Float Rods and Ledgering

[Andy Pet]

Bit of an odd ball question for you. Would a carp waggler rod be OK to use as a light ledger rod ie 1oz bomb max for short distance fishing, up to say 20m using either an underarm cast or a light overhead cast?

I know it depends on the rod etc

The rod seems capable (its an 11ft carp waggler), or would I be better not abusing the rod and buying a dedicated ledger rod?

I have read on the forum that some members use float rods as light ledger rods but no weights are mentioned.

Thanks

 

[Jim Crosskey 2]

I think you'd be fine Andy. Does the rod have a line rating? Probably about 6lb, maybe more?

I have a 10 foot pellet waggler rod which I've used for float fishing, freelining, method fishing and I've even thrown a light lure about with it. The action on it is a little beefier than a normal float rod, but once you hook something on it, it will bend through in a lovely through actioned curve.

It's proved itself a very handy match to carp up to 10lb (so far), but I've still enjoyed the experience of catching much smaller fish with it.

I suppose its close to an avon action really. Plus it packs up in to three equal sections, so always goes in the car somewhere on holiday. Even better, I never mind giving it to the kids to use (8 and 9) - as it's a bit more robust that some other rods I have plus being that little bit shorter, they tend to get on with it better.

Sorry, that's a very long way of saying - yes, I think you'll be fine

 

[sagalout]

I use pellet waggler rods for small feeder fishing (15-20gr feeders) and cast overhead. I have been doing this for several years now without mishap. I would think a loaded small feeder weighs a good ounce plus.

I the past I have always had a sleeper on the beeper and for the waters I fish the pellet waggler rods are perfect. This year (well last year really) I started to use one rod at a time only and so recently bought a Maver 10ft elite feeder rod so I can watch the tip whilst fishing tight to lily beds and this has a casting weight of upto 90 grams but does not seem to cast the same feeders any better than my pellet waggler rods.

 

[S-Kippy]

What Brother Lout says....it will be fine as long as you don't try to chuck big leads/feeders into the next county. I use my 11ft PW as an occasional lead/small method feeder rod and it does the job very well.

 

[Peter Jacobs]

The only drawback I can see might be that a dedicated quiver tip rod would, obviously show bites far better than the relatively stiffer float rod tip.

That us not to say that for occasional use it would not be perfectly usable.

 

[sagalout]

The only drawback I can see might be that a dedicated quiver tip rod would, obviously show bites far better than the relatively stiffer float rod tip.

I use mine with Shimano 2500 bait runners and alarms a la the big carp boys, this means they don't need a quiver tip and I can go to the pub :wh.

 

[robtherake]

I've used a 12ft Maver Reactorlite pellet waggler for light feeder fishing when I'd left my chosen tip rod at home. It has to be said that it coped rather well - was even quite good - used with bobbin and alarm at close to medium range.

I've also heard tales of expensive spliced-tip float rods being used as heavy feeder rods on the Trent, back in the 80s/90s - amazing what good carbon can do!

 

[S-Kippy]

I've also heard tales of expensive spliced-tip float rods being used as heavy feeder rods on the Trent, back in the 80s/90s - amazing what good carbon can do!

That's true...they were and not just on the Trent....though I never had the courage to try it.

 

[Andy Pet]

Cheers for the responses. I won't be giving it the beans on the cast. It's mainly for underarm casting and a gentle overhead cast. I have the Acolyte 11ft Carp Waggler - seems a shame to just use it for float fishing:wh

The rod is quite powerful. It was either this or an Avon rod

 

[103841]

If I could only keep one rod it would be my Drennan pellet waggler rod, as has been said it can be used for a variety of situations perfectly adequately.

 

[sagalout]

one rod

Please do not use language like that in front of Sam and Skippy, you'll give 'em an heart attack!

 

[robtherake]

That's true...they were and not just on the Trent....though I never had the courage to try it.

The tip on my Mach 2 Boron was fragile enough and was replaced twice by Shakespeare customer service - I shudder to think what chucking three or four ounces across a big river would have done to it, but apparently it's one of the rods that were dual-purposed in this way. Surely ye canna change the laws o' physics?

 

[sam vimes]

Please do not use language like that in front of Sam and Skippy, you'll give 'em an heart attack!

Nah, shiver down my spine and a bit of a cold sweat. I don't care what others do, just don't ask me to narrow it down to one rod. It would take me the rest of my life to narrow it down to a few.

 

[shane99]

Not an odd ball question. I have been looking at a cuple of Pellet wagglers for ledgering for Perch on my membership water which is the way really, however I just want to float fish for them mg:

 

[sam vimes]

I can understand someone making extra use of pellet waggler rods they already have. I can't quite get my head around going out to buy a pellet waggler rod for legering when the likes of the Darent Valley Specialist is out there for not a great deal of money. It's also worth noting that not all Pellet Waggler rods are equal. I've encountered some that really couldn't cut it as a leger rod, others wouldn't look out of place on the end of a pier.

 

[S-Kippy]

Nah, shiver down my spine and a bit of a cold sweat. I don't care what others do, just don't ask me to narrow it down to one rod. It would take me the rest of my life to narrow it down to a few.

I wouldn't even attempt it. The concept of one rod is just too bizarre. Where's the fun in that ?

---------- Post added at 19:30 ---------- Previous post was at 19:29 ----------

Not an odd ball question. I have been looking at a cuple of Pellet wagglers for ledgering for Perch on my membership water which is the way really, however I just want to float fish for them mg:

Perfect tools for the job......either method.

 

[tigger]

When I go trotting I often switch my set up to legering and carry on with the float rod but that's only because i'm traveling light (and targeting barbel and chub which will give a serious indication on quite heavy rods), if I set out the house to leger I would deffo use a leger rod / quiver tip. In all honesty I can't see the point of using a float rod to leger with unless there's no option.....horses for courses in'it!

 

[mikench]

Another vote for the Darent Valley Specialist; lovely rod and if I can use it for tip fishing and then float fishing(when I couldn't be bothered breaking out my float rod) anyone can! I caught too

 

[shane99]

Yes Mike/Sam the Darent valley Specialist of course. I do have one of these and have to agree for the money a very good rod albeit on the soft side.

Looked at a couple of Shakespeare Omni 10ft Pellet Waggler Rods, £22.49 each from Go Outdoors. How bad can they be ?

 

[sam vimes]

Yes Mike/Sam the Darent valley Specialist of course. I do have one of these and have to agree for the money a very good rod albeit on the soft side.

Too soft, or too through actioned? If it's the former, there's always the Darent Valley Avon Quiver. There are plenty of cheaper alternatives too, even if you have to resort to buying used.

Looked at a couple of Shakespeare Omni 10ft Pellet Waggler Rods, £22.49 each from Go Outdoors. How bad can they be ?

As leger rods, they could be abysmal. They may not even be very good pellet waggler rods. Pellet waggler rods vary hugely from maker to maker and model to model. Some are brutal pokers, others are very soft and through actioned. If you find the Darent Valley Specialist too soft, you might get a big shock buying random pellet waggler rods blind.

I still can't quite get my head around you looking for a PW rod to buy to use for legering. Fair enough getting a bit more use from a rod you already own, but buying a PW rod to use as a leger rod seems ridiculous to me, doubly so if you are buying without getting to see and feel the rod in question.