I’ve had some feedback from one or two anglers from my recent comments about the use of quiver-tip rods for pike and zander.

Now this type of fishing I do is not about casting large sea baits – herring mackerel etc – but course fish baits of up to four-to five-inches fished on a wire trace with one or two size 4single hooks. I only use this method on rivers or canals.

The rods I use are not the usual quiver-tip for small fish but purpose-made for the job in hand.

I have used this type of rod for course and sea fishing with good results 20lb pike, 30lb carp, double-figure salmon and sea fish of equal size.

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Something a lot of anglers don't know is that for more than 20 years, I was a rod design consutant for a major player in the international market and I’ve always advocated the use of rods which bend from tip to reel.

This type of rod will tire a pike much quicker than the broomsticks used by most pike anglers.

My rods cast to the other side of the river, not into the next county! I have also taught all aspects of angling including pike.

You see if you have a correctly balanced rod, you don’t need strong breaking-strains.

An all-through action rod with 10-12lb line will be stronger than a stiff rod with 15-20lb line.

A fine example of this was while fishing in France for carp I had a run and 1hr 15min later I landed a 110lb catfish. This was using a soft rod and 12lb line – no problem.

On the matter of pike safety, I think the tackle manufacturers should not sell a lure or plug without a wire trace.

These two items should be integral and the environment agency should make unhooking mats compulsory, just like your licence.

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