Benefits Of Good Rods?

[chopper]

Hi,

I recently bought a Pen Rod from Kmart for 20 buks. Its 1.8 m, solid fibreglass, with a light tip - 3-4 kg class.

Now this rod works great for me etc. Much better then my other rods.

But i just want to know, what is the difference in getting a cheap rod, and a expensive graphite rod. What will be the advantages?

i know it will be lighter, but dont know any other benefits it will bring.

Let me know please, just curious.

Thanks

[pw-bream]

Typically a rod with a high percentage of med to high modulus graphite in it will cast further than a fibreglass rod of otherwise similar characteristics. It will be physically lighter and more mechanically fragile.
You will notice a dramatic increase in sensitivity of feel with the graphite rod too. The tip will bob and vibrate in time with the lure action, a fibreglass rod (particularly one with a solid tip)would damp and absorb these movements and they aren't nearly so apparent.
Bushy talks of being able to tell when a single strand of weed gets picked up on a lure when using his bream spinning rods from Ian Miller.

[SWANK-E]

that is very true... after breaming for almost a whole year on a k-mart 'bream combo' which is fibreglass and even $70, i switched to a proper setup which cost me $350, i can really feel the difference! fish i was never able to catch with a fibre glass, such as ones which just tap or hold on to the sp, i just do a twitch and they are hooked.

fibreglass works by going in the direction of least resistance, therefore it 'gives' whereas graphite is single strand that always wants to be straight.

i also find that i am doing much more accurate casts, longer casts and i can now do that wrist flick cast method whereas the fibreglass was impossible.

[dan_WA]

Yep - go the graphite !
Whilst i'm still relatively new to breaming and using sp's and hb's for bream; compared to the old days when I did a lot of spinning for trout on a "ugly stik" style rod, the sensitivity of the graphite and castability + lightness is unbelievable !
The old saying: "once you try you'll never go back !!"

[Evan]

hahaha just kidding


seriously though the amount of feel that you lose fishing a glass rod is unbelievable... i was fishin a month or so ago with my mate who brought along this glass heap of sh!t... he said it would be fine and had caught many a fish on it or so i he told me. anyway we pulled up at this stretch and the fish were firing.. long story short i got 7 fish in about 30mins from one spot whilst he got none. he said that he wasnt even feeling the hits. i swapped rods with him and i think on his second cast he hooked up. mean while i think for hte next hour or so i hooked up on one (which i think i jagged) i couldnt feel any hits what so ever.

glass might be ok for a HB rod but for SP forget it. you are better off spending the extra $$$ and getting a graphite rod. even synergy for $60 or a procaster for $90 is well worth the extra $$$ spent.

[chopper]

thanks for the replies.

if i get a new rod will be a long way away.

might be joining the airforce, so i wont have time to fish

[Geoff R]

When i was a Grunt in the Best battalion in the Regiment "2nd Battalion" we used to look at the airforce guys and call them "civilians in uniform".
When i was in Timor doing it "Hard Tac" on my guts, eating cold fat and grissle straight out of a can, cammed up making sure the airforce guys were safe so they could eat their freshly flown in Pizza, KFC and Mcdonalds washing it down with icy can's of coke
Trust me mate, once you join one of the services you'll have all the time in the world to fish, and you'll get posted to some of the best locations to fish. We did it in Timor to try and supplement our rations, because the airforce guys didn't leave us any pizza
You big air-y-fairy
Regards
Ex PTE Geoff Paulic
2nd Bn Royal Australian Regiment

Wha!!!!!!!

[chopper]

Geoff P

if i make it in the force, im going to be posted at wogga or wagga, forgot which one.

so will there be good fishing spots there ?

[Geoff R]

Yeah I am sure you'll be close to Bass, Bream , Trout, Redfin etc, when you get there and it's freezing at night go to the Vic hotel and have a pint in front of the open fireplace "Deluxe".
And all the guys getting around with no hair will be the Army recruits from Kapooka, don't tell em your a RAAF'Y.
Regards Geoff P

[Evileye]

keep talkin....

cuz my mum wants to make me go to the airforce, wich i strongly dont want, but no, i have to go for 30 years and waste my life with out having a decent life, i know its off the subject but sorry just curious.

yes graphite rods are better then F/glass, iv got a synergy and its ok i spose.

evileye

dont stress Evileye...youve got another 4 years or thereabouts to change her mind!

dave

[Geoff R]

It would be the best thing that ever happend to you, the time i spent in the Army and the experiences (Good and bad) i had to me is the pinnacle of my life "so far".
You make great mates, do cool stuff and get paid good money, i only got out cause i was injured permanantly in East Timor and could no longer serve.
Regards Geoff P

[Evileye]

may i ask wot happened to you geoff?, and it is the air force so nothing serious will happen??(war), but i like the part about the money,(all the more for a boat ), but how long do you have to stay in there, can you quit when you see fit? sorry to pick your brain geoff but im reary curious.

evileye

[shamilton]

Evileye,
As an ex-airforce member (and proud of it), I reckon your decision to join ANY of the services is awesome. The opportunities that will be presented to you will be beyond anything that any recruiting officer can tell you.
I agree with Geoff P. when he says that Wagga is a cold God forsaken place. However, the Vic is a great watering hole and I had many a great night there on the ales with the grunts. Pack your fishing gear when you get posted. OH, and by the way, graphite is definately the way to go.

Happy Breamin
Shamilto.