Rods for the Waal?

[Paul Neate]

Anyone on here have experience with fishing the Waal in the Netherlands? I am told that you need to chuck feeders of 90 to 150 g or more to hold the bottom in the flow. Fishing distances are about 50-60 metres. What sort of rod would you recommend for this?

 

[Mr Cholmondeley-Corker (PaSC)]

I dont have have one, but I believe the Preston Dutch Masters Rods were designed for this.

Fox also do a 15ft Floodwater Barbel Rod. It has a 2.75lb tc and has a solid top and a mutliquiver top - my understanding is that in Holland it is sold as a long range feeder rod - the Extremis.

 

[sam vimes]

As well as the previously mentioned Preston Dutch Masters, Shimano have usually had a few fairly extreme feeder rods in their feeder rod line up. They are a little thin in the current line up, but there is an Extra Heavy/Extra Long Beastmaster CX that's rated to cast 180g.

I have an old original XXHL (Extra, Extra Heavy, Long) Beastmaster Feeder. It's 15/16ft, rated to cast 200g and had quiver tips rated at 4, 5 and 6oz. Naturally, it doesn't see a huge amount of action, but it has performed well for barbel and big bream on the tidal Trent.

Fox also do a 15ft Floodwater Barbel Rod. It has a 2.75lb tc and has a solid top and a mutliquiver top.

Past tense required for the UK barbel rod. They were part of the Duo-Lite range that was discontinued two or three years ago. There was no direct replacement in the range that followed.

 

[Judas Priest]

Contact Ade Kiddel he fishes the Waal and is helpful on tackle and baits etc.
He has a website/blog and is also contactable through the Korum website.

 

[Rich Frampton]

The Free Spirit Big River rod is more than capable of that.... Lovely action that bends right through to the corks....spot on. Great for floods back home too...or the Trent.

 

[Ray Wood 1]

The Free Spirit Big River rod is more than capable of that.... Lovely action that bends right through to the corks....spot on. Great for floods back home too...or the Trent.

Have you used them on the Waal and the Trent?

Regards

 

[black kettle]

Don't be daft Ray, Of course he hasn't.

 

[Rich Frampton]

Fools...

 

[binka]

Lovely action that bends right through to the corks....

I do like that phrase!

I haven't experienced it with a Free Spirit but often do on the Hardy Specimen Avon... A quite remarkable experience with a double figure barbel being denied the final run and played on the rod under the tip without the drag kicking in.

Amazing :w

 

[Ray Wood 1]

Fools...

Rich,
Is that the best you have to offer “Fools” in answer to my genuine question? One to which I thought you might have given us your experience of the Free Spirit big river rod rod/rods seeing as you are exceling their qualities. Have you used them or was your comment just another plug for Free Spirit?

I’m just catching up as I have been away on the river Teme for four days taming the Teme Tigers with my Harrison 12” three piece Triptych rods. I can highly recommend these rods having been using them for many,many years. They fit in the boot of the car, have a suburb action right through to the butt. They handle small and large barbel alike due to their action. I was lucky enough to have an 11 lb. 1.Oz barbel amongst many chub and barbel on my break.

So Rich, can you give us your experience of the Free Spirit Big River Rods for the Waal and the Trent or not?

Please keep the insults for the BS FB group page they are better suited there and not on FM.

Regards

 

[black kettle]

I like the original FS rods I own. The FS website is pants in my opinion. The Harrison website is much better.

Something of interest, then again, maybe not.

I have been doing some work for a corporate lawyer who specialises in patents. The company he represents have the patent on a particular resin for bonding carbon fibre cloth. This stuff is so good, BMW are wanting to own it. I have been told by someone in the "know" concerning these products that British rod makers use the best materials available. Including the super duper space age resin that my lawyer client patented. Did you know that Rich?

Also, Rodger Hurst, the master rod builder lives in the next village to me at the Old Forge in Croxton Kerrial and builds Free Spirit rods.

Blimey I know some stuff Rich. Not bad for a clown

 

[Keith Speer]

When I have fished the Waal I have used the stick float and pin.
Much of the Waal like many Dutch rivers has a boulder bank which can be a bit difficult and un-comfortable, but out a rod length or so the bottom is sand and fairly flat.

