The perfect rod choice for chub.

[Simon K]

For "slow flow" work on small-ish rivers you can't beat the Abu Garcia Red Wolf q'tip 11ft 6ins, 1lb t.c. and two tips.
We named them "Jelly Rods" since they bend 90 degrees when you blow on them.

I think they've been re-branded now, I got my pair for about £25 each some years ago and still going strong. A wary chub can give you a "3 foot twitch" without it feeling a thing and gives you time to strike.
Good for Perch, too.

Otherwise I'd have to recommend the Fox Kevlar Barbel with the 1.75 avon section. The perfect bolt-rig small-to-medium river rod.

 

[chav professor]

For "slow flow" work on small-ish rivers you can't beat the Abu Garcia Red Wolf q'tip 11ft 6ins, 1lb t.c. and two tips.
We named them "Jelly Rods" since they bend 90 degrees when you blow on them.

I think they've been re-branded now, I got my pair for about £25 each some years ago and still going strong. A wary chub can give you a "3 foot twitch" without it feeling a thing and gives you time to strike.
Good for Perch, too.

Otherwise I'd have to recommend the Fox Kevlar Barbel with the 1.75 avon section. The perfect bolt-rig small-to-medium river rod.

To be fair...... having an idea of the challenges presented on a river population of Chub that receive a lot of pressure - both these rods/methods seem appropriate. The thought of an hour and a half journey only to blank on day ticket King's weir does not appeal.... one day, perhaps a season on a syndicate stretch down stream is calling one day

I shall have a look out for the Jelly rod.... My 1.5lb test would work admirably at casting out 2-3oz leads.

 

[Simon K]

Well, for future reference Christian, you could always join one of the "cheap" (£35-40) clubs in the Consortium and come fish the Green with Bob and/or myself?
Might be worth a thought?

I had my first chub of the campaign a couple of nights ago. An average-size fish barely worth weighing.
5.10.
Bob's had a 4 and a low 5 so far.

 

[chav professor]

Nice! Just a thought... is the red wolf a cheap rod? its just that to keep cost down, budget rods have a high proportion of glass fibre in them - if this is the case, could explain why its so soft. Might be worth investing some time in finding one!

I suppose the draw would be that my catch rate would fall - but possibly my average weight ratio might rise I am fighting a loosing battle trying to re-create my own 'full circle' on the Gipping.

May even get a PB cray fish! lol....

 

[Philip]

I always thought the original JW Avon quiver (the bottle Green one) was a very good Chub rod for small to medium rivers & at the right price.

Probably too old hat now for most specialists nowadays I guess who want a super duper blank and all the trimmings. The thing is does paying 5 or 6 times as much for a rod REALLY make that much difference to either fishing effectiveness or angler pleasure on a small or medium river ?

 

[chav professor]

I always thought the original JW Avon quiver (the bottle Green one) was a very good Chub rod for small to medium rivers & at the right price.

Probably too old hat now for most specialists nowadays I guess who want a super duper blank and all the trimmings. The thing is does paying 5 or 6 times as much for a rod REALLY make that much difference to either fishing effectiveness or angler pleasure on a small or medium river ?

It was a good rod..... mine is nearly worn out and has been retired (I have a rebuild project too). The reel seat was not great, the rings a bit cheap, but the blank was great - including the 'donkey top' quiver tip.

The rod is not the important bit as most seem a compromise at best.

 

[Philip]

Agreed the reel seat is a bit naff and the rings a bit too low set for my liking causing the line to stick to the rod too easily in wet weather but yes the blank seemed spot on for Chub and the one size fits all quiver also seemed about right for them too. The handle was a nice length as well ..not too long as you find on allot of rods.

Higher standoff rings, an interchangeable quiver, better reel seat & the ability to break the rod down into 3 sections (to make boot storage easier) and I recon that would have been about perfect.

 

[aebitim]

I posted earlier in the thread saying cane rods were heavy, and then i started to think about the period in my fishing carreer when i used to fish with a chap who had an extensive collection of cane rods which we used along with modern and not so modern tackle to see which rods were best. I would like to modify my comment to some cane rods are heavy. I can remember particulaly enjoying a Wallace Wizard. He had a decent collection of pins as well.

 

[reeds]

This topic prompted me to paly around with a few rods yesterday evening, mainly the Fox Kevlar Barbel. For various reasons I don't want to go above 6lb line, and I was worried the rod would be too strong for it and it would be better balanced with 8lb, but actually it's just right. The rod takes on a lovely progressive curve and has loads of power to stop the chub getting under the margin, but a nice soft tip. The 1oz and 2oz glass tips bend well into the blank. I think this year the Drennan will be taking second place!

