What is the advantage of fishing with a pole vs rod?
poTAto
can someone tell me why all anglers in the UK use poles for fishing?
What is the advantage? Or is it only for catching carp? Some of the
lengths I've been hearing like 18-20 ft makes it sound like something
for use when doing a high jump at the olympics. How come everybody in
the UK is (walking softly and) carrying a big stick? Your mobility,
casting distance and hence fishing effectiveness must be severly
restricted with a rod that long and heavy is it not? Why not just use a
regular spinning rod with a float?
Where I am, everyone uses fishing rods usually about 6 feet long except
for the fly fishing people who specialize in making fish more difficult
to catch with overpriced equipment. Is pole fishing part of old british
tradition and hence the nostaglia about it or is it really a more
effective way of fishing? The only time a longer fishing rod is used
here (say 7 feet max) is to increase casting distance. Most fishing is
done on a spinning reel here.
One more question.. In the UK.. do you guys say poTAYto or poTAto?
Thanks for your answers,
poTAto
steve
>Hi,
> can someone tell me why all anglers in the UK use poles for fishing?
>What is the advantage? Or is it only for catching carp? Some of the
>lengths I've been hearing like 18-20 ft makes it sound like something
>for use when doing a high jump at the olympics. How come everybody in
>the UK is (walking softly and) carrying a big stick? Your mobility,
>casting distance and hence fishing effectiveness must be severly
>restricted with a rod that long and heavy is it not? Why not just use a
>regular spinning rod with a float?
I have an 11m (about 36 feet) pole, which I use occasionally.
There are advantages and disadvantages.
pros, in no particular order;
Poles are usually fitted with a length of elastic inside the top few
sections. The line is attached to this. This means that you can usually
get away with a lighter line than with a rod and reel. This is also
helped by the pressure coming from above the fish, which makes them less
likely to run in one direction.
Pole tackle doesn't have to be cast. You just drop it in. This means
that you can use a smaller, more sensitive float, and rigs that would
tangle if you tried to cast them.
On running water, you can control *exactly* how quickly or slowly the
tackle moves down the swim. If you are trotting a short length of water,
it is much quicker to move the tackle back to the starting position than
to reel in and recast with running line.
You can place the tackle over your groundbaited area with great
accuracy, and, more importantly, great confidence in your accuracy. You
can put it right next to lily pads or whatever without worrying about
casting into them.
Deep water is easier to fish with a pole.
Catching lots of small fish as quickly as possible is more efficient
with a pole.
Cons;
There is a finite amount of stretch in the elastic. If a large fish
runs, and you can't stop it, you can't give any more line.
There is a limit to the strength of poles, dictated by their weight. You
could make a pole strong enough, and with thick enough elastic, to land
any fish you choose to imagine. Whether someone could hold it at 10m is
another matter.
In very clear water, fish don't like having a pole waved over their
heads.
You need a bit of space to use one. I couldn't do my chub stalking in
the upper Thames with a pole; no room to unship it, and not easy to
crawl through the undergrowth with.
Poles are not convenient for fishing where you have to wait a long time
for bites, unless you have a fancy octoplus box with pole holders. It's
a lot easier to put a rod on rests while you have a coffee or a smoke or
groundbait.
Running line is more fun. (IMO)
/cons
Poles are brilliant for match fishing (where you need to catch the
maximum total weight of fish in a fixed period) in situations where you
catch a lot of small to medium sized fish. They are great for situations
where the fish are very shy, and you need fine lines, small hooks and
delicate presentation to get bites. They are great for fishing close to
snags without losing a hooklength every other cast. They make life a lot
easier in very deep water.
>Where I am, everyone uses fishing rods usually about 6 feet long except
>for the fly fishing people who specialize in making fish more difficult
>to catch with overpriced equipment. Is pole fishing part of old british
>tradition and hence the nostaglia about it or is it really a more
>effective way of fishing?
Yes. Sometimes. The pole fishing revolution was largely driven by match
angling, where you have five hours to catch the highest total weight of
fish of any type or size. For this, it can be unbeatable.
