Spliced Tip Float/Match Rods

Re: Spliced Tip Float/Match Rods

Posted by: Mike Oliver (---.proxy.aol.com)

Date: March 11, 2006 12:04PM

Randy,

These types of rods are routine over here in the uk. Now spliced tips usually made of solid carbon are mostly seen on what we call stick float rods, These are rods that are designed to cast and run through a swim very light floats carrying say 2 to 5 no 4 split shot. The rods are designed for Match work also know as competiion fishing and are mostly for small fish. By small I mean 2 oz to 2lb although Chub are often targeted using stick float tactics and they can go to 8lbs. Now the reason for the spiced tip is to give a rapid strike responce to a fast biting fish and also to help land them. Small fish often jag and bump, off the hook, if the rod tip is too stiff. The soft spliced tip can help stop this. But there is a rub in that the joint of the splice with the hollow tip can give rise to a hard spot on the blank and actually help bump fish off.

Now you are talking Centre pin reel. Now even the best centre pins and I use the pin myself will not work with very light floats as the light floats do not carry enough shot and therefore can not pull line of the drum however strong the current. Center pins work best with heavy floats and a very good current flow. They actually need a diferent float rod. You are better off with a std hollow tip design. These float rods are commonly called Waggler rods over here. They are a little more powerful than spliced stick float rods, They can cast say up to four swan shot with ease. The very best ones can still be used to fish stick floats. They tend also to have a tip section which bends a litle more than the spiced stick float rod and they are much better at playing bigger fish. I have a Normark Avenger which is fantastic for Chub and small carp on rivers. It is great with a centre pin. The other type of rod that works wonderfully well with the Pin is the Avon rod. Theses are heavier rods that can be used to run through heaavy floats on the pin in powerful rivers. They are used also to free line large baits like cheese and lob worms ( night Crawlers) and typically have a test curve of 12 ounces to one pound. length wise they come in at 12 feet typically. They can be used for light ledgering to Brilliant rods.

Where does this leave you. Well if you I are fishing the pin then I think you need to seriuosly look at the Waggler design hollow tip flaot rod in 13 feet say or in fast heavy currents the Avon rod is the dream ticket. You can get waggler rods up to 20 feet but it is widaly excepted that 13 feet gives the best balnce of all.

Who makes good blanks for this well Harrison Advanced Rods in the UK for one. see their web site. Conoflex is another. If you want to go striaght into a ready made rod then the Normark range sold by Masterline is world class but expensive at around $600 for a 13 foot waggler design rod.

For Avon rods the Harrisons and Conoflex are the boys to look at.

Now if all this has confused you ,you can PM me and let me have your phone number and I will call you and try to help you further. It would help you also if you could get some books on float fishing written by UK athuors.

You may have guessed by know that I do a lot of river float fishing with all three rod designs using spinning reels as well as pins.
I might even know what I am talking about for once LOL.

Seriuosly if you want to make contact I will do my best to help.

PS which Pin do you have. They are the best.

Regards

Mike Oliver

We have weeklies called the Angling Times full of info. Until you really know what flaot fishing is all about it's gping to be hard to dsign that rod. I caould tell ytou right now which one's I like but I don't know enopugh about where and what ylu are fishging for before I can advise furthr.
Now if there is one area that us Brits are good at it's designing and fishing float rods. It is an art but it can be learnt very quickly

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