I've not had the chance to get out to practise in the last week or so, so I grabbed a few hours yesterday and this morning.
Yesterday I had out the Hardy Angel 2 9' #4, Loop AEG 9' #5, Echo Distance Competition 9' #5 and the 9' #5 I built on a Mudhole MHX blank. My casting was mince.
This morning took out the Daiwa Alltmore 9'6'' #6 and the Echo and cast them both with a #7 line, casting was better but still way below par. These rods are heavier in the hand and fatigue set in early. I scooted back to the house and picked up my Fladen Vantage 8' #4 and strung it with a #5 line and was casting brilliantly, it was so effortless, smooth and the fly turning over perfectly.
I'm now in in a state of disbelief that I'm going to start the season off casting with a 16 quid rod after investing hundreds :?
I don't really know why I'm posting this, maybe just sharing this experience will help others to avoid making the same mistake.
Anyone fancy a new rod????
QuoteAnyone fancy a new rod????
I'll give you a fiver for the used Fladden!
I have decided that other than getting my waders checked I am buying nothing this year. I will start sorting out the existing gear soon. I might even try a few casts but my casting is always mince. My aim is just to get some days fishing which were sadly lacking last year.
A.
That was meant to be the plan this year. I'll just sell the lot and get a Sage.
My "best" rod is a ?20 Shakespeare, the next three on the list (fly, spin, and sea boat) are all Fladen.
I wish we'd spoken earlier! :lol:
I thought we all told you how good taht Fladen is when you visited the casting club Dave?
When you get a rod where Alan, Alex, Scotty and me agree then it gas to be a wee bit special!
Ah, but does the Fladen have an optional butt section that can be stored in the handle? :lol:
:lol: Or a second handle to replace the original once it's fallen to bits after a couple of hours!
Quote from: davefromtheattic on February 13, 2011, 03:04:18 PM
after investing hundreds :?
I think you may have passed the limit of 'hundreds'? :lol:
:lol: Stitting at just over 600, Scotty. The one piece of advice I definitely listened to was not to buy full price, I am a Fifer after all :lol:
Fair play and I'm glad to hear it! :D
I have never had really expensive rods but the dearest was ?180. Then all my gear got nicked and I came on here looking for advice for a cheap new rod. I can't recall who recommended it but I now have three Fladen rods!!! They outperform my previous rods by a mile and my casting has improved ten fold since getting them.` For the price I really think it would be hard to get better, and if you break it a replacement section will only cost a few quid!!!!
Quote from: davefromtheattic on February 13, 2011, 07:59:12 PM
:lol: Or a second handle to replace the original once it's fallen to bits after a couple of hours!
we've got three fladens between us. mine gets used as the "crap rod you use when you don't want to risk your nice ones" and, as such, gets completely abused. i've used it two lines overweight in the salt and it's been shoved in a rucsac and lobbed in the back of the car. must be a FAR better rod than the price would suggest :lol: it also casts pretty good, too....
Dave
You have not responded to my very fair offer! If you are going to be really difficult I will give you ?5:50 and collect it myself. Apparently it is worth that amount? Allegedly.
I might just have to look on ebay if you don't accept soon. :makefun
A
:lol:
I am growing quite attached to the wee fella. I need to work on my leader though. I'm using a Bluesky mono furled leader and about 5ft of 6lb mono. I stripped the end of the line and tied a wee perfection loop for the flyline connection. When i present the fly (wool) it does a wee weird jig as the leader is turning over, I've then put the rod down and walked down to the fly, pulled it and it has about 6in till taught. Is that good? I dunno. It looks strange.