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Post by mspaddler on Nov 9, 2013 22:43:37 GMT
Wow Dave what a Grayling. Congratulations!
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Post by orangeotter on Nov 10, 2013 10:34:37 GMT
Flatsghost: ref the ESO 410 7:3 - as you know, I use it on the Dee a lot and do feel that it's a better tool than a 6:4 when it comes to controlling large fish in heavier flows. Also, it will cast heavier nymphs better, even up to 3mm tungsten. I believe a soft rod prolongs the 'fight' to the detriment of the fish.
Hope this helps.
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Post by flatsghost on Nov 10, 2013 11:24:37 GMT
Thanks a lot Louis for your input. You make several good points which are all valid in a big river such as the Wye. Will be in touch over Wye trip soon. Cheers Glyn
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Post by custheyder on Nov 11, 2013 14:11:51 GMT
Hi Glyn
This is a big river, big fish rod but it will still protect a 7x tippet. The extra backbone really gives you a chance to dig those fish out of heavy flows and as Louis said, the shorted the fight the better.
Having said it will protect a 7x tippet I wouldn't recommend going so light is you are using heavy nymphs in strong flows. 5x or 6x would be a better choice so you can use more side pressure to knock the fish off balance and tire it quickly.
Daniel.
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Post by flatsghost on Nov 11, 2013 16:51:39 GMT
Thanks Daniel I will have to speak to Santa! Did you get the Dr. Ishigaki picture by the way? Tight lines Glyn
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Post by daves on Nov 16, 2013 16:30:02 GMT
Today the ESO 410 6:4 once again proved how good it is for coping with big fish on 5x tippet. This has become my 'Go To' big grayling rod since it has both the reach & the progressive action needed for the big Driffield Beck fish.
I was again targeting the big Driffield Beck grayling as when I got my recent 3lb 2oz fish it had an even bigger partner. The big grayling were located straight away & third cast the bigger of the two took my UVSP Shrimp. It turned out to be 49cm from snout to fork of tail (2.5cm longer than the other fish). Unfortunately I'd not got my weighing scales, but if anything it was a bit chunkier than the other one & I estimated it at a good 3lb 4oz plus (undoubtedly a PB). In the 30 minute session I also had a baby grayling of 27cm, a trout of approximately 40cm & a 53cm trout. The latter cavorted all over the pool & well & truely jammed up my top two sections. I was amazed at the ESO's ability to soak up the surges of both big fish & at no time did I feel that the tippet would not hold, although I was fearful that my knots might not have been well enough tied!
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Post by flatsghost on Nov 16, 2013 18:06:50 GMT
Great photos Dave and even better fish. Well done on the big grayling; a well proportioned and beautiful fish. I have this rod and reading reports likes this gives confidence in terms of what it can do (with a decent angler on the end of course!!) Thanks a lot Glyn
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Post by phil on Nov 18, 2013 8:07:07 GMT
Fantastic fish Dave. My preferred rod the Nissin 410 6:4 like the ESO 410 6:4 can handle a good fish no problems.
Would love to have you show me around Driffield sometime. Looks awesome.
Tight lines
Phil
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Post by daves on Nov 18, 2013 9:17:55 GMT
I'd be happy to show you around Driffield Beck, but must warn you that there are virtually no grayling left in most parts of the Beck due to cormorants (a flock of over 300 worked the valley last winter). Since June 16th this year I've only seen a handful of big grayling & have only caught 6 weighing 1lb 8oz, 2lb 3oz, 2lb 3oz (a different fish), 2lb 8oz, 3lb 2oz & the last fish estimated at 3lb 8oz (49cm). This despite walking & looking 2 or 3 times a week.
I spent 3 days either side of the Grayling Society Symposium trying to get several Grayling Soc. members into a big Driffield Beck grayling & we never located a single fish!!!!
