Vote How I Should Set Up This Pole

Posted by: 4evrplan

Vote How I Should Set Up This Pole - 09/11/14 12:28 PM

I'm not much of a fisherman at all; in fact, I don't have a license, but every once in a blue moon when I'm in a state park (no license required in Texas state parks) I try anyway. I'm strongly considering getting one of the 10' Shakespeare Durango/Wonderpole pan fishing poles (no reel), both for the simplicity and light weight. It'll live most of it's life in my trunk, but it'll go in my pack whenever I go hiking in a state park (or other water if/when I buy a license). I'm considering setting this up as a "redneck tenkara" setup for the fun of it. Let's hear everyone's opinions, should I leave it as a mono/sinker/bobber rig, go tenkara-ish, carry tackle for both, or something else?
Posted by: Rick_D

Re: Vote How I Should Set Up This Pole - 09/11/14 12:47 PM

Why not give plunking from the bank a go? If you don't try it you'll never know, and the opportunity to carry such a bone-simple rig is mighty attractive.

Cheers,
Posted by: 4evrplan

Re: Vote How I Should Set Up This Pole - 09/11/14 02:42 PM

I googled the term "plunking", and it seems to be a lot of different things to different people, but it general, it looks like (1)live bait (or something smelly) (2)sinker (3)no bobber (4)sit and wait. Is that what you had in mind? Forgive my ignorance - I said I wasn't much of a fisherman.
Posted by: Rick_D

Re: Vote How I Should Set Up This Pole - 09/11/14 03:56 PM

Just using the term generically, for bank fishin' with a line tied to a long pole (have seen telescoping rods the better part of 20' long). Whether dangling bait or using a bobber, it's a great way to extend past bankside brush and out to clear water. Don't, however, know quite how you land a fish at the end of a 16' pole if there's brush between you and the water!

cheers,
Posted by: 4evrplan

Re: Vote How I Should Set Up This Pole - 09/11/14 05:35 PM

Originally Posted By Rick_D
Don't, however, know quite how you land a fish at the end of a 16' pole if there's brush between you and the water.

You don't, I guess. There's gotta be a clear spot somewhere, however narrow, I would think. Either that or drag the fish over brush - not so great for the fish. If the brush is narrow enough, you could lean over it and bring the line in hand over hand.
Posted by: BZH

Re: Vote How I Should Set Up This Pole - 09/11/14 07:23 PM

I've never tenkara fished. I haven't ever done any kind of fly fishing. I have however read some stuff about tenkara. I've read a few reports about doing this kind of thing, but I've yet to come across anyone who has enthusiastically endorsed it.
Posted by: Dryer

Re: Vote How I Should Set Up This Pole - 09/12/14 09:51 AM

I grew up fishing with cheap bamboo cane poles and a piece of line tied to the end. Hook/bobber, fly, spinner, whatever on the end of the line. Poles 15' long were common and fine around creeks/ponds with little brush. Now, "crappie poles" of 18', telescoping, can be had at Walmart in the $20 range, but with exactly the same idea as cane poles. "tenkara" appears to be a fancy name applied to cane pole fishing, but with fancier telescoping rods. After moving on to fly rods and ultra-light spinning tackle, I've no interest in messing with a long pole ever again. grin They get hung up in everything, tips break, and are useless around trees and brush overhanging the water. I love fly fishing but have always caught more Texas fish with a spinning rod and spinner baits. Jigs for crappie, rubber baits for bigger bass. Our stocked trout don't bite flies, but hit marshmallows and spinners instead. A light spin-cast system handles all that. I'm with you on the "no license, state park" thing. I fish Texas state parks and creeks around Dallas/Ft. Worth. A compact ultralite spinning system (cheap!) has netted me more fish than any other system. If the Texas park has a lake or stream, I'll be in a kayak where long poles don't work well.
Posted by: 4evrplan

Re: Vote How I Should Set Up This Pole - 09/12/14 11:19 AM

Originally Posted By Dryer
...A light spin-cast system handles all that...


Good stuff, Dryer, especially as it applies to Texas. So do you ever use those short telescoping rod reel combos like the ones you find in department stores (usually Shakespeare brand I believe)? Seems reasonably light weight. I could commandeer my kids telescoping spiderman rod & reel for backpacking smile. Not sure how well that reel works though. Or if I wanted to get fancy (and still not spend much money), I could get one of those pen rods, though I've never much liked spinning reels, and that's what they come with. What do you carry?
Posted by: Dryer

Re: Vote How I Should Set Up This Pole - 09/12/14 12:22 PM

I look for the tiniest spinning reels I can find. Dick's, Walmart, Academy usually have combo ultra-light rod/reel sets for $20-30 that work great and have dinky reels. I just bought a Shakespeare set that breaks down to two 2.5 ft. sections at Dicks. Don't get caught up in how many ball bearings the reel has. My Mitchell ultra-light reels have zero ball bearings and work beautifully. I have a 6 section pack rod that doubles as a fly/spinning rod....somewhat useful...rarely used. Those little Snoopy or Spiderman rods are actually quite good! I think Shakespeare makes a little boat or dock rod (spring steel, looks like a cell antenna), about 1.5ft long, that would be great with a better reel. Plastic reels, I don't like.

Addendum....I'm a cheap skate when it comes to fishing. A $600 fly system catches no better fish than a $20 starter kit or cobbled together hand line, in the right hands. Get something with usable action, some good line (4 lb. for me!) mix and match reels/rods, and learn about what you are trying to catch. And bring the kids!