New Shakespeare Salt Long Surf Rod

[eccles]

Well here ya go folks, took delivery of the 3.9 metre 3 piece version recently and just been down the beach for a few chucks. I got this after being very pleased with the 3.6 metre 2 piece version which I have had for about a year, because I wanted something slightly longer and easier to transport. Well it's OK, well put together, slim, light and easy to use. Managed to chuck a 4 oz lead around 140 yds using OTG style out of a fixed spool so that is OK but I think I could have got another 20 yds out of it if the tip section were a little stiffer. On the other hand, I suppose the bite detection is going to be good with that tip which probably matters more as it is not often that one needs to cast more than 100 yds on Hayling Island. Have not found out yet how it sits in the wind because it was flat calm this morning. For the price (I paid £60) it compares well in my opinion with other rods costing almost twice as much. They do two longer versions (14 and 15 ft) for those who want telegraph poles, can't be bothered meself - just to dam awkward to use.

[mick75]

sounds a nice rod i can never quite manage to Sus out how far i have cast.

[eccles]

Mick, All I do is chuck it along the beach instead of out to sea, then pace it out because if I stretch a little bit, one of my paces is about a yard. After a bit of practice like this, you pretty well know what 50 and 100 yds looks like. Not that it matters much, a lot of the fish I catch on Hayling are in the 70 to 100 yd range and often closer than that at night and in the harbour entrances. I know there are a fair few geezers who can chuck around the 150 - 200 yd range but I don't think they get many more bites.

[eccles]

Oh cobblers, just realised this thread should be in reviews, would some kind mod or admin move it there pls

[silverfox]

Who' a naughty boy then? Ha ha! -----interesting read though.

[eccles]

What you may like to know if you are having a look at this rod: I wrote to Shakespeare and told them I thought the tip was a bit soft and could do with being a bit stiffer. The following day no less a person than Mike Thrussell himself wrote back to me! He explained that it had deliberately designed like that for two reasons: 1. Bite detection at range for fish like flatties is enhanced (makes sense to me, especially as I enjoy sole hunting at night). 2. A relatively slow and easy build up to the cast with a 6 to 7 ft drop will get will get the sinker to fly without the need for a hefty last second shove. He specifically advised me to do this if I wanted distance. Apparently their thought is that a lot of folk out there who are not expert casters, like to see the sinker fly without the need for huge amounts of muscle power. So there ya go Gents I think I will go down the beach to-morrow and try a modified cast with this rod.

[marksouth]

All that extra distance for no extra effort - AMAZING!!!!

As a point of order, i have given countless casting lessons to people who have 'paced' 150 yards who seem to fall well short of that when faced with a flat field and the wind behind them.

Maybe I am biased but there is no easy route to distance and no rod that will make you life any easier The only route to distance is to work out what you should be doing with the lead and then practice until you can smooth it out and make it become second nature.

Anyone who can be bothered to learn and practice can cast further!!!!!

[eccles]

Well thanks for that bit of useless information Mark. Now, do you have an opinion of the rod which is what folks really want to know? I should have put my original post in Tackle reviews because that is what it is but never mind. Perhaps you could suggest an alternative piece of kit at a similar price, that would be useful too.

[marksouth]

Fair enough. i won't bother anymore.

c ya

[phish]

eccles said:

Well thanks for that bit of useless information Mark. Now, do you have an opinion of the rod which is what folks really want to know? I should have put my original post in Tackle reviews because that is what it is but never mind. Perhaps you could suggest an alternative piece of kit at a similar price, that would be useful too.

I thought it a valid comment on what you had posted.

I'm no expert but I would have thought that as in all things its 99% ability.

I remember a fly fishing instructor showing me that he could get an enormous amount of fly line out with a 12" wooden rule, the top ring being a paper clip.
Casting well with good technique is I would imagine like all things just application and practice.
Practice does not cost much if anything, there are no bought solutions in this world not even cheap ones.
I doubt that any rod no matter how good will change that.

[skillpot]

nothing wrong with the 14ft/15ft eccles. you would find you could cast even further. ive got the shakespeare k2 blue metal 14ft and i can launch it with the k2 powerplay fixedspool. i am 6ft 1inch so the 14ft is perfect for me personaly

[skillpot]

regards to what mark said is very true and the fact he can cast proberly over 280 yards might have something to do with him having an opinion as he knows everything about casting there is to know

[eccles]

Now come on you guys, this is a Rod review not a discussion about casting. If we want a casting discussion it should be in the right section (although I confess to putting the post in the wrong place initially.) I know Mark can cast miles and is good at sarcasm but that is not the point. What I would expect is comments like Skillpot's about the K2's or any other rod which is similar in price and folks' experiences of them.

[solehunter]

I dont think it should be closed pete just because he chose to leave in a rather childish tantrum. Eccles`s reveiw still stands and should be disscussed if anyone wishes.

skillpot said:

regards to what mark said is very true and the fact he can cast proberly over 280 yards might have something to do with him having an opinion as he knows everything about casting there is to know

Dont go down that road skillpot, there was no need for marks sarcasm.....end of please.

[snakefish]

Shakespeare make some excellent rods, but they're all labelled 'Ugly Stick' and the best are boat rods, not beach.

I hope Eccles will try to make the 'Hayling' meet again this year as the organiser has told me that Julian Shambrook will be there again with a load of rods for people to try out.
Decent (intermediate) casting rods start at £100; the Diawa STS series and Penn Surfblasters are good examples.

I know Mark from fishing and casting with him and have the greatest respect for his views.

The plain facts are that with casting rods, you get exactly what you pay for. A £50 or £60 pound rod will get you started, but as technique develops so will your requirements.

I have yet to see anyone cast 140 yards with a sub £75 rod.
A Nissan Micra will never rival the performance of a 911; but by the same token, a driver who does the 'school run' will not get the best out of the 911 either.

The Shakespeare Salt is thin-walled glass, gutless and poorly finished when compared to the other models listed here.

Call it as you see it.