A return to the salty stuff.

[philpot 4,984]

It has been a few years since I packed in sea fishing from both shore and boat but the urge took me again. Well the boat has gone and I sold all my Zziplex beach rods / reels so it is a case of starting again. Always a mistake to sell expensive rods because to replace my rods is now a fortune even s/h and as I am now retired old tart, the salaries are no longer coming through the letter box to allow me to simply replace them.

Time to rethink the situation. I contacted an old friend who had left sea fishing at the same time as me but was back at it again so I had a good look at the gear he was using and how it had all changed, longer rods linked to big fixed spool reels instead of the shorter stiffer rods and multiplier reels but the big thing was that there was a guy selling on ebay Grauvell continental rods that were not being continued next year so some bargains were to be had and still are.

I bought a couple of the Vertix Jacks rods, 14' with some really good backbone and very capable to casting quite a distance and linked them with Simano Ultegra 14000 fixed spool reels, wow what a combination. I am not a lover of fixed spool reels for beach casting BUT this is a good outfit although I have also fitted zip slider reel seats lower down the rod in order for me to use my multiplier reels.........................bloody fantastic fishing rods.

I also bought a pair of Vertix Unix, 15' rods which were a softer rod not as well made as the Jacks but nice for medium range casting and sensitive bite detection.

The Jacks cost at most £70 at auction, RRP £300 so cracking deals there and the Unix rods coat at most £41, RRP £149 so in all cracking rods at cracking prices and if any of you are thinking of going this route, just put in Grauvell rod on ebay and they will be found there for auction and buy it now. The colours take a bit of getting used to though with the Jacks being a pearl white and the Unix being metallic purple..................WTF.

The unix

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Grauvell-Vertix-Unyx-LC-MT-450-15ft-Beach-caster-Surf-Rod-Sea-Fishing-RRP-149/362376882947?hash=item545f586b03:g:glEAAOSwe2FZu38L:rk:7:pf:0

The Jack

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Grauvell-Vertix-Jack-420-LC-MT-Rod-14ft-Beachcaster-Surf-Fishing-RRP-289-95/362154258738?hash=item5452137132:g:6HIAAOSwT2daBGCZ:rk:29:pf:0

These rods so far have been a pleasure to use guys.

Phil

[philpot 4,984]

I should have said that for both types of rod, I have bought the LC-MT version which is a mixed tip and has more feel that other versions according to my friend and from what I have already found for myself, this seems to be the case.

I should also say that the Jacks can be power up a bit for the cast, not a full pendulum cast by any means but an arialized ground cast will put the lead a long long way.

The Unix is an overhead thump rod which of course both can be cast in this way if a simple cast is all you want, the lead will still go like hell.

I have bought an extra Jacks this morning for use in my casting instructor role.

Phil

[DIDO.1 22,715]

Let's see some fish on them  

[philpot 4,984]

2 minutes ago, DIDO.1 said:

Let's see some fish on them  

A nice thought and there are a few cod being taken around the Humber area but not many unfortunately and the better whiting seem to have gone out.

Phil

[South hams hunter 8,921]

Turns out you don't need a scaffold pole and a winch, finesse

[tillylamp 1,830]

the trouble is, i like to hold and feel a rod before i buy them, i can hold a rod and know instantly if i like it or not, never been a fan of buying over the net, but it will be good to see how you get on though.....

[philpot 4,984]

12 hours ago, tillylamp said:

the trouble is, i like to hold and feel a rod before i buy them, i can hold a rod and know instantly if i like it or not, never been a fan of buying over the net, but it will be good to see how you get on though.....

I am the same tillylamp but of course in my case I did get to hold the rod at my friends house and knew straightaway that it just felt right. Not so sure I would have just bought it blind either.

Phil

[Rabid 1,936]

Well the spec look good, but I would want to handle it before splashing the cash