Advice Needed Please....

[mauser]

Hello to you all, my first post. I am returning to fishing after 30+ years and find the choice of kit all very confusing. I'm going to start with the rod. I live in Hampshire and will be fishing mainly lakes but want an all rounder float/ladger rod which will do for rivers as well. I've looked at J.Wilson Avon, Drennan Wagler, Greys and a few more but haven't really got a clue. I don't know what test curve I need or length. I like nice kit and fortunately for me cost isn't an issue at the moment ( within reason ). Would appreciate suggestions. Thanks in advance.

[pingu]

the john wilson avon is a good all round rod and the one i wanted but couldnt afford at time
sure others may help as well

dave

[mauser]

Thanks for that Pingu.

[BoldBear]

I dont think theres such a thing as an all round rod; however; The John Wilson Avon/Quiver could loosely be classed as a good 'all round' rod.
It comes with two top sections; a 'quiver tip' section which you can use for Roach, Chub & Barbel (up to around 7lb) etc. and an 'Avon top' for float or leger fishing for Tench, Bream, Carp (up to around 12 - 13lb), Roach, Chub, Perch and smallish Barbel etc.

The new versions have a screw reel seat, don't get one of the older ones (like I have) which suffer from the classic 'reel falling off syndrome'.

There are other rods which could be classed as all round rods and some have extra length which may be better if you need to cast a long way.

If you are after an all round float rod which will handle larger fish you might want to consider the Greys Prodigy 13ft Power Float rod (see link below)

http://www.greysfishing.com/101-Prodigy_Float_Rods.html

Anyone else got any recomendations?

[peakoverload]

I was in a very similar position to you having just returned to fishing after a 10 year absence. I had kept all my gear over the years but although my gear was good quality and in good nick it wasn't really suited to the kind of fishing I had started doing.

When I used to go fishing 10+ years ago commercial fisheries didn't really exist or if they did they didn't exist anywhere near where I lived and the vast majority of my fishing fell in the 'Match Fishing' bracket i.e. I targeted quantity rather than specimen. Therefore I owned a couple of match rods i.e. rods with a very soft through action. These were prefect for shy Roach, Bream, Perch and could cope with the odd bonus Tench or small Carp.

When I returned to fishing I joined a club which owned lakes that were highly stocked with Carp and Tench. My match rods, although they could just about cope, struggled to control these fish and the soft action often meant that I had difficulty in setting the hook. Therefore I started to look for a new rod.

Going back those 10+ years I remember when the John Wilson Avon Quiver was released and wanted it back then but couldn't really justify it. I was surprised to find that this rod is still available (because it's hugely popular) and so decided to buy it. I bought it because I wanted a better quiver tip rod than the one I had but also I hoped that it would serve me as a new float rod too. It did! Considering it's price I really can't fault this rod and for some people it really may be the only rod they need.

I use the float top with 6lb line float fishing luncheon meat and regularly catch Carp to 10lb on it without any problem at all. The quiver tips I use for everything from shy roach with 2lb/3lb to bold Chub with 5lb/6lb line with hook lengths down to 1.5lb (for the roach). So far I've yet to bump or loose any fish I've hooked with this rod.

If you are really into Carp or Pike fishing then you'll want something stronger, say something with around a 2.5lb test curve but for everything else you'd be hard pushed to find a better rod unless you spend a hell of a lot more money.

HTH

[mauser]

Thanks for the advice guys. John Wilson Avon it will be then. Must get a decent reel now.