Can anyone tell me what they are using on big rivers and also smaller ones for Salmon and Sewin and also what you'd recommend that is good value and preferably £200 or less for the rod, so low to mid priced?

I have a 10' 7# that I can ocasionally use on some rivers, and also a 9.5' 8/9#, but I am looking at getting two double handers, something around 12 or 13 foot say in 8 weight and then something around 15 foot in 10 weight.

Ideally I'd like something that comes in enough pieces that means I don't have a massive rod tube etc because it needs to fit in the boot of my car and be fairly mobile. I may travel abroad in the future with my rods! I'd like to keep each piece to around 3 foot max but realise it might not be possible with the 15 footer, unless there are any companies that makes these big rods in travel sizes? If you can get 15 footers in 4 piece I am wondering how big the rod tube would be? 4 or 5 foot?

Thanks for any recommendations.

John

I think I may just go with a 14 footer it doesn't make sense to buy a 15 and 13. If I already have a 9.5 and 10 then a 14 should just about cover all bases I think. I have seen just a couple of companies making travel versions in 7 pieces but all the rest seem to be 3 or 4 piece for the double handers. Will have to research it some more and pull out my old magazines from the last year to see how all the different ones fared in the tests they do.

A seven piece d/hander means more joints to tape and explode and less choice
There are not that many about and I personally have never tried one that I would go out and buy.
I have a 12 8/9 wt and 14 ft 10wt d/h and an 11ft 8wt s/h with extended butt section to use as switch rod in addition a 10ft 7wt. for sea troot. They cover all bases.
I don't fish the lower Tweed,Ness or Tay so a fifteen footer is not really required. If buying one D/H the best compromise would possibly be a 13ft that can handle sinking lines/copper tubes well.I reckon to fish effectively all season 2 d/h rods are required plus a s/h suitable for sea trout.
The above obviously depends on what rivers are being targeted.
Pick what works best for your style the choice is vast. What I use and like
may not suit everyone.i.e. I use a 75ft head line and a 12ft polyleader with the 14 footer not everyone's cup of tea but the rod works best for me with that set up and allows me to cover a bit of water.
Buy second hand there is always someone selling something decent that they personally dont get on with.After all as soon you use a new rod once....it too is second hand.Then the real fun starts trying to get a line to match your "new" rod.

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