The river used to be stuffed with grayling, mostly in the 1 to 2lb range with a few bigger ones, but now it is just a few monsters & isolated smaller ones that manage to evade the cormorants, herons & otters. I fear that grayling may become extinct in Driffield Beck within my lifetime!!!!
The fish tend to stay in a spot for quite a time. The 2lb 8oz fish was in the same spot from April till the end of July (when the water got too low). As a result I can be pretty sure which fish I've already caught so I can avoid them on future sessions, thus not stressing them by repeat captures.
I'm lucky as I live 5 minutes from the water so can visit any time I want.
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Post by custheyder on Nov 18, 2013 9:18:06 GMT
Okay, the Driffield has to go on my list of rivers to fish next season. Thank you for the pictures and endorsement of how well my rods handle larger fish in strong flows. Replacement tip sections on the way!
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Post by paul1966 on Nov 19, 2013 1:12:08 GMT
Great fish well done!
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Post by daves on Nov 25, 2013 17:41:01 GMT
I got back this morning at 12.30am from a 4 day course on the Italian Casting Style held at Ascoli in Italy: a very enjoyable & informative trip where I qualified as a Basic Level Instructor in this method of casting that adds another string to my bow in situations where Tenkara is ineffective but where drag-free drifts are important. I was pretty jaded after this very intensive course but wanted to try out the new ESO 410 7:3 rod that Daniel sent me just before I left for Italy. So I popped down to the Driffield Beck for half an hour or so. The big grayling weren't playing but I did get a brownie of about 40cm which gave the rod a decent test. It wasn't as stiff in the butt as the ESO 360 7:3 and I really liked the way it handled the trout firmly yet softening the surging runs nicely, thus protecting the tippet from sudden shock-loading. NICE ONE Daniel!Then I saw 3 fish rising beyond the range I could cover with the Tenkara so I gave the Italian Casting a go with the new 7' 6" Maxia rod that I'd recently received, 16' leader & tippet & size 20 shuttlecock . In 5 casts all 3 were caught; unfortunately all brownies from 40 to 50cm! Two very different but equally great methods which compliment each other very well!!! Anyone interested in the Italian Casting Techniques should have a go at the February 2014 BFFI where Massimo Magliocco & some of his team will have a stand & will be demonstrating & teaching. Bye the way, there is a rapidly increasing interest in Tenkara in Italy & there was a shop in Ascoli selling all the Tenkara USA gear.
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Post by phil on Nov 25, 2013 21:55:52 GMT
Great stuff Dave. Good job with the Italian Casting Style Instructor too. Looks very dynamic.
Cheers
Phil
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Post by custheyder on Nov 26, 2013 10:52:03 GMT
Thank you Dave. The slightly different feel is due to the extra length which I think is much more suitable to a stiffer rod action. A greater length of tip flexes in the cast with a bigger butt section for the real monsters. It still maintains the ratio but has a softer feel because of the differences. I'm really proud of how this rod casts and it's fish stopping ability.
Cheers
Daniel.
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Post by daves on Nov 28, 2013 15:56:52 GMT
I had a second chance to try out the ESO 410 7:3 rod today as I had been asked to demonstrate Tenkara to a group of Bishop Burton College students studying fore an environmental course. Firstly I showed them the casting with a level line (10' 3 weight copolymer plus 4' of tippet) & then let them have a try. After this I took them to a pool on Driffield Beck where I knew there were a few grayling. The fish were there but were uninterested in the bugs, shrimps & nymphs that I offered them. Fortunately just before they were due to leave a couple of risers were seen so I changed to a size 20 Shuttlecock. I missed the take of the first riser, Sod's Law!!! However the second riser was well hooked & turned out to be a 1lb 8oz grayling so they left convinced of the value of Tenkara.
The ESO 410 7:3 cast the light copolymer line perfectly & handled the grayling very easily. It is really nice rod for targeting larger trout & big grayling, being firm yet forgiving & very easy to cast.
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