The Lure only dives to 1.2m and I was already working it slow, stop, let it float, wind slow, etc etc along the bank so I guess I was working no more than 20-30cm of water. I was standing on a small slippy grass ledge so I could flick the lure away to my right one handed whilst still keeping my balance. The short rod is fantastic for this as you can almost point the tip straight down and bring the lure to your feet, then the shadow appeared. Do I wind or do I stay still, too late, wallop off it went. It took the lure with the 18" wire trace hard up against the rod tip, it was that close to my feet. Anyway I played it and banked it and nearly went in myself but the Pike had shook the trebles and it was hanging on by it's outer lip. Quick picture and it was back in the water. Never thought to drop the rod and reel down into the picture, that said it probably would have gone in with the Pike knowing me, there wasn't much room to move about.
Mike, I've got a Tenryu Shasta BC-62M teamed up with a black Revo SX and yellow 20lb PPro. Stiff little rod. Pulled a 12lb'er up from 60ft down on Grafham water with it last autumn. No probs and that was on 10lb PPro.
http://fishing.tenryu-magna.com/info/shasta.html
