[Mike Kennard]

Those who haven't already taken the plunge and bought an LRF outfit of some sort my be thinking about justifying the cost of it for what appears at first some very specialised kit. It is actually far more versatile than you might at first think. Below is a list of what you can target using LRF type kit. Bear in mind though LRF rods have a quite specific action but that doesn't mean they can't be used for other species. Think about these, they are all species I have caught on LRF or equivalent power tackle:

Saltwater:
Mackerel
Garfish
Scad
Pollack
Pout
Whiting
Bream
Flounder

Freshwater:
Perch
Chub
Trout
Shad
Jack pike

I am sure there are many more. Just I haven't caught them yet!!!! It is always the first rod in the bag for holidays too. The end tackle takes up hardly any room and the other half may not even notice it has been packed.... What are you waiting for?!?!

 

[Keith White]

great post Mike...

Plenty out there all year round for the lure angler too.

 

[Dave Irving]

It really does make you sit back and think, just how many targets are available to LRF tackle and techniques.
There would have to be very few venues that wouldn't offer up at least a couple of species at pretty much any time of year.
Plus scaling up to Chinu rods allows those same techniques to be used against larger species (yes that includes bass), as a mid level between LRF and HRF.

Finally the technique and tackle are here to make a star of one the most under-rated species in british waters-MACKEREL. I can't wait.

Oh Keith, I have contacted a source of the AliCaro's will let you if it comes to anything.

 

[Simon L]

Yep, on my 0.6g - 7.0g LRF rod, with 6lb line, i recently landed a 5lb Pike.

 

[NeilMacfarlane]

Yes agree with you all.

I am only starting this year and have bought modest gear but two sets of everything - one for me, one for my son. We are having fantastic fun for a fairly small outlay (Cormoran Black Bull 5-15g rods and Rovex reels with Power pro braid). As has been well posted here, loads to go for all year round and I am sure would work in many European waters too.Amazing to think I fished for only mackerel for just a few weeks a year before now...

And how much would it cost to take my son to watch his team in London. Once. Plus flights. And a hotel etc. You can buy a hell of a lot down at Mr Fish with that kind of money

Fishing is actually saving us money. Thats what we tell our fishing permissions officer, anyway.

 

[Andy Marquis]

You will be surprised what LRF rods can handle. We had the shimano boys over a while back and I showed them my salty Shot in 2-10g. Gave the the rod, held on to the lure and told him to try and max the rod out. He couldn't, they do not lock up. Ok, so that's a more pricey LRF rod but the potential is there. Will have to take it rockie bashing and see what happens!!

 

[Ritchie Campion]

Yep, on my 0.6g - 7.0g LRF rod, with 6lb line, i recently landed a 5lb Pike.

:shock:

RESPECT!

 

[Adrian]

Yep, on my 0.6g - 7.0g LRF rod, with 6lb line, i recently landed a 5lb Pike.

I've got to say I'm still a little puzzled about the difference between LRF and ultralite (if there is a definition for each). It seems to me that UL is used to target the usual range of species of (full size) fish whereas LRF is used to target mini species or at least smaller sizes of the usual species? I was introduced to UL about 6 years ago by 2 guys that have been doing it since the 80's and, until this summer, I have used nothing else. I've had near double figure bass, pollack to 8lb, pike to 17lb, chub to 7lb, all on similar size gear to what you mention Simon. I've even had several 8lb pike on my UUL gear (casts up to 3g). To me, the beauty of UL is that you catch big and small fish, meaning you catch lots more fish throughout the size range, which has to be the best of both worlds surely? I've only gone up in size this year in order to give myself greater casting range for more open sea use.

One criticsm often laid at UL is that you can't land big fish quickly and that they therefore tire from a long fight. Simply not true in my experience. I find that a fish can generally be "guided" without undue pressure whereas bullying a fish and just winching it in usually causes a reaction which prolongs the fight. Interested to hear what others have to say on that.

 

[Keith White]

If you want to know the differences I'd suggest reading this forum in depth and my blog where It's 'development' was logged almost daily.

