 TC and controling fish
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4,220 views
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Coming from a barbel anglers perspective, test curves tend to give us a guide as to what conditions a rod is more suited to, rather than the size of the fish targeted. Balanced tackle being more relevant, the old rod tc over line breaking strain seems to work well. Although that doesn't necessarily take into account snags etc.
It also doesn't account for the drag of the reel being used. I have a few(!) barbel rods of different brands and tc's from 1 1/4 to 2.5lb. Some suit smaller rivers, others are for floods etc. The one thing they all have in common is the ability to play a fish and stop it before the rod locks up. The only way I've found of doing this is to set the reel clutch, whatever the reel is, by tying up a complete rig on the bank before fishing, and hooking up to a ring or zip on my bag. Then gently lifting into it until I feel the rod begin to lock up. At this point I'll turn the drag know so it just about gives line.
I'm not claiming barbel don't take line because they will, and when I feel i can let them during the fight in mid river they can, but this method of setting the balance of the rod and line and clutch means you can give maximum power at the beginning of the fight to gain control at the start. It's not perfect but I'd say it works the vast majority of the time.
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Adding to below and a shared opinion test curve etc is irrelevant its mindset
90% of the time the problem is folk are not close enough to there rods and not brutal enough in controlling the carp.
As soon as hooked up close to snags you have to be stepping back to drag it away from the snag with clutch completely locked up.
Over the years I watched on small rivers folk like Dave Currell catch big barbel including the lady. He always told me if you give anything you deserve to loose.
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In reply to Post #42
Exactly, the setup is to suit requirements.
But, how many 16 year olds are fishing for doubles in farm ponds with 3.5 - 4lb tc? Utterly ridiculous imo I’d rather use a float rod!
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In reply to Post #41
My main 4 rod setup are 12ft CFX Continentals, they don’t have a test curve as such, but are rated at 3-5oz casting weight, with a firm progressive action. Only reason I’ve got such heavy rods is because I fish a great big reservoir, where you can have massive winds blowing from any direction, making casting accurately at any sort of distance during the day, nigh on impossible and because of that, would quite often wait until the evening to cast out. I was wasting so much of my bank time not actually fishing. Heavier rods, capable of punching out heavier leads on heavier lines is the way forward during the summer months with 16hrs+ of strong winds at times. In the spring and autumn months (I don’t do winters anymore) I change over to my 3 rod setup of 12ft 3.25lb CFX’s, which to be honest are much nicer to play fish on. That said, the progressive action of the Continentals is a good compromise over a fast taper, out and out distance rod and the playing action is acceptable, albeit with slightly less control than the 3.25’s.
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In reply to Post #38
Bang on, although the lower TC rod puts ‘more’ pressure on in general, you’ve got way more margin for error through give in the rod when playing the fish. 4lb broom handle when a fish powers off on a lunge? Far less give, far less margin of error.
Also worth noting when the weed is up, TH uses old rods with more give in them. The reason, to use that to exert pressure on the fish itself, rather than hoiking the whole lot through including half the weedbed itself as you would a 4lb TC rod.
Horses for courses and each to their own, but I think this push into higher test curves is in part brands, and in part to accommodate the divvys who want to cast 6oz leads in farm ponds.
I cannot imagine 10ft 4lb rods are much fun playing a fish in comparison to the chap above on his ballistas
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In reply to Post #39
Realistically you don't, it's just tackle companies convincing us we do
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In reply to Post #36
True, I just cant imagine a situation where'd id need 4lb TC rods I guess.
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In reply to Post #10
I fully understand what he's saying, but, and it's a huge but, all of the guys that have suffered multiple 'hook pulls' at my place, over eleven years, have been using higher TC and/or fast taper rods. Absolute fact.
I'm not the only one who has noticed it either.
Use a 2.5tc Baby Ballista and you will 100% suffer fewer 'hook pulls' than if you use FMJ's
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In reply to Post #34
Depends what your situation is, if I'm flicking chods about in winter and spring the weed is all dead and I'll use 10ft 3lb scopes, the furthest I'm casting is 13-17 wraps so that's fine but when the Canadian is up having those extra beans is a good thing, average fish in there is low 30, loads of Canadian solid bags
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Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.
The trade off is worth it in my eyes.
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I've used my R1FT'S for the first time this weekend.
I wasn't casting big distances under arm flicks. But the two fish I had were buried in weed and one had to get pulled away from a snag.
3.5tc performed admirably and I felt in control all the way. Horses for courses I suppose, but I was happy to have the extra backbone for sure.
Incredible blanks 👌
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In reply to Post #33
4lb TC, Jesus, I don’t fancy that in all honesty.
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I fish solid bags quite a lot when I can, I have a set of 12ft 4lb kiazen greens which I find great for solid bags. The 2nd time out on my syndicate I had a 43lb common that was adamant in taking me in to the snags to my left, rod tip under the water and just holding it without letting it have any line bent the rod right over and it decided that it wasn't getting in the snags under the trees. I'm sure if I wasn't using the 4lb TC I wouldn't be able to stop it from getting under there
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In reply to Post #31
It’s curious that playing carp on fly tackle feels more vulnerable than on low test curve rods or feeder rods, but I have never worked out why. Any thoughts?
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In reply to Post #1
You can definitely apply more pressure with a shorter rod (or one that bends more easily so the it has a shorter length when under load).
But a higher tc rod lets you feel in control.
I tried fishing for double figure carp on a 4 weight 7.5 ft fibreglass fly rod. I felt completely out of control but only had to give 6 - 10 feet of line.
On a proper carp rod and fixed spool reel with a great drag I felt in control but they made 20 yard runs.
Rods are a second form lever LINKY POO™ https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z24b9qt/revision/1
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