so.


"[ Long range beachcasting is a specialist technique that you only need to
consider if you have very flat, featureless beaches and the fish swim at
extreme range. It so happens that there are a few venues like this near
London and home counties journalists naturally write about the conditions
they experience. Most anglers in the west - with a few exceptions in
Lancashire/Cumbria - could fish successfully for a lifetime without even
owning a conventional beachcaster. OK, most do use one sometimes when
fishing is slow or the whiting are running.
]"


How does that dismiss 'heavy fishing'? No mention of conger gear there for
eg.

I think that's pretty dismissive considering a lot of people adopt this
technique all over the country.


I agree. It is dismissive. I intended it to be because around most of the
UK coastline it is rarely the most effective technique.

Quite. I bet I have more fun though :-)


I bet you don't ;-p


Three months to panto season :-)

None of you. Matchfishing is another highly specialised regime which is
over reported in the angling press and seriously misleads beginners.


Match fishing can positively encourage beginners. Most clubs are founded on
match fishing. For that matter most clubs I have ever been in have juniors
sections for the youngsters ( beginners ) to compete in.


I made this mistake. I fished matches for several years. The brasso was
getting expensive - I still have some of the miniatures but I hide them
rather than polish them.

You
would almost certainly have caught more if you had not entered the match
in
the first place.


How do you come to that conclusion?


-You- choose the venue, time, and are not constrained by match rules re
bait/technique/duration.

So now light tackle is to be eschewed because you catch more?


My point was that the ban was probably introduced to stop people killing
several hundreds of pounds of fish that aren't going to get eaten. Not due


Because the (no beachcaster) technique is more effective.

My original point was?


Your original point was that distance casting is a specialist technique that
only applies to London and the home counties.


To which I replied "Utter bilge"


IF I had said that you would have been right. You quoted it (above, I left
it in) go re-read it.

Cheerio,

--



Eric The Viking September 17th, 2005 06:20 PM


"Derek.Moody" wrote in message
...
In article 432ae6b7.0@entanet, Eric The Viking
wrote:
snip


(designed for casting, not fishing) and vastly overgun most of the fish
you'll meet.


Only true for cheap beachcasters. If you get a decent rod like a Diawa
TDXS
or a Zziplex it will throw a lead as far as you are able ( we've covered
the
distance isn't everything bit ) and will still detect a pout fart at 100
yds.


So? It means you have to wind in 100 yards to find out whether you
hooked it. Overgunned.


No, it means that a rod that can cast good distances can still have good
bite detection. Besides a good angler wouldn't strike when the fish farts,
only when it bites ;-)


Cheerio,

--





Eric The Viking September 17th, 2005 06:44 PM

"[ Long range beachcasting is a specialist technique that you only need
to
consider if you have very flat, featureless beaches and the fish swim
at
extreme range. It so happens that there are a few venues like this
near
London and home counties journalists naturally write about the
conditions
they experience. Most anglers in the west - with a few exceptions in
Lancashire/Cumbria - could fish successfully for a lifetime without
even
owning a conventional beachcaster. OK, most do use one sometimes when
fishing is slow or the whiting are running.
]"


How does that dismiss 'heavy fishing'? No mention of conger gear there
for
eg.


You called your style light fishing, the opposite would be heavy.

I think that's pretty dismissive considering a lot of people adopt this
technique all over the country.


I agree. It is dismissive. I intended it to be because around most of
the
UK coastline it is rarely the most effective technique.

Quite. I bet I have more fun though :-)


I bet you don't ;-p


Three months to panto season :-)


Oh no it isn't ;-)

snip

My point was that the ban was probably introduced to stop people killing
several hundreds of pounds of fish that aren't going to get eaten. Not
due


Because the (no beachcaster) technique is more effective.


....at catching garfish.

My original point was?


Your original point was that distance casting is a specialist technique
that
only applies to London and the home counties.


To which I replied "Utter bilge"


IF I had said that you would have been right. You quoted it (above, I
left
it in) go re-read it.


My apologies for the mis-interpretation ("only applies to London and the
home counties") of your quote.

However I still think the definition of 'right' is to keep an open mind to
all the techniques available, even specialist techinques such as float
fishing, spinning, fly fishing and plugging ;-)

ETV




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