Plus it looks so pretty Obviously the main consideration!

 

[nicepix]

I posted earlier in the thread saying cane rods were heavy, and then i started to think about the period in my fishing carreer when i used to fish with a chap who had an extensive collection of cane rods which we used along with modern and not so modern tackle to see which rods were best. I would like to modify my comment to some cane rods are heavy. I can remember particulaly enjoying a Wallace Wizard. He had a decent collection of pins as well.

I have a split cane rod that I accepted was heavy, but worth this as its performance outweighs (sorry) the disadvantage. And when sitting on a rod rest weight doesn't matter. Yesterday I was round at a friend's house and he brought out a Hardy three piece roach rod, 'The Expert' that is hollow fibreglass with a split cane top section. It is probably the heaviest coarse fishing rod I've handled with the exception of my double-built, steel-lined split-cane mahseer rod (bought as a potential catfish weapon). The fibreglass sections on the Hardy weigh like lead!

As a lad I had a Ernie Stamford fibreglass ledger rod in fashionable yellow with red whippings uke:. From my fading memory the action on that would have made a pretty good small river rod.

 

[benny samways]

Being the old philistine that I am my Wilson Avon/Quiver is my chub tool of choice.

Normally the quiver section so as I can put it in the rests for indication if Im not touch ledgering. I find upstreaming and/or counterbalancing hookbaits eliminates bites that are too quick to hit.

 

[The bad one]

I have both Fox Duo-Lite Avons and Specialists. It would depend entirely on the river I was fishing as to which I'd take. The Avons are my weapon of choice for my local river. The Specialists are just too light for the flow levels and depths that I'm likely to encounter. Could well be a different ball game on a small lowland river.
.

Sam has this about right, the only place up North for the can rods is as decoration on the office wall. Use one of them on the Ribble for chub and it'll bend double in the flow down the side. Mid river with 2 ft on and 3 oz feeders and you be looking for a good repair man who can repair cane rods
Unlike the southern ditches you need a minimum of 1.50 TC to cope with the pull of the river at winter levels. If the fish are across the river at 30-50 yds 1.75 is needed.
Might be considered as extreme by some, but there's no way around it as on many lengths the fish are across the river in what passes for hidey holes.

 

[sam vimes]

Sam has this about right, the only place up North for the can rods is as decoration on the office wall. Use one of them on the Ribble for chub and it'll bend double in the flow down the side. Mid river with 2 ft on and 3 oz feeders and you be looking for a good repair man who can repair cane rods
Unlike the southern ditches you need a minimum of 1.50 TC to cope with the pull of the river at winter levels. If the fish are across the river at 30-50 yds 1.75 is needed.
Might be considered as extreme by some, but there's no way around it as on many lengths the fish are across the river in what passes for hidey holes.

Same sort of thing crops up with regard to barbel rods. Only when I see pictures of some of the southern barbel rivers, can I understand why some folks talk of using 1.25/1.5lb TC rods. The snag is that some of those folks give people a right old forum roasting for using 2lb (+) rods. I can honestly say that I've no desire to use heavy gear, I'll use as light as I can get away with. However, within the limits of what you can carry, you've got to find something adequate, without being overkill, for the bulk of situations for your destination river.

A 1.25lb rod is as low as I'll go on my local river. Even then, that will limit my swim choice quite severely. It'll also render the quiver tips all but redundant. They serve little purpose if they are already wrapped round to ninety degrees before you get a touch.

 

[chav professor]

Same sort of thing crops up with regard to barbel rods. Only when I see pictures of some of the southern barbel rivers, can I understand why some folks talk of using 1.25/1.5lb TC rods. The snag is that some of those folks give people a right old forum roasting for using 2lb (+) rods. I can honestly say that I've no desire to use heavy gear, I'll use as light as I can get away with. However, within the limits of what you can carry, you've got to find something adequate, without being overkill, for the bulk of situations for your destination river.

A 1.25lb rod is as low as I'll go on my local river. Even then, that will limit my swim choice quite severely. It'll also render the quiver tips all but redundant. They serve little purpose if they are already wrapped round to ninety degrees before you get a touch.

Obviously, you have to match the rod to the river, as much as match it to the quarry. Forums seem to be the place for the opinionated to give others a 'roasting'.......