>The only time a longer fishing rod is used
>here (say 7 feet max) is to increase casting distance. Most fishing is
>done on a spinning reel here.
In the UK, we don't generally use rods of less than 10 feet, and most
are 12' or 13'. We use shorter rods for spinning (some people in this
group have a very nasty addiction to American crank handled baitcaster
type rods, mentioning no name....) and for legering.
At the end of the day, poles, long rods, short rods; all tools for
different circumstances. I regularly use two 13' float rods, an 11'
float rod and 11' leger rod (actually one rod with a choice of two tips)
a 9' spinning rod, 9' and 6' leger rods (again, both the same rod, this
time with a choice of two butts) and an 11m pole.
Poles, by the way, because they do not have a reel, can be used at any
length. Mine is in about 8 sections, so I can use it at most distances
up to 11m.
>One more question.. In the UK.. do you guys say poTAYto or poTAto?
We say 'spuds'.
--
steve
Derek Moody
> Hi,
> can someone tell me why all anglers in the UK use poles for fishing?
They don't.
> What is the advantage? Or is it only for catching carp? Some of the
Some of 'em can't work out how to wind a reel...
> lengths I've been hearing like 18-20 ft makes it sound like something
I'm sorry, you missed a bit there - read -metres- say 40 - 50 feet and
you'll be closer.
> for use when doing a high jump at the olympics. How come everybody in
> the UK is (walking softly and) carrying a big stick? Your mobility,
> casting distance and hence fishing effectiveness must be severly
> restricted with a rod that long and heavy is it not? Why not just use a
> regular spinning rod with a float?
And this is the point. There was (still is) a school of competition fishing
which takes place on relatively narrow watersways - canals- that have access
on one side only. Competitiors draw for marked positions on the bank and
compete to catch the greatest quantity of fish in a set time. The other
competitors have no interest in moving quietly past the water in which you
are about to fish and for some arcane reason there is always a rule that you
must remain within (usually) one metre (yard) of your marker peg. Hence the
angler is forced to fish right on the water's edge - all the fish have been
scared to the far bank and for at least the first hour or so nothing is to
be caught in the near half. The far bank is almost always overgrown and
casting to the narrow strip in which the fish are cowering is fraught with
difficulty. These poles are not used for casting, the tackle is lowered
into position. Usually a very fine float is used with these rigs.
In the ordinary way you can use very different tackle and catch more and
bigger fish in these canals - as long as no-one has been trampling along
scaring the fish first.
> Where I am, everyone uses fishing rods usually about 6 feet long except
> for the fly fishing people who specialize in making fish more difficult
In small streams you might go as short as 6 feet in a fly-rod. fly rods are
about the shortest rods in regular use in the UK. Spinning rods tend to be
about 8 - 10 feet depending on the water. Most general coarse fishing uses
rods from 10 - 13 feet.
> to catch with overpriced equipment. Is pole fishing part of old british
> tradition and hence the nostaglia about it
There -is- a tradition but with much shorter poles, 20 feet is about right.
They were not used a great deal after the first world war.
> or is it really a more
> effective way of fishing?
It's only any use for a restricted type of competition fishing and methods
based on it. The pole has a long reach but cannot reach beyond itself. You
cannot use the flow of a stream to your advantage, it is useless on a small
stream. It is useless for running fish.
Most of my coarse fishing is done on small fast moving rivers where the pole
would be hoplessly obstructed and yet, especially in winter, I might be
trotting a float over 40 metres down the current to the fish. To control
tackle in these conditions a rod of about 12 feet is about right. Short and
light enough to be manipulated yet long enough to lift and control the line.
get the idea?
> The only time a longer fishing rod is used
> here (say 7 feet max) is to increase casting distance. Most fishing is
> done on a spinning reel here.
You'd have trouble finding a rod that short in Europe :-)
>
> One more question.. In the UK.. do you guys say poTAYto or poTAto?
Yes. er, is there a difference?
HTH, Cheerio,
--
Derek Moody
derek...@clara.net
http://www.derek.moody.clara.net/
Peter D
selection of 6' spinning rods, but my all time favourite is my 9'
Salmon rod. I use it for big Pike, Carp, and Catfish. And it's far
superior for leveraging a fish than any 6' rod I have. For me, that's
what make shte difference. I can play and guide a large fish much more
easily with a long rod than with a short one.
