I
Ian "snotman" Foden
Guest
Good article Paul and oh so true. I too have fished the method since being about 12 learning it on the NW canals, as you rightly say it really is more deadly than the quivertip when mastered.
There was a similar thread recently which covered a lot of this ground but I have found that a rod with a reasonably stiff top section but through action is best. If the rodtop isnt quite stiff it makes casting and watching the tip in a breeze more difficult.
As you say, you can "read" bites with a swingtip, especially liners and roach and hit a far higher proportion of bites when you get the hand of it.
The springtip and sidewinder are adaptations that allow the "tip" to be used in windier conditions too.
I agree that if you haven't tried this method you should, it works really well for skimmers and other fish especially who hate resistance.
There was a similar thread recently which covered a lot of this ground but I have found that a rod with a reasonably stiff top section but through action is best. If the rodtop isnt quite stiff it makes casting and watching the tip in a breeze more difficult.
As you say, you can "read" bites with a swingtip, especially liners and roach and hit a far higher proportion of bites when you get the hand of it.
The springtip and sidewinder are adaptations that allow the "tip" to be used in windier conditions too.
I agree that if you haven't tried this method you should, it works really well for skimmers and other fish especially who hate resistance.