Surf rods up to 23 feet. Carbon graphite rods.

[catfish-logic]

This website has some long surf rods. I happen to really like long surf rods even for rivers.[]

http://www.squidjig.com/fishinggear/carb...%20rod.htm
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[RonPaulFan]

I bought many different rods for different lure weights and getting experience with them. Lately, I've been using a ten foot rod and finding control advantages teaching swim bait to swim where I want it to swim and doing that so well with confidence that I fish the weeds and rocks where others don't dare with expensive lures and caution me that I'll just lose my lure. Instead, I catch the big fish because they are bullies and run off smaller fish out of their spot.

The swim bait is more responsive to moving right or left or up over a rock to swim down my side or even jump out of the water before too much weed density to land at my feet.

Anyway, a 23 foot surf rod intrigues me. I'm tempted to buy one just to see if it has usefulness. But, I don't want to waste money on something that might not be useful, so please elaborate on your experiences with the hugely long surf rods. Please do so quickly so I can choose a best length for me.

Ronald : )
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[RonPaulFan]

I've been reading up on surf casting and wanting to buy one of those rods since seeing the link you posted. Wow, I never heard of such lengths before. I will buy one. But, first, I want to discuss the choices of stiffness and lengths.

I'm having great difficulty NOT clicking purchase on the 23 foot rod. But, I don't know if a long yet shorter one might be more practical and allow longer fishing times with less fatigue or if that is even an issue. Add stiffness selection into the mix and what surf casting rods are available elsewhere of other qualities and I see
I need to learn more before buying.

Todd, I'm not far from you and available for fishing this weekend and that has started for me today as I have this Friday off from work. Sound like a good excuse to go fishing?

I communicate with my Xoom tablet with wireless connectivity mostly using email which I check often. I also can make calls to telephones using my Skype subscription.

Ronald H Levine
Sandy, Utah
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[Kent]

If you happen to purchase a long rod I would appreciate it if I could have a look at it. I need a longer rod, for sturgeon fishing from the shore, but I need to make sure the rod will handle the strain.

A couple years ago, I almost purchased a 12-foot rod from the Bargain Cave at Cabella's. I thought it would be fun to take it out ice fishing and see the look on another angler's eyes when I pulled out that rod and caught a 5" perch on it. Alas, common sense took over and I didn't waste my money.
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[RonPaulFan]

[quote kentofnsl]If you happen to purchase a long rod I would appreciate it if I could have a look at it. I need a longer rod, for sturgeon fishing from the shore, but I need to make sure the rod will handle the strain.

A couple years ago, I almost purchased a 12-foot rod from the Bargain Cave at Cabella's. I thought it would be fun to take it out ice fishing and see the look on another angler's eyes when I pulled out that rod and caught a 5" perch on it. Alas, common sense took over and I didn't waste my money.[/quote]

I bought the 23 foot surf casting rod! Jon (at the link above sold it to me) tells me 200 yard casts are possible and some can cast from shore further out than those who wade out to cast. That sounds nice because you can have your feet firmly on the ground and all your gear and friends right there with you and no waders are necessary to get out past two or three sand bars into the deep where the big fish hunt.

It will arrive on Monday. Let's try it out. I'm in Sandy.

Ronald

P.S. It's not the casting that's difficult in ice fishing -- it's getting your lure to land in the little hole in the ice that can be a challenge.
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[Kent]

When you get it send me PM and I would like to stop by and take a look at it.
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[RonPaulFan]

Actually, I bought three of the twenty-three foot surf casting rods and they will arrive Monday and I already have three huge salt water spinning reels for them.

Sandy pond, being close to me is great for practice and a possible location for my recent invitation to the group in my post just previous, so I'll host refreshments for those who accept and coordinate by choosing a time to meet and practice casting there with the surf casting rods. If you happen to be coming my way, then send me a message and I will make time to meet and cast.

But, reading your profile and some of your recent posts, I see that sturgeon fishing might benefit from long casting and maybe you reaching out far in the river will prove to be reason to have such rod length. I also see you might be considerably north of me, so should you suggest a good place closer to you to give them a try and also maybe fish, then I can plan a trip north to meet you.