Main species were Brasem (Bream), Voorn (Roach) and Vinde (Natural coloured Orfe) with some other Ide species, Barbel are present in some sections, Dace and Chub are virtually non-existent.

You don’t have to fish a heavy feeder miles out to catch, most fish will come to regular feeding on the inside, in fact you might find you catch more.


Of course if the flow is super strong you may have little option than to fish a big feeder, but if the flow is fairly steady, you might be amazed at how you get them queuing up on the inside.

PM me if you want more info.

Tight lines

 

[aebitim]

Rich,
Is that the best you have to offer “Fools” in answer to my genuine question? One to which I thought you might have given us your experience of the Free Spirit big river rod rod/rods seeing as you are exceling their qualities. Have you used them or was your comment just another plug for Free Spirit?

I’m just catching up as I have been away on the river Teme for four days taming the Teme Tigers with my Harrison 12” three piece Triptych rods. I can highly recommend these rods having been using them for many,many years. They fit in the boot of the car, have a suburb action right through to the butt. They handle small and large barbel alike due to their action. I was lucky enough to have an 11 lb. 1.Oz barbel amongst many chub and barbel on my break.

So Rich, can you give us your experience of the Free Spirit Big River Rods for the Waal and the Trent or not?

Please keep the insults for the BS FB group page they are better suited there and not on FM.

Regards

Getting bored with this , are you by any chance plugging Harrison rods, I have tried 3 of them and they dont suit my fishing.

 

[Judas Priest]

Getting bored with this , are you by any chance plugging Harrison rods, I have tried 3 of them and they dont suit my fishing.

Getting bored with what exactly?

A guy asks advice on a rod, some give replies based on experience of using said rods or try to point the guy in the direction of those with experience of actually fishing said river.


Can't really see a problem

 

[aebitim]

Not sure how relevant using Harrison rods on the Teme is to the original question about the Waal. A 60 metre cast across the Teme is unlikely to produce fish. [yawn]

 

[thecrow]

Not sure how relevant using Harrison rods on the Teme is to the original question about the Waal. A 60 metre cast across the Teme is unlikely to produce fish. [yawn]

Isnt it as relevant as someone recommending rods for a particular purpose without having (so it seems) any experience of the rods in the situation mentioned?



I have always believed that if you have no knowledge of whats being asked then its best to keep quiet. Post #8 didn't seem to be the best way to answer the question asked of the poster.

 

[aebitim]

Isnt it as relevant as someone recommending rods for a particular purpose without having (so it seems) any experience of the rods in the situation mentioned?



I have always believed that if you have no knowledge of whats being asked then its best to keep quiet. Post #8 didn't seem to be the best way to answer the question asked of the poster.

Not sure what your getting at here, Tryptic was a Harrison I did not get on with, never tried casting a 4oz feeder 60yds with it though, pretty sure it wouldnt hack it, [I did mention 3 harrisons in an earlier post] I would agree with the second part of your post and would add something about reading whats written before placing foot in mouth.

 

[Andy M]

Hi Neophyte,
First I am no expert on the Waal, or any other river for that matter but I do fish the Waal for barbel and yes to do need to be able to chuck some heavy weights (say 150 to 200g) but not necessarily as far as you mention 40m or so is usually enough. If your budget is limited you might consider the Korum 12ft Barbel rod which comes in 2lb and 1.75lb TC. I have the 2 lb and find it works just fine. It is very much a no frills rod and I am sure many of the others mentioned in posts by others are better rods with more feel. Having said that getting even a 5lb barbel off the bottom in 5-8m of water in a raging current is not an exercise in finnes!

 

[thecrow]

Not sure what your getting at here, Tryptic was a Harrison I did not get on with, never tried casting a 4oz feeder 60yds with it though, pretty sure it wouldnt hack it, [I did mention 3 harrisons in an earlier post] I would agree with the second part of your post and would add something about reading whats written before placing foot in mouth.

I think you know full well what my post was about, your post was a dig at another poster who dared to ask a question of another, the answer in post#8 showed he had no experience of what he was saying.

 

[aebitim]

My post was nothing to do with post 8 and the petty scrapping over free spirit rods, it was to do with the suitability of a 1.5 test through action rod for casting a 4 oz feeder 60yds. It is based on my experience of the rod in question. I have no experience of free spirit rods so am unable to make a comment on them.
Hope this clears it up.