Koike Salmon Fly Rods

[rennie]

Currently looking to expand the rod collection with a rod of12/13ft of about8/9#,now this weapon will not get the use the other sticks get so a cash effective option will score top points.Top of the must have list is the B+W Norway but (being a typical tyke) I don't want to pay that much,seen the Fishing&Flies ad in Trout&Salmon and they are quoting a 12ft6 Kola Spey Rod rated 8/9# for £59.95+p.p ,now is this a pig in a poke or is it worth the brass.As I know nowt about these rods any info. kicking around out there will be most usefully received.The Shakespeare Oracle is also up there in the right choices box,but if you don't ask you don't get. Cheers Pedro.

[jantoo]

keep your eyes on ebay there was a guy selling ian gordon 13ft 8/9 rods recently brand new very good value - havent fished mine yet but it looks and feels the part. around £100 i think.

[johnmac]

I have to speak up for the Oracle IV.... i bought one from Frank at Turrif tackle on this site earlier in the year and it does me just fine... all be it that i am a novice........it bangs out a good line for a 13ft'er and i cant recommend it enough for £60 odd.......

and as for after sales service....the lower cork section broke on it about a month after i got it and it was returned within a few days by courier no questions asked....... and they were great on the phone... as was Frank that sold me it!

stick with whats recommended and stay away from what you dont know!

[hadrian]

hi rennie,just read your post,make me an offer over £38 +£5 post and the 4 piece 12ft oracle(used but not much)is yours.

hadrian.

[johnmac]

take his hand off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jock]

I have a shakespeare oracle lV, tremendous rod for the money. Got mine for £40 +P&P from ebay.

[rooster]

Jock,thats confirmed two things for me,excellent.

;D ;D
Probably an excellent rod to be able to leave lying around in ones boot without getting in the way being a four piece 12 fter.

Springer,how did the rod perform in an upstream breeze?


The Rooster.

[rennie]

Thanks to one and all,as I expected I can take the said 12ft 6 Kola Spey to be the pig in a poke.Hadrian, will be in touch about your Oracle just off on a weeks jollies with trouble and tea pots have to see to the family first but your offer sounds spot on,as I said will be in touch in a week or so.Cheers Pedro.

[ceilidh]

If we are likely to be getting more dry Summers in the future it would be useful to have a 12/13' rod which would load properly with a lighter line than a 9/10. Has anyone tried the Oracle with a lighter line?

[rennie]

Thanks again for the info.peeps,Hadrian will have to let your offer on the Oracle go,Darling Wifey let me buy the B+W Norway 13ft 7/9# which came as a pleasant surprise and its what I wanted anyway,looks like Santa is redundant this year,just need the water for millionaires fortnight in Wales to give it a good work out.Many thanks again, Pedro.

[ceilidh]

Thanks for that info Springer, that's just where this Forum is so useful!
Since I learnt my speycasting in the days when the DT was the norm, and we made our own marks to remind us how much line each rod could comfortably lift, I agree that a long belly 8 might be a solution, but in low water conditions a long line might be good for 'fine and far off' tactics, but not for short range delicate casts.

Any information on the 'Slate' range of rods?, I saw these at the Kelso Fair, but didn't manage to try any of them. Alternatively one of the 13' 4 piece from the new B&W range sounds interesting, albeit in a very different price range, unless one turns up on Ebay!