Post by philpot on Apr 23, 2015 14:02:24 GMT
I have been for a little while debating which rods to buy for dropshot and LRF fishing and with the help of my good friend Phil (esoxuk) have come up with a bit of a short list. Phil suggested I had a chat with Kell, the owner of Lure Factors as he has done quite a bit of both methods and of course has a great product range in this area. Kell readily offered to take me down to a local spot to try out a few of his rods to perhaps help the decision making process.
After nearly giving him a heart attack as I entered the workshop, he composed himself as we started to look at some of the creations he was working on. I could have sat there all day watching Kell trying to blend a particular colour, quite fascinating. I was amazed at the volume of components and the variety, the number of plastic colours, the sourcing of the right hooks for the task in hand ---------------------------- well I could go on but won't bore you any more.
Apart from trying a few rods, I wanted to get a few micro lures to add to the few hand made lures I had bought from Pete Felstead, a little like a kid in a candy shop but I didn't go too mad and am happy with the products I bought.
After routing around in Kell's drawers (so to speak) it was time to pop down to the pond and cast a few rods with some of these tiny lures in order to assist me in deciding which rods to buy. As luck would have it, Kell had a spare 2.4mt Dragon Millenium drop shot rod, 5 - 25grm. I am already a huge fan of Dragon as they use Toray Carbon, the best that money can buy so a spare rod that is not used nor likely to be as he has several already, well to cut the story short cash changed hands and I now have a drop shot rod, one down and one to go.
It was both enjoyable and informative trying the rods in Kell's collection as they all have slightly different actions but what became even more interesting was watching a guy catapulting dog biscuits all over the pond in his quest to catch a carp on top. Kell and I started to see carp taking the offerings as the gentle breeze brought them closer to where we were testing rods/lures. A rather cheeky grin appeared on Kell's face followed by ' lets look to see if we have any lures that might look like dog biscuits. A quick rummage around found one or two, for me it was one I had just bought from Kell, a Salmo Little Bug and boy will this little bugger cast on the drop shot rod.
10 mins later and the carp were all around the area of my lure and bingo we are in, I must admit that I did not know how this drop shot rod would handle a carp, well no problem at all, there was loads of backbone in this rod and soon a nice little carp was on the bank. First time using the rod so I am rather pleased. The down side was that I had 2 more takes which I cocked up by striking too soon.
The lure that did the damage was this one and what a cracker. I am off to Suffolk in a few weeks time where we have two lakes right outside the lodge so these little guys will be tested again in the early evening as the carp float around on the surface.
My thanks to Kell for his time and the loan of some kit for testing, it was good to meet up again since our kayak fishing days.
lurefactors.co.uk/
Phil
After nearly giving him a heart attack as I entered the workshop, he composed himself as we started to look at some of the creations he was working on. I could have sat there all day watching Kell trying to blend a particular colour, quite fascinating. I was amazed at the volume of components and the variety, the number of plastic colours, the sourcing of the right hooks for the task in hand ---------------------------- well I could go on but won't bore you any more.
Apart from trying a few rods, I wanted to get a few micro lures to add to the few hand made lures I had bought from Pete Felstead, a little like a kid in a candy shop but I didn't go too mad and am happy with the products I bought.
After routing around in Kell's drawers (so to speak) it was time to pop down to the pond and cast a few rods with some of these tiny lures in order to assist me in deciding which rods to buy. As luck would have it, Kell had a spare 2.4mt Dragon Millenium drop shot rod, 5 - 25grm. I am already a huge fan of Dragon as they use Toray Carbon, the best that money can buy so a spare rod that is not used nor likely to be as he has several already, well to cut the story short cash changed hands and I now have a drop shot rod, one down and one to go.
It was both enjoyable and informative trying the rods in Kell's collection as they all have slightly different actions but what became even more interesting was watching a guy catapulting dog biscuits all over the pond in his quest to catch a carp on top. Kell and I started to see carp taking the offerings as the gentle breeze brought them closer to where we were testing rods/lures. A rather cheeky grin appeared on Kell's face followed by ' lets look to see if we have any lures that might look like dog biscuits. A quick rummage around found one or two, for me it was one I had just bought from Kell, a Salmo Little Bug and boy will this little bugger cast on the drop shot rod.
10 mins later and the carp were all around the area of my lure and bingo we are in, I must admit that I did not know how this drop shot rod would handle a carp, well no problem at all, there was loads of backbone in this rod and soon a nice little carp was on the bank. First time using the rod so I am rather pleased. The down side was that I had 2 more takes which I cocked up by striking too soon.
The lure that did the damage was this one and what a cracker. I am off to Suffolk in a few weeks time where we have two lakes right outside the lodge so these little guys will be tested again in the early evening as the carp float around on the surface.
My thanks to Kell for his time and the loan of some kit for testing, it was good to meet up again since our kayak fishing days.
lurefactors.co.uk/
Phil
"
