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Sonik SK3 Pro-Specialist Twin Tip 2lb...

Stephen Bond said:
Does anyone complain if someone is using 20lb mainline to reel in a jack pike?

I hooked a large fish last year in a weir pool. It led me a merry dance before it snagged me fast in an unseen obstruction. After much waiting for it to swim out I had to pull for a break. I was using 12lb mono at the time and it did not leave me feeling too good in all respects. I promptly upped my mainline to 15lb.

Fifty year ago many anglers would have stated 12lb mono as far too heavy for barbel as the norm was more like 6lb.

One angler on YouTube with over 100 barbel vids uses 25lb. If he wants to, that is fine with me :)

The only crime is to use too light a tackle and leave fish with hook links attached. Maybe the tackle police should be policing the opposite end of the spectrum?Back to the rods...

Stephen
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No need to call in the Police Stephen :) it's all pretty friendly.
For me the discussion is set around sporting aspects of what I do in River fishing for Barbel, huge snags aside it seems clear that 12lb is adequate if not perhaps just a bit too much perhaps? Of course the point is balanced tackle and doing the best to ensure that being snagged is cut to a minimum.
I have a bee in my bonnet about no holes barred aproach to putting Barbel on the bank, The Teme for example is such a River that can see you snagged with a Barbel than most other Rivers, and for me to pursue the Barbel in thier 'safe' daytime haunts such as far bank tree roots is very counter productive to both Angler and fish. This catch at all cost approach maybe be one of the reasons why the Teme has become difficult, certainly the Teme has been a venue for those that wish to pay for their sport. I wonder what impact that sort of exposure can have on this small delicate river?
Sorry I have wandered off again:rolleyes:
So, back to the point regarding using 'sea tackle' for catching Barbel:rolleyes:
Perhaps if you have to call in the cops then they should look at the evidence before them, it ain't the Otter that done it, m'lud.:)
 
Joseph East said:
Apologies Stephen, I'm not saying I think it's wrong to use 20lb line, for several reasons I just personally wouldn't.

I was watching the videos you mention a couple of days ago and I did spot his setup - A 1.75lb avon and 2.5lb carp rod both loaded with 25lb line, which seems to break all the 'rules'...he obviously doesn't have any problems catching fish, so I guess I don't need to worry too much about putting 15lb line on my 2lb rod! :eek:
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Well certainly someone like Dave Harrell or John Wilson would, is it a bad thing to consider the enjoyment we get as anglers out of what we do? You know the feeling regarding catching a good roach on the Barbel rod, and thinking I bet that would have been nice on the stick?
Well some would :rolleyes:
 
Hi Joseph
I was talking about mono line not braid and when i do use braid and its 35lb power pro.
Joseph use what you think is right mate as not everyone will agree on here so it does not really matter as long as your happy with what your using.
Andy
 
Andy Bebbington said:
Hi Joseph
I was talking about mono line not braid and when i do use braid and its 35lb power pro.
Joseph use what you think is right mate as not everyone will agree on here so it does not really matter as long as your happy with what your using.
Andy
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Cheers Andy. I'm going to stick to 12lb mono as my primary line, and load some 15lb mono on to a spare spool for when I feel it's necessary.

I haven't received a reply from Sonik yet...sent them a message via their website on Monday...
 
Joseph East said:
Cheers Andy. I'm going to stick to 12lb mono as my primary line, and load some 15lb mono on to a spare spool for when I feel it's necessary.

I haven't received a reply from Sonik yet...sent them a message via their website on Monday...
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Hardly 'super-sonik' then Joseph :D

Cheers, Dave.
 
As promised in an earlier post Joe.

120 gram feeders created no problem for the 2lb tip.

Caught no barbel but did have chub up to nearly 4lb, not much fun catching them on such heavy tackle though.
 
Martin Gregory said:
As promised in an earlier post Joe.

120 gram feeders created no problem for the 2lb tip.

Caught no barbel but did have chub up to nearly 4lb, not much fun catching them on such heavy tackle though.
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Nice one, Martin. Thanks for the feedback. Taking mine for its first outing tomorrow equipped with 12lb mainline and based on that info, leads upto 4oz.
 
I cannot really see what difference your mainline breaking strain is rated at - so long as the weakest link is you hook length. Just never pull for a break by bending your rod.

I for one started with 10lb mainline and a 1.5lb test curve rod, but soon started changing to heavier line and rods when I could not control the fish I was attempting to catch.

3 rods later and over 5yrs+ I am finally happy with my terminal tackle, but the hook length is still the weakest link.
 
I have 2 BFW Ipower rods and I am very happy with them, my only regret was not buying them in the first place. The money I used to purchase my previous rods (Greys Prodigy) was wasted.

My principle reason for buying them was the isoblob, but I now appreciate them for the blank and I have no intention of buying any more rods for barbel fishing.
 
I have been following threads on BFW for some time and have finally plucked up the courage to post. It amazes me how some things that are totally incorrect can pass into the realm of accepted knowledge and become the norm among large numbers of people. As an example it is not uncommon to hear people tell you to be wary of swans because they can “break your arm†with the power of their wings. This is of course utter rubbish as a swan’s wing is a marvel of lightweight engineering that certainly does not have the structural integrity to snap a human arm. This leads me on to the oft given advice to use balanced tackle in fishing and this has prompted some of the posters on this thread to give their opinions on the correct line to use with a 2lb TC rod. So, what is balanced tackle? Most posts here seem to roughly agree that a 2lb TC rod and 12lb mono is a good combination. Try tying one end of a spring balance to a fixed point and the other end of your 12lb reel line to the free end of the spring balance and then put a healthy bend in your rod and pile on the pressure until you feel that the rod will be damaged if you pull any harder. Get a mate to read out the pull on the spring balance, the result will surprise you and will almost certainly be below 6lbs. Failing that tie your reel line to a 10lb weight and lift it off the floor, the 12lb line can manage it but would your rod? Where is the balance in this equation? Then we come to the point that to catch a roach on 12lb line is not sporting. Fair enough, so in that case how do we define sporting? Most people seem to think this means that the fish has a sporting chance of getting away by breaking the line if the angler is less than skilful. To me it makes better sense to use the heaviest tackle I can get away with, commensurate with getting bites, so that I can maximise my chance of getting the fish in. Does that make me unsporting?

