Your favourite estuary rod?

[RemoteWanderer]

Always interested in hearing the setups others use and why. When I say estuary rods I'm talking 2-4oz used for the medium to smaller estuaries/creeks. I know some estuaries are big systems with deep water and racing tides which would of course require heavier gear and so not the focus of this question. For me it's the bass bandit, imo the perfect tool for this kind of work, being pretty light, great bite detection and feel when playing fish, and a good backbone to deal with any larger fish. I use mine for gilts/bass/flounder but it does also double up as a feathers/heavy spinning rod, and have taken shore pollack to over 7lbs on it with relative ease. The only problem with this rod is finding another, they seem to be pretty hard to come by these days. The AFAW Estuary Mk2's are pretty popular down this way, so what's your go to rod for this kind of work?

 

[chesilpete]

Greys bze 3-5 oz great rod.

 

[Wolf]

Mitchell sea bass rod,20 -70g casting weight.

 

[Trampster]

I can't say I've ever had the urge to go estuary fishing, but if I did, I'd probably make do with my 10ft Bass rod. Can't remember what make it is, not had it out for ages, but It's not one of them expensive ones. I don't do them. From memory, it casts up to 4oz.

 

[Topwater]

I live on a large estuary so that's been my excuse for collecting far too many light beachcaster and estuary rods! That and I had a long love of field casting, particularly the lower weights. Ok, I admit it, I've hoarded tackle for 40 years plus, and it's an addiction

The 12'6 Greys BZe is a firm favourite for bass in big surf as it will chuck up to 5oz and smashes 4oz and lug baits a long way when needed. Flattie Fanatics are superb in both 11ft and 12ft versions. Kevlar Super Bass is another, as is the CFX also by Conoflex..... Harrison P1, Zziplex Powertex Bass....the list continues......a much cheaper rod to look out for is the original Mustad Viking Surf Bass 11'6", 2-4oz, the one with the x-weave blank with shrouded spigot - a cracking all rounder and amazing value for money....
I should have a clear out really as I hardly bait fish these days and I have multiples of most. Thinking about it now it does seems a shame to have all these classics gathering dust. Can I let go?....oh the thought of it......PM to try and twist my arm

More recently I've built to order on the latest incarnation of the AmericanTackle 11ft 1-4oz ATX Surf blanks - they are superb, very slim and light, real beauties. I have some blanks spare, along with all the components, if anyone wants to build one up?

I need to check in to the Tackle Priory.... but is that Wingnut I see blocking the queue?

 

[Trampster]

I live on a large estuary so that's been my excuse for collecting far too many light beachcaster and estuary rods! That and I had a long love of field casting, particularly the lower weights. Ok, I admit it, I've hoarded tackle for 40 years plus, and it's an addiction

The 12'6 Greys BZe is a firm favourite for bass in big surf as it will chuck up to 5oz and smashes 4oz and lug baits a long way when needed. Flattie Fanatics are superb in both 11ft and 12ft versions. Kevlar Super Bass is another, as is the CFX also by Conoflex..... Harrison P1, Zziplex Powertex Bass....the list continues......a much cheaper rod to look out for is the original Mustad Viking Surf Bass 11'6", 2-4oz, the one with the x-weave blank with shrouded spigot - a cracking all rounder and amazing value for money....
I should have a clear out really as I hardly bait fish these days and I have multiples of most. Thinking about it now it does seems a shame to have all these classics gathering dust. Can I let go?....oh the thought of it......PM to try and twist my arm

More recently I've built to order on the latest incarnation of the AmericanTackle 11ft 1-4oz ATX Surf blanks - they are superb, very slim and light, real beauties. I have some blanks spare, along with all the components, if anyone wants to build one up?

I need to check in to the Tackle Priory.... but is that Wingnut I see blocking the queue?

Hahaha! You were saying the same about downsizing over a year ago. I've just done a search for the Greys BZE and your post from March 2024 came up!

Glasgow angling have got a pre-loved BZE for £60 - last one!

Preloved Greys BZe Bass 12ft 6in 3-5oz 2pc Multi - As New – Glasgow Angling Centre

www.fishingmegastore.com

 

[The Third Earl]

I use an ancient Leeda 9000 Bass rod for...... Bass or flatfish coupled with a larger size freshwater Shimano baitrunner.

I also have a 3 piece Conoflex Flick tip , which gets used for the same thing, coupled up to a 30 year old Abu 6500 ct.