HTH
--------
Peter D
poTAto wrote in message <3947F747...@pot.com>...
>Hi,
> can someone tell me why all anglers in the UK use poles for
fishing?
>What is the advantage? Or is it only for catching carp? Some of the
>lengths I've been hearing like 18-20 ft makes it sound like something
>for use when doing a high jump at the olympics. How come everybody
in
>the UK is (walking softly and) carrying a big stick? Your mobility,
>casting distance and hence fishing effectiveness must be severly
>restricted with a rod that long and heavy is it not? Why not just
use a
>regular spinning rod with a float?
>
>Where I am, everyone uses fishing rods usually about 6 feet long
except
>for the fly fishing people who specialize in making fish more
difficult
>to catch with overpriced equipment. Is pole fishing part of old
british
>tradition and hence the nostaglia about it or is it really a more
>effective way of fishing? The only time a longer fishing rod is used
>here (say 7 feet max) is to increase casting distance. Most fishing
is
>done on a spinning reel here.
>
>One more question.. In the UK.. do you guys say poTAYto or poTAto?
>
poTAto
I cannot imagine myself fishing with a pole because I tend to be highly
mobile when I'm fishing a river. Usually a fishing trip is also a
hiking trip for me with all the moving around to explore and fish
different areas and even crossing the river. Get a lot of excersize and
build stamina that way - it is after all called SPORT fishing. But that
kind of heavy vegetation and extensive parks are probably not to be
found in the UK and hence pole fishing makes sense there - I think.
I had a bet on the poTAto/poTAYto question with a friend. I bet most
British people said poTAto since you also say toMAto (instead of
toMAYto).
Thanks all,
poTAto
andrew marc prescott
we can also use lighter lines and smaller hooks when using the pole as there
is shock absorbing elastic fitted inside the pole. The strengh of the
elastic is governed by the size and species of the fish that you are fishing
for.
the elastics range from No. 1 to No.20
No.'s 1 to 5 are for catching small fish like roach, perch and skimmer bream
up to 1 pound in weight.
No.'s 6 to 12 are for catching carp and larger Bream - up to 8 pounds in
weight
No.'s 14 -20 are for catching real lumps (generaly carp) into double
figures.
Elastics are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20.
Specialist poles are made made for elastics from No. 10 upwards
All poles are very strong and lightweight for their size.
they range in price from £120 to £4000 depending on length, strength and
weight.
The are made from carbon fibre.
there is no reel and you don't cast with them, just join the pieces of pole
together and lay the rig (terminal tackle) out and lit it fish itself.
I hope this is ok - i haven't time for a more detailed explaination - i
could answer more queries from my e-mail account - an...@knac.com
We say potato !!!!
Cheers
Andy Prescott
Paul D Moore
Derek Moody <derek...@clara.net> wrote in message
news:ant15001...@dmoody.freeuk.com...
> In small streams you might go as short as 6 feet in a fly-rod. fly rods
are
> about the shortest rods in regular use in the UK. Spinning rods tend to
be
> about 8 - 10 feet depending on the water. Most general coarse fishing
uses
> rods from 10 - 13 feet.
Not quite right anymore Derek, American style rods are becoming more and
more popular in
the uk. Most of the people I know who lure fish here use rods 6ft or less.
My own lure rods are a 6ft baitcaster and a 5ft 8inches jerkbait rod and I
occasionally use an old 10ft carp rod if I need to get some real distance.
Paul D Moore
Derek Moody
<URL:mailto:pdm...@piscatus.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:
> the uk. Most of the people I know who lure fish here use rods 6ft or less.
> My own lure rods are a 6ft baitcaster and a 5ft 8inches jerkbait rod and I
I've never seen one in use...
It's hard enough to keep control of a fish with a 6 foot fly rod.
> occasionally use an old 10ft carp rod if I need to get some real distance.