I have fished a few bigger rivers (namely the Wye, Swale and Warwickshire avon in full flood)..... The cane rods stayed at home where they belonged. On Southern 'ditches', the Chub have more time to inspect the bait due to low flow - well at least in my instance. They can take their time and are not concerned that a bait will be washed down stream. Big rivers represent different challenges I guess.

 

[sam vimes]

On Southern 'ditches', the Chub have more time to inspect the bait due to low flow - well at least in my instance. They can take their time and are not concerned that a bait will be washed down stream.

Looking at the picture you posted, I can imagine that it's a totally different game to chubbing on my local river Swale. I do wonder if the Fox Duo-Lite Specialist might be worth a look at for you. Just bear in mind that Climax sold them off for £60 if you end up trying to find one for sale.

P.S. If you come up this way again (particularly in the next four month or so), give me a shout and I'll bring a selection of stuff for you to have a look at.

 

[cg74]

Obviously, you have to match the rod to the river, as much as match it to the quarry. Forums seem to be the place for the opinionated to give others a 'roasting'.......

I have fished a few bigger rivers (namely the Wye, Swale and Warwickshire avon in full flood)..... The cane rods stayed at home where they belonged. On Southern 'ditches', the Chub have more time to inspect the bait due to low flow - well at least in my instance. They can take their time and are not concerned that a bait will be washed down stream. Big rivers represent different challenges I guess.

"Forums seem to be the place for the opinionated to give others a 'roasting'......."
Nah, that's what blogs are used for....

I'm not saying others are wrong but I'm shocked how much flow they find on their nearside; I've fished the rivers Wye, Severn (middle and lower), Teme, Warks Avon, Eden, Lugg all with 6ft plus on and have never really struggled with a 4oz tip.
Do you guys on spate rivers tend fish in creases or out in the flow?

I totally go with Chav's thoughts on the fish having to react faster in faster flows but I will add - that doesn't mean they always hammer your bait giving bites more akin to a barbel.

 

[chav professor]

O......M........G..........!!!!!! (theatrical Sarah Jessica Parker style).....

Nearly 60 posts, 500 hits, mention of split cane, perfect rod choice for chub, different rivers, different techniques....... and not a cross word (or mention of Chub wars - the apparent blight of FM of days past, conjuring images of barbel squabbles and settling of personal scores.......).........

Sorry.... coming up for 1000 hits!

 

[sam vimes]

I'm not saying others are wrong but I'm shocked how much flow they find on their nearside; I've fished the rivers Wye, Severn (middle and lower), Teme, Warks Avon, Eden, Lugg all with 6ft plus on and have never really struggled with a 4oz tip.
Do you guys on spate rivers tend fish in creases or out in the flow?

4oz tip? The Fox Specialist that I've been saying I wouldn't use has four quiver tips of no more than 1oz. IIRC the Fox Duo-Lite Avon has quivers no more than 2oz. I don't have 4oz quivers on rods outside of my barbel rods and match type "heavy" feeder rods.

No, I doubt that I'd have much of an issue fishing, even out in the flow, with a 4oz quiver tip.

 

[cg74]

O......M........G..........!!!!!! (theatrical Sarah Jessica Parker style).....

Nearly 60 posts, 500 hits, mention of split cane, perfect rod choice for chub, different rivers, different techniques....... and not a cross word (or mention of Chub wars - the apparent blight of FM of days past, conjuring images of barbel squabbles and settling of personal scores.......).........

Sorry.... coming up for 1000 hits!

I know I said the rod's playing action isn't that important but I thought you were jesting when you mentioned sticks better suited to growing runner beans...........

........ had you also brought hamster wheels into the discussion, hmmm well...mg:

"Sorry.... coming up for 1000 hits!"
Not more free bait heading your way?

---------- Post added at 22:35 ---------- Previous post was at 22:29 ----------

4oz tip? The Fox Specialist that I've been saying I wouldn't use has four quiver tips of no more than 1oz. IIRC the Fox Duo-Lite Avon has quivers no more than 2oz. I don't have 4oz quivers on rods outside of my barbel rods and match type "heavy" feeder rods.

No, I doubt that I'd have much of an issue fishing, even out in the flow, with a 4oz quiver tip.

I don't know why I said 4oz tip, I meant 2-2.5oz.

 

[sam vimes]

I don't know why I said 4oz tip, I meant 2-2.5oz.

Well there you go then. I use the Avon happily, though it may limit me a little, it has quivers of no more than 2oz. I won't use the Specialist, I'd struggle to find anywhere on the river where a 1oz tip would be enough.