Andy135

Fair enough.

When then?

They're dropping like flies. I'd better reign in the spending.

@JonC, any chance you could put a measure across the tip of your 12-20lb Ugly Stick, on the top of the glass section just under the tip ring, and tell me what the diameter of yours is please? And if I remember correctly @Saintly Fish, the rod you got built for Leo was on an Ugly Stik blank, wasn't it? Is it a 20-30lb version and if so, could you measure the tip diameter too please?

Well, for £75 what I want is the rod I thought I was getting. Most places were sold out, and others that had them in stock were all asking £75 or thereabouts. Gone are the days of a rock-star rod for £50 I suspect.

Yeah, I have not problem with the rod per se, other than it's not what it says it is on the label... unless it transpires that Shakespeare changed the blank and in effect watered down the 20-30lb rod. In which case I'll be back on the market for another 20-30 rod.

I'm waiting for the retailer to do the legwork for me. They are checking their other stock of the same rod to see if they're all like that, or if I got a duff one. We'll take it from there. Might return it, or might keep it as a 12-20lb rod instead.

Now tested with a digital weighing scale. New rod = 2lb 5oz test curve. Old rod 2lb 15oz test curve. So 10oz difference between the two, and I could easily feel the difference when testing them. 🙁

No, and that's a good suggestion. I've also got the retailer measuring the tip diameters of their other stock to see if they're all like it now.

Recently ordered another Ugly Stik GX2 20-30lb rod to make a pair with one I already own. Upon inspection today it seems that either they've changed their blanks or they put a 20-30lb label on a 12-20lb blank by mistake. Rod on the left is the new one. My existing 20-30lb is on the right. Diameter of tip on left is 2mm, 2.8 on right. Test curve is also different. Both rods tested with a 6oz weight and you can clearly see that the far rod bends more with the same weight as the rod in the foreground (my existing rod). I'm considering sending it back unless anyone can tell me if they're all like that now?

Not come across those I'm afraid, so can't say either way but for the price it'd be hard to go wrong. Only thing to check would be the guides; don't think they're Fuji. But at least the reel seat is Pac Bay, which should give years of service. Got to be worth a try, and the 6lb would be very sporting for what you have in mind 👍

If I didn't know any better I'd say there's even a glimmer of a smile on his face too... 😉

Excellent work Nick! What a lovely bass! Congratulations on breaking your double duck. And well done on the SPJ's too. What jigs were they taking? 3.30am is a bloomin' early start. Kudos for the effort. Sounds like a cracking trip on a lovely boat though. @Saintly Fish, might be worth looking this skipper up for an OO charter perhaps? As for the wreck, I'm guessing it was the MV Murree, a large, modern cargo ship: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?137154

Congrats! Looking forward to hearing more.

Out of interest, what were you expecting then?

Definitely wasn't in the loo Geoff! 🤣

@Yorkie Angler, I do like reel porn! They look lovely 👍

It's a very old copy of the Daily Mirror, dated September 16th, 1941. I found it blocking up an air vent when I was redecorating the old part of the house. A previous owner must have stuffed it in there to stop drafts. It was very fragile so I had it framed to preserve it and it makes a nice thing to hang on the wall, given the historical context.

Nice idea. I'll give that a try.

The things I do for you lot eh?!?!

Will take a proper pic in a bit.

Could do, but I don't currently have any suitably sized 3-ways - only little tiddly ones for breaming.

Shouldn't do, with the tides we have the dropper and pennel hooklength will stream away in the tide. Just lower gently to the seabed.

So I can double-pat whilst fishing. One muppet hooklength baited up and ready to go, then switch it for the old one quickly.

Tied to the lower rig clip is 6ft of 40lb mono, with the usual zip slider, bead and another swivel. The pennell hooklength is clipped into the swivel using another rig clip. That's all you're getting for now.