TRENDS in fishing are no different to trends in any other sport, though they may take a little longer to pass along to the masses. One of the more classic examples of trends in fishing is that of braided fishing lines. These were around for quite some time before anglers starting experimenting, discovering the benefits of using this low-stretch, thin-diameter line – especially when using lures.
The use of twenty pound braided lines for the likes of lure-fishing for flathead and bass is not at all uncommon. Go back a few years and people would have shaken their heads at using such heavy lines for relatively small fish. The results though speak for themselves, as anglers have gained a whole new understanding and feel for what their lures are doing down below and driving them to greater depths than previously experienced.
The Bass Pro circuit in southern Queensland is yet another typical example of where we are seeing many new techniques and trends in fishing. I believe that this particular tournament has been largely responsible for the trend towards longer baitcast rods, from six to seven feet in length. The longer rods lend themselves to the pitching and long-casting techniques that are gaining quite a following and proving to be highly effective in catching impoundment bass.
To begin with, we had very few blanks to choose from in Australia. There were only a couple of Australian blank manufacturers who had little in their range and, what there was, had to be basically adapted. From a rod builders point of view, they weren't really what the customers wanted – they were a compromise. We now have a few more to choose from and, as you would expect, a few blanks have been imported from international manufacturers.
One of these overseas brands is a name many will be familiar with, that is, Sabre. This American firm is responsible not only for the first hollow fibreglass rods in the world, but also for some of the most reliable and innovative blanks in the world.
Given the increasing demand for six to seven foot baitcasters, I have worked in with the Australian importer of these blanks, got a hold of the complete US catalogue, and brought in a number of high-grade graphite blanks which have gone under some fairly heavy water testing over the last six months. The built-up rods and some of the blanks we used will be on the market in July.
Now, blanks of this calibre deserve only the finest in rod building components and, really, there is no other choice than that offered by the Fuji range of components, undoubtedly the best in the world.
What any rod builder, or purchaser of a built-up rod should realise is that, while there are plenty of other guides and fittings on the market that look good, they just don't hold up over time. When you repair as many rods as we do throughout the year, you see how quickly the lesser guides come to grief.
Back to our rod; we should keep in mind that this particular rod is, more likely than not, going to be used with all sorts of lines up to twenty pound braid.
You'll find this recipe for a six-foot, six-inch baitcaster quite an interesting one. Those that we have built already are out in the field. We are very happy with their performance and the way that the rods have been built-up, to maximise the feel and working action of the blank.
Around the country, the various states have likes and dislikes about the make-up of rods. The further north that you travel, the greater reluctance there is towards the use of single foot guides on a rod.
There are a few things to consider here. The further north that you travel, the harder fighting the fish tend to be, especially around the estuaries where you find barra, jacks, fingermark, cod, queenies and trevally – all hard fighters and, more often than not, found in harsh snaggy country.
In the past, fellers have tended to be a bit harder on their gear and rods, and the single foot guides they used were often cheap copies which, given a bit of contact with saltwater, ended up breaking after a few bumps.
The guides we are using now, on most of this type of rod, are single-foots that are a new low-profile Fuji guide, with a new frame that is lighter and stronger than its predecessor.
The UNSG guide is made of silicon and, at this stage, is only available in sizes seven and eight. The lower guides on the rod are the matching double foot version, the LNSG, available in sizes eight, ten, twelve and sixteen.
You will like these guides and find many uses for them. They have minimal effect on the performance and action of the blank, which is exactly what you want from a guide.
The butt has been made up with a seven inch cork rear grip, four inch foregrip and a No.16 trigger winch.
All these components are readily available from your local tackle shop. If they don't have stock, it is only a matter of days before they can get all items in-store, including the blank.
SPECIFICATION:
Blank : ISB 663
Butt: 7" cork
Foregrip: 4" cork
Cap: Fuji BRC 19
Tip: PST 6/ 2.4
Guides: Fuji UNSG 7 - 75
7 - 80
7 - 95
7 - 103
8 - 106
8 - 112
Fuji LNSG 8 - 123
10 - 137
12 - 160
16 - 212
