Slug casting rod for TSS4?

[mjc85]

Heading to Fraser in 3 weekends time and looking to purchase a decent rod for casting slugs at tailor with a TSS4. Looking to use probably 6kg mono.

Cheers
Mitch

[nigelr]

How much you wanna spend mjc?
Two quick options -
Cheapie - Silstar crystal power tip 12' - around $110
Better quality - Gary Howard Phantom - around $220
I'm sure more options will follow.
You might want to use a 'shock leader' if using a slug over about 60gms, or up your main line strength a touch, to prevent 'snap offs' when you cast.
Cheers.

[Tangles]

Id also add a Gary Howard Swallowtail, i use the TSS4 on that and works a treat.

mike

[mjc85]

I don't mind spending $200+, where can you get the howards from? And how would a TSS4 go with 10kg braid? And spin rods and rods for alvey reels are different? I have tried the TSS4 on my live fibre trophy surf but it felt like the first runner was to far up the rod.

Mitch

[Tangles]

i tried 10kg braid on the TSS4 and didnt get on with it, didnt lay the line properly so went back to mono, im pretty sure the main tackle shops will have the Howards,

Also the next step up are the new Daiwa Surf Rods, saw them down at Fishead, designed for a spinner like the emblem pro, a weapon.. think they are called Emblem Pro's ( funny that) but pretty wild for a surf rod.

if you can stretch your budget check them out, my only concern with them is how robust are they for all the knocks.

Saying all that my favourite surf combo is still an old 13 ft Wilson Heritage with an Alvey, an old friend

my 2 cents

mike

[ant_72]

Try a Live Fibre RLF20. Although rated 8-10 the tip is soft enough for 6. Been running the same combo for years for anything from mackeral and snapper through to longtails and cobia. Will throw a slug very well

[Heath]

Agree with Ant_72

[mjc85]

Try a Live Fibre RLF20. Although rated 8-10 the tip is soft enough for 6. Been running the same combo for years for anything from mackeral and snapper through to longtails and cobia. Will throw a slug very well

Not to short for beach casting at 8foot?

[Horse]

The RLF 20 is a great rod but I would prefer a bit more length off the beach. My TSS4 surf outfit is a FSU4120G that has been extended 15cm so is around 10'6". It will throw a Raider over 90m. There are a host of high tech rods that would eat that for breakfast but the price goes up and they are not as tough
I have also heard good things about the Silstar Crystal Blue rods as being able to get some distance in a cast

[ant_72]

sorry about that i didnt read the beach bit. stick with something a bit longer and make sure either fast taper or multi taper so you get a quick load into the blank. my apologies.

[trueblue]

take your TSS4 with you when you buy your rod... I just bought a Pflueger 10 - 15 kg spin stick to put a TSS4 on to, and then found out when I got home that the TSS4 didn't fit into the reel seats without some reshaping because of its size.

pays to take that reel with you and try it into the chosen rods reel seat.



also noticed 20% off live fibres at the B C F store the other day

cheers

Mick

[metaloid]

If you want a nice rod, these two would do nicely imo:
http://www.daiwafishing.com.au/daiwa.cfm?page=rods&rods=surfrock&product=sensorsurf
and
http://www.shimanofish.com.au/publish/content/global_fish/en/au/index/products/rods/Beach/tiralejo.html

Now having said that, for half the price you can get a trusty MT144 and catch just as many fish!;D

[Just_chips]

I have been using a wilson MT4144 (Medium Taper 4 wrap 144 inches long - 12feet) for spinning for tailor with my TSS4, Some may call this a bream rod but it fits the job and my budget nicely. I loaded mine with 14pd fireline and can easily cast 65g sliders out to the back banks. If using braid you should use some sort of shock leader and ensure that your leader knot is atleast on your reel when you cast as the amount of pressure that can be put on that knot will see you cast of a few slugs no matter how good at tying knots you are (I learnt the expensive way).

