Hello!

I'm from the UK and am looking for a few tackle recommendations in regard to bait-casting.

In the UK bait-casting isn't popular. I don't think I've ever seen anyone use a bait-caster and I'm almost 40! And because of that there really isn't any information about your gear and how to make it function for our waters.

I'm looking to target Perch, Pike and Zander, On a local canal. Canals are thin bodies of water that run for miles, a bit like a long still water river. They have uniform depth and width and casting distance is not something I need. As most of these waters are only a few meters wide. Depth is also not a major issue as most are 6-7ft at the deepest. They suit a roving style of fishing.

What I want is a set of tackle for the car. It needs to be able to live in the car most of the time so when I finish work I can go have an hours fishing before heading home.

My typical tackle probably looks quite alien to you guys. 16M pole, Seat box with legs and all the accessories, Rod bag with 11-14ft ledger/feeder and float rods all on spinning reels. As such it's not suited to a quick hours fishing, It takes 30 minutes just to set up the seat box! It's typical that we start to fish about an hour after we get to the water, and we stay in one spot all day.


So Bait-casting travel gear.

I've been looking at rods first, I almost picked up a Shimano Catana EX TE 1-10g rod, but then watched a youtube video where a user mentioned that eyes are very important to bait-casting, and the 6 eyes on the Catana would be fine for a spinning reel but not for bait-casting.

With that in mind I've sat back a little and looked at reviews and the only cheap rod I can find that seems suitable is the 7ft Kastking Blackhawk II. I've never heard of the brand, Never seen one is a shop but can pick one up on-line delivered from Hong Kong. I'm dubious about it been a blind buy and not knowing the brand at all. So If you guys have experience here I would love to hear it - Good or bad.

If there is a better rod I should look at then please comment!

My local shop actually had a bait-casting reel on the shelf. It's an Abu Black Max. I've already picked this up as a cheap reel and filled it with 8lb mono, I already have a few wire traces for the pike but Perch and Zander should be fine without.


Lastly what hooks and lures should I be looking at.

My local shop is very limited, They have some soft lures and a selection of basic hooks by Fox Rage. I have no problem importing better hooks and lures as I'm in no doubt that the USA leads this style of fishing and will have all the toys!

 

I plan on doing some zander/pike fishing myself when I visit family in the Netherlands.  Look on ebay.uk for a US seller that will sell a Daiwa Fuego CT or Shimano SLX internationally. Daiwa has 2 piece rods in some of their lineups, Arid or Fuego are fairly cheap. BTW-You have an interesting name, Iceni was Boudiccas tribe I believe.

I'm in the UK and fish the canals with baitcasting gear. You're right it's less common, but there are plenty of people who do. Baitcasting gear doesn't give you any real advantages on canals, and with the fine braids usually used it can give significant disadvantages, but it's perfectly doable if you want to do it. You'll have a better selection of two piece baitcasting rods if you look on European websites or if you want to spend some money, Japanese ones. There are plenty of baitcasting reels available in the UK, but as it's a moderately specialist area you need to know where to look. Google Todber Manor and you should find everything you need.

not sure of your budget but G. Loomis still makes the Escape series travel rods that are 3 pieces and come with a PVC rod tube and rod bag. i have two of the spinning models and they are excellent. pricey but worth it.

 

they make a full line of baitcasting versions as well

Daiwa Ardito

Spot on thank you for the responses.

 

13 hours ago, zell_pop1 said:

Iceni was Boudiccas tribe I believe

It was, I've used the name on forums for many years, but I originally took the name from a space simulator game called Freespace 2.

 

11 hours ago, Tim Kelly said:

Google Todber Manor and you should find everything you need.

That is a site that hadn't popped up on searches, TYVM for the comment, They have a couple of rods in that might suit.

 

2 hours ago, Hulkster said:

G. Loomis still makes the Escape series travel rods

Way out of my budget! I begrudge paying more than £700 for a new pole and my rods are in the region of £75-120. I can't justify a high end bait-casting rod just yet. £100 is about the most I'd be willing to part with, and only if it offer a serious advantage over a £50-75 rod. Thank you for the suggestion as it's giving me something to evaluate against. 

 

1 hour ago, Tizi said:

Daiwa Ardito

I'll look into them if available, Availability is the biggest problem. Selection over here is limited as demand is very low. There will probably be the heavier versions available for sure for pike fishing but the lighter end will be harder to find.

 

 

14 hours ago, zell_pop1 said:

Daiwa has 2 piece rods in some of their lineups, Arid or Fuego are fairly cheap

These might be more budget friendly for me so i'll have a good look and evaluate them against the bottom of the pile and the higher priced rods.


It seems there is more choice than I originally thought! There are several rods I can pick from those mentioned. TYVM for the ideas, I'll move forwards from this and start to look at what is available. I may end up with a cheap 2 piece as a starter rod and save for one of the more expensive ones if everything pans out.

Just an update to how this has gone so far.

Picked up a cheap Shimano Alvio 210DX MH because it was all the local shop had and I wanted to get out and learn how to cast!

I picked up some jig heads 2g size 6, and some bright 7cm paddle tail soft lures.

There's still a long way to go but I figured this would at least give me some bank time.

Set the jig head up drop shot style with 2xssg's as bottom weights with an 8 inch gap to the jig head.

Had quite a few backlashes, but slowly got into the rhythm of casting.

And came away from the afternoon with 2 Zander, 1 at about 4lb the other 2.5-3lb. Didn't take pictures as I had other things on my mind like avoiding teeth, It's the first predator fishing I've done in a long time.

I think the idea of a travel rod is not needed. I'll look through reviews now for a decent rod to mate up with the reel the Alvio has a cast weight of 14-30g and the tip is a touch on the heavy side fortunately it's stiff enough that I can feel bites rather than see them. I'll keep an eye out for a nice 2 section standard baitcasting rod with a low cast weight and a stiff action.

I need some bigger hooks, other than that I'm very happy.

Whilst this might be the only place I've posted  I've been reading a lot on here, and you guys have helped me just by having spent the time in this and other threads. TYVM.