just starting out

ok guys ive been an avid carp angler for years fishing for carp all over the south and france but now i have decided to get out of the pressures of chasing large carp and have decided to take up beach fishing down here on the isle of wight.

what i need to know is what rods to buy, i have been looking in the mags and from what they say those shakespeare summits look good for the price ( looking to spend about £100 to £150 for two rods as i dont want to get as involved as i was with carp ( that cost me a fortune)

obviously i have been using fixed spool reels for years, are the multi's easier to handle than they used to be and is their much of an advantage to using multi's.

i will be fishing places like chale, blackgang, atherfield beaches aswell as yarmouth pier ect 4-6 oz of lead apparently.

does any body use braid from the shore to increase casting or is the wind a prob.

any help gratefully recieved

cheers boys

i.o.w.grant

[steve devon]

welcome to the forum

best to go to local tackle shop so you can see the rod befor you buy it

[Norfolkboy]

welcome to the forum

if i were you i'd stick with fixed spool, they're cheaper and if you're already used to using them.....

[DownSouth]

Welcome to the forum.

I like the Shakespeare range of rods and I think it is a good idea to read up on rod testing in the mags. Daiwa have 2 new beach rods out and Daiwa don't make crap rods. The 2 models are the Megaforce and the Longbeam and both come in at under a £50. Don't be put off by the price tag, because as I said, Daiwa don't make crap rods. Some will sneer at paying under £50 for a rod, they are just snobs mate. I think the Longbeam would be a good choice at £49.99. Both come in a Fixed Spool or Multiplier version and 12' or 13'.

For distance casting I would go for a multiplier over fixed spool, but that is only my opinion. I can certainly cast further with a multiplier, others find it's the other way around. If you do go for a multiplier, do NOT buy cheap. Go for a well known brand, Abu, Penn and Daiwa to name but three. Off the beach I would go for a Abu 6500 size reel. If you are going to venture onto the boats as well, then go for something in the Abu 7000 size as this can be used off both beach and boat. All these brands and models can be bought for under a £100 if you shop around. As for line, 15lb mono off the beach unless it's really rough then up it to 20/25lb. I know a couple of people who use braid off the shore, but most use mono. Braid seems to be reserved for the boats. But, if it's what you are used to, then go for it. There are no right or wrongs, just opinions.

Welcome to sea angling, I hope you enjoy it, and it will most probably cost you much less than your carp fishing! There are lots of really experienced anglers on this forum (I don't include myself in that) so you will get answers to most of your queries.

[FlyingFox]

Yep welcome to the forum mate!

Hope you get what you are looking for out of this

and we are glad to have you as a member!

Good luck mate :wink:

[steve devon]

i can get a lot more distance with multis

but you gotta get used to them

[PlanktonBoy]

To start with i would use your carp rods to see if you like it and then spend your money.
You could probably get away with up to three ounze leads i would of thought.
With summer on its way no need for distant casting mackerel will be close in.

[DownSouth]

It sounds like he was using poles mate (reference to the expense of carp fishing).

Now that is one thing I would like to see, a 9 metre carp pole and bungie being fished off a beach :)

But you're right, a decent carp rod would do for a while.

[steve devon]

na carp fishin he probs meant it costs a lot for all the bite alarms, boilies etc

it costs loads :!:

[devondave]

i have used a 6m pole from the local pier its great fun macky bashing with a pole!!!! was only talking to a friend about this the other day thinking of investing in a whip to have fun with the macky on the pier in the summer