Here is a map link to Sandy pond should we choose a practice pond of small fish:

Jordan River Parkway Trail, West Jordan, UT 84088
http://m.google.com/u/m/xxYlud

Ronald
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[Kent]

My interest is in seeing if one would work for sturgeon fishing. I work in American Fork, so I could meet you most anywhere. I will send you a PM.
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[RonPaulFan]

Excellent! We should pick a place with similarities to the locations you choose for sturgeon fishing for seeing if it would work. At Sandy pond there is also the Jordan River. But, I have range and can meet you at a location that is further. I also have a large swim bait to pick up at Cabela's, so I have a reason to head south.
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[Kent]

Casting range that a 23' rod will cast is not my concern. My concern is that the rod will handle a 2 to 300 pound fish without shattering.
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[RonPaulFan]

They're here!

I'm going to Sandy pond at the above map link to test them now and everyone is invited to come and make several casts. If you miss this time, then let's plan a time you can make it or make it a place where we can catch big fish and we'll catch fish, too. I'm sending this from my tablet, so I'll look occasionally for replies while still out there.

Ronald
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[Kent]

Does it have a line rating on the side of the rod and if yes what does it say?
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[RonPaulFan]

It doesn't say. Jon suggested 50 pound. It says lure weight 3 - 7 ounce.
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[wiperhunter2]

What is the 50 lbs for?
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[RonPaulFan]

It was a reply to Kent's question above on line rating on the side of the rod, so I'm guessing the rod is plenty strong enough to handle 50 pound test.

Just back from test casting. I need to learn how to cast this monster. It's sure different. I can cast further with my little ten foot rod. But, I'll learn. One setback is I didn't pick up my large swim bait at Cabela's yet. I tried a too heavy chunk of plastic which would have been good, if it were five ounces. Then I tried a bolt that seemed the right weight, but it was tough pulling it in through seaweed. The plastic floated, so that better replicates the swim bait I want to learn how to cast far.

The rod is quite hefty and can take considerable force. Quality and materials are excellent. But, leverage is against you, so it might would be harder to fight a big fish than using a shorter rod. I say this because even wind load on the rod was noticeable. I didn't spend much time with it and I'm sure I have a lot to learn about surf casting. I'm ready to try again and I'll cut down some plastic to weigh 5 ounces and it won't sink or snag seaweed. I won't be using hooks while practice casting because there's too much seaweed in the pond.

Ronald
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[RonPaulFan]

Surf fishing and ocean pier fishing ...

Update: My equipment collection continues. Though I have no specific coast or date in mind, I have accumulated weeks of vacation time to go to a coast for fishing and I've added appropriate reels and line and lures to my collection for both surf fishing and ocean pier fishing.

But, I still need to greatly improve my casting by practicing here to make expensive vacations productive. I've made practice weights for that. They're heavy streamlined plastic that barely floats, so it doesn't get caught in seaweed. Maybe I'll practice out on the ice while ice fishing. If you know surfcasting, then please show me how.

I've also been saving large dull band saw blades from work before they go into the trash. They will make excellent hoops to make pier nets to pull up the big fish that can't be lifted on fifty pound test. I'll grind off the dull teeth and polish it smooth and make a net to fit out of braid fishing line. I bought a book on net making. Perhaps I'll make a few. Some can have a small mesh for catching minnows for bait when they swim over a slightly submerged net. I suppose they would make good crab traps, too.

Ideally, I'll ocean fish from my future sailboat. It will also bring me to many remote inland places to fish. The world has two hundred twenty thousand miles of coastline and inland navigable waterways. I haven't bought one yet. I sometimes think of making one of my own design. I'll probably buy a small one and eventually replace it with a larger sailboat. I don't want it to be so large that I can't haul it past a treeline and make it disappear into wilderness. But, I can be resourceful and maybe make lightweight tracks and wheels to winch it across a rough shore.

Anyone going surf or pier fishing?
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