Does size matter ?

[elwyman]

ibm59 said:

Off to bed to prove that size doesn't matter. ;D ;D ;D

We'll expect a full report tomorrow then. ;D

[ibm59]

I'll be back on line in 90 secs max.

[elwyman]

;D ;D ;D

[zephead]

Agree with your last point Scotview-I have had 4 days on the bounce with an 18 foot Powerlite this year and the 16 footers are like wands-suit jacket was noticeably tighter round the shoulders as its like using a bullworker but at least no-one now kicks sand in my face.

I fish 2 16 foot Powerlites a 9/10 for floating line work and an 11 for intermediate/sunk line work and would hate to be parted from either BUT am still in the frame for a 15 footer (probably another Powerlite 9/10) for lighter summer work and possibly a Scandinavian shooting head thing for stripped flee work as long heads are a bind for Colliedogging/Sunray work in my newly acquired experience.

The long rods aren't so much for distance casting although you can have some fun with them,but for line control and in the case of the 16 ft 11 and 18 footer with two tops,for lifting plenty of sunk line to the top and getting it punched out without having lots of stripped coils of running line at my feet.

The 16s are fine a stiff breeze,the 18 footer can make you look like a God or a thingy in equal degree(usually the latter in my case) in a wind.Don't fish smaller rivers so wouldn't go for a 14 footer but if I did,and its the only HoH rod I'd buy,a 14 ft Gem is a super rod armed with a Mach system line.IME it,with the T&T 14 footer,are the only two worthy 14fters that punch above their weight into the 15 foot class.

Also,do what I did/do to accumulate a couple/a few rods for different situations in different legnths by buying well in the secondhand marketplace and don't be afraid to try last years technology from a reputable maker.That way you should be able to assemble an army of rods that'll cut it in lots of varied situations within a budget and not be be beaten by the river or conditions (test of reasonableness applied here m'lud).When I was getting going I left many a beat in near tears feeling that if I'd only just had a longer/better/more suitable rod like the lads I was fishing with that I'd have come home having taken a/more fish-quite often from to die for beats I'd been invited to-and done myself more justice.

All this from a guy who started out with a 15 foot Shakespeare Carbo for the princely sum of £60 and thought (at the time) that after a season partnering it with a secondhand 15 ft Walker that would be all I ever needed for every salmon fishing situation and rod buying was a closed issue for a year or twenty-the inocence of youth eh?

Good luck with your search for two rod Nirvana.

ZH.