L_A_2015_S_

jigheads (particularly to Guy
Micklewright) when using an
extra fast version of the rod
detailed below.
A switch to a softer blank has
all but solved this. Still a ‘fast’
blank; a St Croix Legend Elite
version, the sensitivity is
greater, but the ‘snap’ takes
longer, and in my opinion,
doesn’t allow for the lure to fold
over on itself. Obviously, this
also means the lure is working
better all the time, meaning less
time wasted untangling rigs and
therefore keeping the lure in the
zone longer. Using a heavier
head (40g+) also alleviates these
issues, due to a lack of hang
time, and consequently I use a
different rod for these, a BFT
Microwave 60g. With a much
stiffer blank, it handles heavier

heads better whilst still

retaining good feeling. The

downside to this of course is

that 40g is often far too heavy

for the conditions, and frankly

is not as pleasant an experience

to fish with.

The above rods mentioned

have tubular tips. Solid tipped

rods also have their place in

jigging, although in my

experience more from a casting

perspective. The sensitivity of

a solid tip is more useful here,

and with solid tips generally

being a bit more pliable, they

cannot impart the action

needed for vertical jigging.

Sensitivity is more important

than almost anything else in

this kind of fishing. Yes, the

ability to set the hook is

incredibly important, but on

slow days, knowing that you

will feel anything abnormal

gives more confidence.

Understanding that your lure

is performing exactly how you

want it to is key, and if it isn’t,

consider the reasons why.

Keith Edmunds

Well there is certainly some

food for thought there, thanks

guys. Tim mentions that

recovery is of paramount

importance and I agree, slow

recovery can also be the main

reason for very fine braids

getting wrapped around the tip

as it continues to ‘quiver’ after

each cast. James talks about

that fine margin in the action

of a vertical jigging rod – fast

enough to move the lure without

absorbing the action in the tip

yet not so rigid that a snap of

the wrist results in a tangled

lure. I am following in James’

footsteps on this and you can

soon amass different rods to

deal precisely with varying lure

weights, depths and drift speeds

• but when you’ve got it right...
  Wow! You can really feel it!
  As per the title, feedback in a
  blank is a two-way conversation,

if you can ‘feel’ the take

resonating down to your palm,

the fish on the other end will

feel your resistance tenfold –

although natural prey will give

some ‘resistance’....think about

it. Conversely, if you can ‘see’

the take on a solid or soft

tipped rod then perhaps you

are betraying your presence

less and your quarry will feel

less resistance. However, such a

soft tip will give you far less lure

control. Try to lift your lure a

couple of inches off the bottom,

40ft below you, and most of

your wrist movement will be

ineffective as the tip will just

bend under the load. Likewise

on the strike – too soft in the

tip sees your arm flailing

skywards as you try to

connect – especially in deep

water or at distance.

If you want to see sensitive

bites and still maintain control

the solution is a flexible (but not

too soft) tip that very quickly

transmutes to a powerful

upper-mid section, within 12 to

18 inches straight into

backbone. For dropshotting,

in my experience, the G Loomis

820DSR is one of the few blanks

that achieves this – pleasingly,

at half the price, the Savage

Gear Finesse 3-12g also shares

these valued attributes. Turn

things up a notch to jigging and

the ‘feel’ will be more important

than any visual tip action. The

fast actioned, super-hi-modulus

blank of the Phenix K2 gives

incredible resonance and I

often find myself ‘in the zone’

with my eyes almost closed and

all of my attention directed

towards the micro vibration

within my hand.

Striking that perfect balance

is a quest in itself and let’s face

it, it is fun trying out new kit,

each time moving a step up

from the last. As Tim states

earlier, you can still catch plenty

of fish on that all-rounder or

less precise tool but, for many

of us, striving towards

technique utopia is almost a

hobby in itself.

In part two Gary Palmer, Vidar

Thomassen and Daniel Law will

share thoughts on the subject and

Tim Kelly will take a deeper look

into dropshot bite indication

Understanding that your lure is

performing exactly how you want

it to is key - here’s the proof

The Phenix K2

blank is famed

for its sensitivity

and feedback

Sharp upward ‘snaps’

from a fast actioned rod

resulted in tangled lures