Bream Rod selection - thoughts welcome

[theoldlegend]

Have been looking at a couple of Snyderglas rods for a while - can't decide between 2 rods, both of which are 11'4" long, action is described as light but one (4W) seems softer than the other one (5W), so I'm leaning towards the softer one.

Also, one is 1 piece and the other is 2 piece. Any personal preferences? My fishing is done at Iluka off the breakwall and rocks at the Bluff, Frasers etc. Thought I'd match it up to a 600A or B or a 625B Alvey. Always been an Alvey man, and at my age, it's hard to change.

Also, last time we were there in June, I was using Platypus pretest (the yellow/lime colour) and didn't do very well at all. Was the colour a problem?

The old legend.

[straddie]

Hi TOL, you are looking at =< 1kg fish so the 4 wrap is plenty and might be a little easier for casting lightly and unweighted baits to them plus make a nice whiting rod on the beach.

Length is fine to give you plenty of control over the fish from the rocks, although down to 10ft would be ok. Nothing between 1 or 2 piece in all honesty, for me I would consdier what I was going to do with it. If it is going into a rod rack on your car with your 13'6"er then one piece for sure, however if I was roaring down the highway with only the one rod hanging out the window then a two piece to get it inside the car would be my choice. 550A might be a lil small to balance that length rod up but I would try both it and the 600A on the rod in the shop for feel.

I haven't used the yellow Platypus pretest line at all but I'm guessing it's a fluro/ hi vis type deal. I guess the concern would be if it is more visible to the fish they may shy away if you are using it as a mainline trace, but I certainly wouldn't get rid of it if you don't have any other complaints (bad for abrasion, knots, etc) with it. Just use a metre trace of another line, Platypus Platinum would be my choice, and see if there is any noticable difference in your catch.

[SURF_SNIPER]

old ledgend, best bream blank i reckon you can get are the snyder 4136, they are a beautifull casting rod when built right and are all i use for bream on the surf beaches, matched to a 600 graphite back alvey and it will out perform anything else around. personaly i wouldnt bother with the 625B as it has a very VERY skinny spool when the 600A is skinny enough already. they are dedicated bream blanks.

if you want even more sensitivity and lightness from them build them up using single foot guides and fugi quick release reel seat

they are a 4 W and are approx 11'4 long so it sounds like the blanks your talking about.

in regards to the line, i try and steer away from the pre test stuff because of the line diameters, try platypuss super 100 which is a far better line. it will increase casting distance dramticaly and sweep and current wont effect it as much as the pretest. would probly use about 12-15 pound super 100 for how your fishing for bream, then use a flurocarbon leader of around the same strength.

Drew

[theoldlegend]

Thanks for your comments guys - will remember them in future. I was using the yellow/hi vis Pretest for the trace as well. Will try a trace/leader as you suggest. Will also get some Super 100.

Surf Sniper (Drew) - are you a rod builder? I've seen some of your posts in the past that makes me think that you are.

TOL