Carbon and Glass tips ?

Reading about various fishing rods on FM I keep seeing references to Glass and Carbon tips and wondered what the difference is.

Is it strength related and if so which is best ?

Thanks

Glass is softer imo and better for shy biters, carbon is more useful (to me at least) over longer distances where a light glass tip can take on quite a curve with the undertow of, for example, a medium to large stillwater.

I use both as per but prefer glass where I can use it.

In theory there's something a bit contadictory about all that imo as you would think a 1.5oz glass tip would require the same as a 1.5oz carbon tip to pull it around but it's just the way it seems to be in my experience.

I've never quite understood why the material should be as influential as it's perceived to be.

Surely the taper combined with the tip's TC should define its action??

The reason I enquired was the Drennon series 7 Avon specialist 12ft rod comes with both glass and carbon ( recent FM topic).

So I understand then the glass tip is probably better for smaller shy biting fish and the carbon maybe for the larger fish.

I'm fancying this rod after reading the excellent reviews.

yorkieman said:

The reason I enquired was the Drennon series 7 Avon specialist 12ft rod comes with both glass and carbon ( recent FM topic).

So I understand then the glass tip is probably better for smaller shy biting fish and the carbon maybe for the larger fish.

I'm fancying this rod after reading the excellent reviews.

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River anglers often use carbon in preference to glass tips for upstream legering as they spring back harder/faster giving better indication of drop back bites.

Yorkieman,

Carbon tips are stiffer than glass and more often used for river fishing when it's pushing through a bit ,my preference is for glass tips . Regarding the rod I have had one for years and they are a great general purpose rod . I use mine mainly for chub and perch fishing but I've caught pretty much everything on it.

Correct in that the TAPER defines action but TEST CURVE defines power. A 2oz glass tip has exactly the same test curve as a 2oz carbon as both need 2oz to pull them through/round 90 degrees.

But the materials behave differently.

Carbon is more ‘springy’ and is great for drop back bits on the river as it wants to react faster than equivalent glass. With a bite which pulls the tip both move the same amount but what will make a difference to how you see bites and how fast a fish might drop the bait is the taper. With a slow taper tip more of the ‘body’ of the tip moves or a longer length of the tip moves with a bite which pulls the tip making it harder to sometimes see. With a fast taper the action is more concentrated towards the very tip and it makes it easier to spot shy bites. But with Fast taper the power comes in sooner and it stiffens up quicker.

Plus, glass is much heaver than carbon and rods fitted with strong glass tips feel top heavy, bouncy and a bit unwieldly. Carbon tips balance with the rod better and make the rod feel nicer.

Problem as I see it with making very low test curve carbon tips must be that the material gets very, very thin to work with.

So you takes your pick.

tigger said:

River anglers often use carbon in preference to glass tips for upstream legering as they spring back harder/faster giving better indication of drop back bites.

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I can see the logic Ian if using reasonable size leads,

However to be perfectly honest mate I much prefer to use very light glass tips for my upstream ledgering,

I'll try to explain, sometimes I'll use just literally 2 AAA shot on the line and cast upstream, the lead stays put but the flow of water creates just a little bow in the line and now the mainline from the rod tip to the water surface is now moved from pointing upstream to now pointing directly straight out, there is still a little slack in the line from tip to water.

I actually watch the line and wait for it to move upstream and I then know that a fish is on and I'll strike and normally connect :thumbs:

I'm touch ledgering most of the time and so if I fail to see the line move the line will now easily and effortlessly pull the fine glass tip around and if I fail to see this I by now would of most surely felt it by holding the rod and line

I use all glass tips for all of me river roach, chub and perch fishing as these can easily pick out the the most faintest of taps and bites :thumbs:

I lot of the elderly old school serious roach and chub anglers that I know of would all swear by the use of glass,

I can understand the use of carbon for some situations but for me with my style of fishing and especially touch ledgering it's gotta be glass for all river work.

yorkieman said:

The reason I enquired was the Drennon series 7 Avon specialist 12ft rod comes with both glass and carbon ( recent FM topic).

So I understand then the glass tip is probably better for smaller shy biting fish and the carbon maybe for the larger fish.

I'm fancying this rod after reading the excellent reviews.

Click to expand...

Tell you one thing there are extreamly light and i have to say the series 7 range of rods are very good looking for rods too

I prefer glass tips as well. Very often for upstream legering I use a homemade weighted but indicator (weight position can be altered by sliding on the but indicator) with a bite alarm - then I can concentrate on the downstream rod.

Yeah, I get all that Stuart, when I say river anglers use carbon tips I don't mean for touch legering, I mean with the rod in a rest.
I've done exactly as you describe in a couple of small clear rivers. Most of the rivers that I fish have pretty much zero clarity for a lot of the time or have too strong a flow to fish so delicately. For the biggest part my touch legering has been done with a solid top and striking when I feel a tap through the rod or slight pull on the line. I often fish by laying on using a piece of peacock quill which is similar really to your touch legering but you strike when the quill moves....another good method for shy biting fish as there's very little resistance to be felt.

associatedmatt said:

Tell you one thing there are extreamly light and i have to say the series 7 range of rods are very good looking for rods too

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What do yer call light Matt, I use glass tips as low as 1/2 oz

---------- Post added at 20:29 ---------- Previous post was at 20:23 ----------

tigger said:

Yeah, I get all that Stuart, when I say river anglers use carbon tips I don't mean for touch legering, I mean with the rod in a rest.
I've done exactly as you describe in a couple of small clear rivers. Most of the rivers that I fish have pretty much zero clarity for a lot of the time or have too strong a flow to fish so delicately. For the biggest part my touch legering has been done with a solid top and striking when I feel a tap through the rod or slight pull on the line. I often fish by laying on using a piece of peacock quill which is similar really to your touch legering but you strike when the quill moves....another good method for shy biting fish as there's very little resistance to be felt.

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Absolutely Ian, I done a reasonable amount of laying on over the years and is still a very good and effective tactic but sadly these type of techniques are all virtually long forgotten,

I'd much sooner lay on with a peacock than with a delkim mg:......lols