Distance is rarely necessary. In uncluttered waters I use spinning rods
about 8 feet long but most of the time a 10 - 12 footer is the only way to
deal with bankside vegetation (or rocks & kelp in the sea).
Even boat fishing 6 feet is a bit short if a fish decides to go under the
boat. I suppose you might get away with it wading a stream.
All IMO of course,
John
andrew marc prescott <andy_p...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3948ED8E...@hotmail.com...
>
> they range in price from £120 to £4000 depending on length, strength and
> weight.
For anyone wanting to try out pole fishing without going that expensive,
Shakespeare do an 8 meter one for 35 pounds. It takes elastic between 6 and
12, and although it's not as light or as responsive as the more expensive
examples, it does the work well enough.
John
Jerry
"poTAto" <p...@pot.com> wrote in message news:3947F747...@pot.com...
> Hi,
> can someone tell me why all anglers in the UK use poles for fishing?
They don't - its just one of the methods used in UK
> What is the advantage?
The advantage is far, far superior presentation of baits. Remember here in
UK
we have comparatively few predator fish - most commonly we fish for
non-predatory species - so use of a spinner or lure is very inappropriate.
> Or is it only for catching carp?
No - although many people fish for Carp with a pole they are normally not
very big fish but fish in the 4lb - 10lb range. Common tackle for bigger
fish is 11ft - 13ft rods with a 1.75lb to 3.5lb test curve.
>Some of the
> lengths I've been hearing like 18-20 ft makes it sound like something
> for use when doing a high jump at the olympics.
This is VERY short for a pole - more usually 13m - 16m (40 to 55 feet)
> How come everybody in
> the UK is (walking softly and) carrying a big stick?
What mobility ? The average UK angler walks to his swim, sets up,
sits there for 5 hours and walks back to the car.
> Your mobility,
> casting distance and hence fishing effectiveness must be severly
> restricted with a rod that long and heavy is it not?
With a pole you do not cast - you just lower the tackle into the water.
Distance is governed by the length of the pole. It is vital on many UK
waters to be able to fish the same spot VERY accurately. With a pole
this is acheivable to within an inch - I challenge you to put ANY other
bait to within an inch, accurately, every time at 55 feet.....
If you do not do this on many UK waters you will not catch many fish
> Why not just use a
> regular spinning rod with a float?
Because the presentation of the bait will be very bad compared to a pole.
The float will cause a disturbance when it hits the water potentially
scaring the
fish - you will have to fish FAR heavier to enable you to cast 55 feet - you
will constantly loose tackle into the bramble bush that is at 56 feet etc,
etc.
>
> Where I am, everyone uses fishing rods usually about 6 feet long except
> for the fly fishing people who specialize in making fish more difficult
> to catch with overpriced equipment.
Where you are you probably have a totaly different species of fish
that have never been caught before, are predatory, are not tackle
shy etc etc
> Is pole fishing part of old british
> tradition and hence the nostaglia about it or is it really a more
> effective way of fishing?
Not at all - poles are more related to continental europe than UK. They
have been adopted in UK because they lead to more fish on the bank.
> The only time a longer fishing rod is used
> here (say 7 feet max) is to increase casting distance. Most fishing is
> done on a spinning reel here.
You hit the nail on the head. You fish for different species. By the way -
I bet the UK specialists can cast FAR FAR further with a 13' rod
than you can with your 7' rod. I have seen people fishing at ranges
in excess of 200yds (600 feet) - how would you get that distance ?
>
> One more question.. In the UK.. do you guys say poTAYto or poTAto?
The former - sort of...
>
> Thanks for your answers,
> poTAto
Thank you Mr Potato
Michael Downs
Jerry <jerr...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:8jg7mb$475$1...@nntp0.reith.bbc.co.uk...
> You hit the nail on the head. You fish for different species. By the way -
> I bet the UK specialists can cast FAR FAR further with a 13' rod
> than you can with your 7' rod. I have seen people fishing at ranges
> in excess of 200yds (600 feet) - how would you get that distance ?
With regard to the 200yds tournament distanceses are now past 300yds for the
top casters, and were tournament distanceses go then fishing distanceses
follow.
MikeD