Few questions as I get my long trotting gear ready.
Braid on a centre pin-pros and cons? Best make and breaking strain? Straight through or nylon hook length?
I am retiring my John Wilson trotting rod and want a new one but I dislike single leg rings as (in my dreadful way of not looking after my kit ) they snap off after I "adjust" them a few times.I need to adjust them as they keep being pushed too close to the rod and , on wet days , the line sticks to the rod.Thus, is there a rod with hard single legs or the old fashioned multi legs you can recommend?
Any thoughts appreciated
Regards
Rob

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on the banks of the River Dove-walking in Isaac's footsteps

I've just consulted R.V. Righyni's "Grayling" this 1968 book has three chapters on long-trotting for grayling
I look to it for inspiration - he used lightly greased 1 1/2 lb braided terylene (polyester dacron) to a nylon hooklength.

I used a cheap 10 lb GSP 'superbraid' mainline and 4 lb fluorocarbon hooklengths last year; no need for grease as GSP floats.


PiB

I don`t use braid on my pin for trotting,.it tends to embed itself ,..Drennan Floatfish in 4lb for me...and then only around 50 yrds on the spool..

As for a trotting rod,...have a waggle of a Preston Sentient Carbonactive `super float`..

Reassuringly expensive....

ATB...

Here's a little wheeze to improve getting your grayling to the net. I use a micro swivel below the bulk shot on the float. Grayling are the twistiest fish going, they can throw the hook easily.Since I've used the micro swivel I very rarely lose a fish. I've been out on the Herefordshire Wye with the 'pin and float and have had some cracking dace bags, 60-70 fish, taken on red maggot. The bleak are a pest but a move down the swim sometimes helps. Roll on the winter!

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I won a £1,000,000 and spent most of it on prostitutes, drink,trout fishing, cars, cocaine, cigars and the rest I wasted...

PiB-do you have a problem bedding in (No , missus! ) as I have a swim I can trot almost 70 yards but the takes are hard to hit at that range on Mono?
Brendon-bit rich for me, I don't pay that much for my fly rods! Any second best suggestions?
Macsas-good tip, I had a coaching session with ?sp John Tysack who showed how dipping the rod tip under water also helped
I love the dry fly but cannot wait for those wonderful Autumn days , the red tip dipping under and the song of taut mono in the upstream breeze, ten times the fun of czech nymphing
Happy days
Rob

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on the banks of the River Dove-walking in Isaac's footsteps

Shakespeare do some excellent value and highly rated float rods. I use a Ron Thomson F16, 13ft with bridge rings and it comes with a 2ft extension, to make it to 15ft if needed.

Agree wholeheartedly about Czech nymphing, the 'pin and float are much better fun. I equate watching the tip of a float to watching a dry fly, the tension is palpable at times, great sport.

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I won a £1,000,000 and spent most of it on prostitutes, drink,trout fishing, cars, cocaine, cigars and the rest I wasted...

I use a Kunnan 13 footer which might not be available any more. My reel is an Avon Royale Supreme and the line is usually 4lb mono but I don't tend to fish at huge range so braid is not necessary. I'd go lighter except for the fact that there are quite a few 5lb+ chub and even bigger carp in the beat of the Monnow that I fish.

I've had Shakespeare float rods in the past which have always been fine and very good for the money. Czech nymphing is possibly the most unpleasant way of catching a grayling but effective nonetheless. There's nothing to match watching the top of that float ease down a run.

I love trotting for grayling although you can get shot on this board for even mentioning the worm or, dare I say it - maggot!

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“There is no more lovely country than Monmouthshire in early spring. Nowhere do the larks sing quite so passionately, as if somehow inspired by the Welsh themselves. There is a blackbird on every thorn and a cock chaffinch, a twink as they call him there, on every bush...... It moved me profoundly. I had been spared to see another spring, and I thank God for it.”

Oliver Kite
“A Spring Day on the Usk”
A Fisherman’s Diary

No - I don't have a 'digging-in' problem with my current lot of braid. I've got 100 meter length on a Rapidex.

Here's a picture of the maestro at work; note the very high 'stand-off' porcelain rings.



Macsas - thanks for the micro swivel tip; I already use one, but only as a convenient way of connecting my hook-length to the braid. I didn't know of any other benefits.



PiB

S,
Last year, (as a result of the tackle shop being out of maggots or my sheer ingenuity-you guess ) I fed squatts ?sp and trotted those denhydra (definitely ?sp) worms. I was very impressed. The Grayling didn't get overfed, the worms (which are like a brandling whose been doing weights ) can be used for fish after fish and none deep hooked.Unfortunately , it was the last trip so I am looking forward to more work on the method this year.
Regards
All,
Thanks for all your comments.If you are interested I arrange some days for the GS on a private section on the Dove and, if there is any interest , could look to do a F&F bait section one too
Rob

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on the banks of the River Dove-walking in Isaac's footsteps

I use a Daiwa Aqualite 14ft rod coupled with an Avon Royal Supreme 'pin loaded with 3.6lb Drennan Float Fish ... landed a couple of near 5lb chub from a snaggy swim. It's a really nice actioned rod for about £100. Daiwa make really good rods in this price range.

Even though they're single leg guides on the tip I don't find them a problem. And if I did find them snapping off my local tackle shop does pretty good rates for re-ringing (I've tried myself ... not pretty or effective).

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Cheers,
Lawrence