Richard
 
Richard Hamlyn said:
To me it makes better sense to use the heaviest tackle I can get away with, commensurate with getting bites, so that I can maximise my chance of getting the fish in. Does that make me unsporting?
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Nope it does not.

Dave Gaskell said:
I for one started with 10lb mainline and a 1.5lb test curve rod, but soon started changing to heavier line and rods when I could not control the fish I was attempting to catch..
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Richard Hamlyn said:
I have been following threads on BFW for some time and have finally plucked up the courage to post. It amazes me how some things that are totally incorrect can pass into the realm of accepted knowledge and become the norm among large numbers of people. As an example it is not uncommon to hear people tell you to be wary of swans because they can “break your arm†with the power of their wings. This is of course utter rubbish as a swan’s wing is a marvel of lightweight engineering that certainly does not have the structural integrity to snap a human arm. This leads me on to the oft given advice to use balanced tackle in fishing and this has prompted some of the posters on this thread to give their opinions on the correct line to use with a 2lb TC rod. So, what is balanced tackle? Most posts here seem to roughly agree that a 2lb TC rod and 12lb mono is a good combination. Try tying one end of a spring balance to a fixed point and the other end of your 12lb reel line to the free end of the spring balance and then put a healthy bend in your rod and pile on the pressure until you feel that the rod will be damaged if you pull any harder. Get a mate to read out the pull on the spring balance, the result will surprise you and will almost certainly be below 6lbs. Failing that tie your reel line to a 10lb weight and lift it off the floor, the 12lb line can manage it but would your rod? Where is the balance in this equation? Then we come to the point that to catch a roach on 12lb line is not sporting. Fair enough, so in that case how do we define sporting? Most people seem to think this means that the fish has a sporting chance of getting away by breaking the line if the angler is less than skilful. To me it makes better sense to use the heaviest tackle I can get away with, commensurate with getting bites, so that I can maximise my chance of getting the fish in. Does that make me unsporting?

Richard
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Hi Richard and welcome.
All of what you have said is correct,you talk of the heaviest tackle you can get away with I think about the lightest I can get away with. I guess it might be how we each set out on our Angling careers, I did not have the Carp scene as part of me, and I guess if I had, I might have a different view, my fishing was one of trying to catch silvers that everyone else was trying to catch or had caught. So that fashioned my approach I guess.
But I certainly don't fish light for barbel, the consequences would be too awful. But 25lb mono Noooooo!!!
By 'sporting' I was not alluding to giving the fish a chance to escape, more that a lighter approach is more satisfying angling experience, that is why I prefer a light 13 or 14 foot rod with 2/3 lb line, for roach as opposed to my barbel rod. And if I want to fish for chub on the lead then I will use my Avon set up, and if I am lucky enough to encounter a Barbel with either set up then your spring theory is put to good use.
All good fun really.
 
Hi Richard, nice first post fella. Sadly though, you seem not to understand the many uses of the term 'sporting chance'. For instance, if you use a light line, there is a 'sporting chance' that the fish will be so exhausted and unduly stressed when you finally manage to land it....it will subsequently die.

Again, using a light line gives the fish a 'sporting chance' that it will manage to snap your line anywhere along it's length, and so escape. This gives rise to a fish trailing line, so there is a VERY 'sporting chance' that the trailing line will catch on a snag, which gives the fish yet another 'sporting chance' of trying to snap the line once more...if it still has the strength.

Failing that of course, there is a 'sporting chance' that the fish will just give up and die. Obviously, if it takes the fish a long, painful time to die, that seems at first a bit sad. However, just ask yourself this....did that fish deserve to live, if it was daft enough to not take advantage of all those 'sporting chances' it was offered :rolleyes:

Cheers, Dave.
 
Joseph East said:
I might be wrong, Dave, but I interpreted Richard's message as being pro-'as heavy line as you can get away with'...
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I know Joseph, my post was a possibly inept attempt at supporting Richard's views via a sarcastic reply to those advocating light lines....sometimes I get too obscure for my own good :D

Cheers, Dave.
 
David Gauntlett said:
Hi Richard, nice first post fella. Sadly though, you seem not to understand the many uses of the term 'sporting chance'. For instance, if you use a light line, there is a 'sporting chance' that the fish will be so exhausted and unduly stressed when you finally manage to land it....it will subsequently die.

Again, using a light line gives the fish a 'sporting chance' that it will manage to snap your line anywhere along it's length, and so escape. This gives rise to a fish trailing line, so there is a VERY 'sporting chance' that the trailing line will catch on a snag, which gives the fish yet another 'sporting chance' of trying to snap the line once more...if it still has the strength.

Failing that of course, there is a 'sporting chance' that the fish will just give up and die. Obviously, if it takes the fish a long, painful time to die, that seems at first a bit sad. However, just ask yourself this....did that fish deserve to live, if it was daft enough to not take advantage of all those 'sporting chances' it was offered :rolleyes:

Cheers, Dave.
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What a load if carp :p
 
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