The extra bit of give in the rod tip during a fight also helps to not rip the hooks out of a tailors mouth as the no stretch characteristics of braid can cause a few probs in this department.

Kev

[mjc85]

Just bought a Gary Howard Surf Spin that is rated 6-12kg and 10foot long. Seems like it will do the job niceley, could this be built on a 4120 blank? Doesn't say much on the rod or tag. Cost $185. It has this funny bit in between 2nd bottom and 3rd bottom runner where it looks like it changes material in the blank? And the lines going around the rod change at this point too? What could this be?

Now trying to decide what line to spool the TSS4 with?

8kg mono ?

[frankgrimes]

Just bought a Gary Howard Surf Spin that is rated 6-12kg and 10foot long. Seems like it will do the job niceley, could this be built on a 4120 blank? Doesn't say much on the rod or tag. Cost $185. It has this funny bit in between 2nd bottom and 3rd bottom runner where it looks like it changes material in the blank? And the lines going around the rod change at this point too? What could this be?

Picture tells a thousand words....post a pic and I'm sure someone will have an answer.

Mick

[mjc85]

Picture tells a thousand words....post a pic and I'm sure someone will have an answer.

Mick

Here you go

Is this the transition between fibreglass and graphite?

Mitch

[nigelr]

No worries Mitch, thats just the transition between glass and graphite coming in.
Blank is probably FSU4120G. I'd use 7-8 kg, probably 7kg with a shock leader when casting lures over 60gms or so, although 8kg in a quality fine gauge mono would probably work just as well and possibly negate the need for a shock leader..
Should cast like a champ. Don't have one myself, but I think this blank is quite popular amongst Ausfishers. Being a composite graphite blank, you will need to be a bit careful of it around rocks etc etc.
Cheers.

[Horse]

It sounds like a FSU 4120G. I use 14lb Fireline on mine

[mjc85]

Cool good to know, although the rod is rated from 6-12kg, the FSU4120G says 6-8kg and the FSU5120G is 8-10kg, so is it still possibly a FSU4120G?

Cheers
Mitch

[nigelr]

Mitch, you have me stumped with that one.
Might need to consult the store where you bought it.
Cheers.

[abbot_86]

oi mitch ill just lend u my 10ft 4120 if u want, i run a tss4 on it!! nick

[mjc85]

oi mitch ill just lend u my 10ft 4120 if u want, i run a tss4 on it!! nick

Hey Nick thanks for the offer mate, the rod I ended up being sold was a MT9144 blank, cut down to 10foot. The guy at the shop with no name told me it would be as good as a Phantom 10' or a 4120G for casting slugs, which is crap as the MT9144 is a beast for jews etc. So I took it back and got a credit and they have ordered a Gary Howard Phantom 10' graphite in, hopefully its in before I go on the 23rd.

[nigelr]

Hey Nick thanks for the offer mate, the rod I ended up being sold was a MT9144 blank, cut down to 10foot. The guy at the shop with no name told me it would be as good as a Phantom 10' or a 4120G for casting slugs, which is crap as the MT9144 is a beast for jews etc. So I took it back and got a credit and they have ordered a Gary Howard Phantom 10' graphite in, hopefully its in before I go on the 23rd.

MT 9144 most certainly is a beast! Doesn't really load up until you've got at least 6oz plus on it..................that bloke needs to learn a bit about what he's selling!
Very glad you didn't get stuck with that rod, cut down to 10' it would have been totally useless for what you want. Heavy brute, too.
The GH you have ordered sound great.
Cheers.

[Horse]

The rod he sold you seems more like a stump puller LBG stick. The Phantom will do a great job

[mjc85]

Just picked up the phantom, it is probably half the weight of the other rod. Feels good with the TSS4, well balanced. Can't wait to get up Teewah on Sunday to have a test run before I head to Fraser next weekend.

Thanks for the advice fellas.

Mitch