Nothing more needed , at least for what I target in estuaries .

Dave

 

[Topwater]

Hahaha! You were saying the same about downsizing over a year ago. I've just done a search for the Greys BZE and your post from March 2024 came up!

Glasgow angling have got a pre-loved BZE for £60 - last one!

Preloved Greys BZe Bass 12ft 6in 3-5oz 2pc Multi - As New – Glasgow Angling Centre

www.fishingmegastore.com

That's right Tramps! I offered my spare pair to a TSF member who PM'd me saying he was desperately looking to buy a pair. I sent him loads of pics and texts, organised a tube and courier, messages flew back and forth for a few days but no payment ever arrived. Eventually he told me his girlfriend wouldn't allow him to buy them - the time wasting bed wetter

I do struggle with the thought of selling tackle but I should start to let go. Soon

 

[Trampster]

That's right Tramps! I offered my spare pair to a TSF member who PM'd me saying he was desperately looking to buy a pair. I sent him loads of pics and texts, organised a tube and courier, messages flew back and forth for a few days but no payment ever arrived. Eventually he told me his girlfriend wouldn't allow him to buy them - the time wasting bed wetter

I do struggle with the thought of selling tackle but I should start to let go. Soon

Man or Mouse? Bloody Petticoat government. None of that here.

 

[Angrybear]

TBH I'd use the same rods I'd take to Chesil, Moonrakers or maybe the Kompressor lite,
all are fine going down to 75g leads, & great bite detection.
Otherwise I have to go down to my 11' Normark, 'Ed Schliffke rock hopper', described as a surf spinner/bass plugger.

 

[Topwater]

Man or Mouse? Bloody Petticoat government. None of that here.

Utter time waster of a fanny. Never seen or heard from it again thankfully

 

[Beach]

I still use my TFgear 11ft 6" 2-5oz with an Abu 5500c multi, if spinning I tend to use an Abu 174sw spinning fs reel.

 

[Topwater]

I use an ancient Leeda 9000 Bass rod for...... Bass or flatfish coupled with a larger size freshwater Shimano baitrunner.

I also have a 3 piece Conoflex Flick tip , which gets used for the same thing, coupled up to a 30 year old Abu 6500 ct.

Nothing more needed , at least for what I target in estuaries .

Dave

But you do still use yoyr split cane rods don't you Dave?

 

[The Third Earl]

But you do still use yoyr split cane rods don't you Dave?

Yes TW , but only in freshwater . Saltwater is a bit too harsh on the agate rings , and salt build up would ruin the patina of the cane .

I have a few vintage cane beach/ pier and boat rods, all carefully preserved and I can virtually guarantee that nobody will be interested in them .



Dave

 

[Topwater]

My mistake I thought I'd seen pictures of you fishing in the sea with cane.

 

[Trampster]

Yes TW , but only in freshwater . Saltwater is a bit too harsh on the agate rings , and salt build up would ruin the patina of the cane .

I have a few vintage cane beach/ pier and boat rods, all carefully preserved and I can virtually guarantee that nobody will be interested in them .



Dave

I've got a vintage split Cane rod Dave - I think it's a Walker's Portsea, about 7ft. I've had it nearly 60 years, and when I was about 12, I was chatting to the local bus driver who used to bring me home from School. He said get your Mum to bring it down to the gate when I drop you off, and I'll take it home and put new rings on for you. Good of him I thought, but he didn't do a fabulous job. Still got the rod.

 

[Mike hemming]

When ever I do go fishing I’ve always got my flattie fanatic with me matched to a 5000 sized multi to fish the shore line this little setup has saved many a blank, it’s more powerful than it looks caught quite a few straps on it with out the slightest problem even a 6lb hound which was fantastic fun great little rod

 

[itchyknackersack]

Used a century ttldsm graphex and zippy profile gt on my local estuary only because on bigger tides it requires a bigger lead to hold bottom don't forget about continental rods ltalcanna .yuki. colmic. Trabucco do some nice rods

 

[The Third Earl]

My mistake I thought I'd seen pictures of you fishing in the sea with cane.

You have , on a boat . It was a cheaper cane boat rod snd a home made centrepin reel that I used to prove that you dont need the expensive mega bucks rods and reels just to catch fish .

Not big , but perfectly proportioned ( the Ling , not me )

Dave

 

[Topwater]

TFF maybe? I could have it wrong, anyway it doesn't matter