I'm not prepared to spend hours going over old ground but I can assure you, it isn't what you or anyone else was doing 5 years ago yet alone 25.

The gear didn't exist and many of the LRF techniques are so new even the japanese don't know about them.

Light gear fishing in one form or another has always existed but it wasn't LRF.

Much like guys have caught Wrasse on lures in the past but, not a focused exercise and mostly by accident, but HRF, as you can plainly see, takes it to heights 'never' before seen.

I know people have contested this, which in hindsight is easy...
But show the evidence to support it ?, no, because it doesn't exist.

no-one is knocking the old ways but they are not even remotely close to 'real' LRF and HRF techniques and associated modern equipment.

 

[Mike Kennard]

I think that the original UL outfits has its roots in trout and panfish type fishing whereas LRF originated in Japan. They do both in Japan too. Very different techniques and rods to suit. Older style UL rods tend to be very soft and often 'parabolic' in action where as LRF rods tend to be faster. Different techniques, different applications, different lures but both 'forms' of UL.
I suppose you could describe LRF as a specialised form of UL.

 

[Keith White]

put better than I did it Mike...cheers.

Its about the actual 'way' gear is used too though.

On older equipment (I know because I did it, or tried it) you would have have no chance with the tiny lures and OTD methods we favour for British LRF.
Remember, OTD is a 'British, or Jersey' development as the Japanese rarely do it if at all. Especially the very long drop stuff.

Let me go back 10 years, super light mono's and say, a freshwater wand as a solid tip and the equivalent in tubular tip.

Yes, you'd get to cast, throw small 3g heads and lures but OTD detection would be nigh on impossible. Trust me, I have an modern LRF kit dedicated to 3lb FC line and OTD isn't remotely close, sensitivity wise to the guys that were using their red rods and 30lb PP lines last winter. We think nothing of working 0.5g heads with 1g lures of less than an inch at good ranges. FEEL and BALANCE with this equipment is so cutting edge I've got blood between the keys writing this down...LOL

So, basically, it didn't work before, couldn't have worked before...

Why ?

Gear isn't matched to the 'method', the 'weight' the 'lure' or the quarry.

LRF has it roots laid down as superlight, (solid and tubular tipped rods) 0.2 - 0.8PE 8 carrier lines (thin as 4oz mono or less !) and rods the weight of a packet of cigarettes.

Like I've said, i'm not knocking what has gone before or been developed in parallel (if anything has been ?) but seriously, anyone who thinks LRF is old rebooted UL fishing is in for a shock when really introduced to it proper. It is mental and super addictive.

 

[Steve Lewis]

Same here, Adam has caught a 7lb Pike on a 1-12gm rod with 6lb braid, great fun

 

[Jon Bunyard]

Yep, on my 0.6g - 7.0g LRF rod, with 6lb line, i recently landed a 5lb Pike.

did this one wrap you around a tree? if so, bad angling...

 

[Simon L]

did this one wrap you around a tree? if so, bad angling...

You should know . . . . . you netted it out for me .

 

[Jon Bunyard]

Finally the technique and tackle are here to make a star of one the most under-rated species in british waters-MACKEREL. I can't wait.

Dave
I targetted Mackeral using a Teklon 702 - not quite LRF but near - whilst in Ireland during August. Battling such a pwerfull fish on a light rod with a 7g lure was brilliant fun. Of course all locals around me with teh beach casters casting out a string of feathers on a 4 oz lead thought I was mad until an old guy turned up with a light rod and a simple Mepps Spinner and outfished everyone by at least 3 fish to 1!

next year I am going to target the mackies on a 1 to 7g rod, and I cant wait!

 

[Dave Irving]

I know it has been said before, but if only Mackerel grew to the size of bass. I wouldn't fish for anything else.
It is worth mentioning that the trend towards warmer seas is bringing Bonito closer and closer to the UK. I wouldn't be surprised if the Jersey boat guys start seeing them more regularly in the next few years.

 

[Matt Newcombe]

I know it has been said before, but if only Mackerel grew to the size of bass. I wouldn't fish for anything else

Uk shore record Mackeral - 5-11-14 Berry Head, Brixham M A Kemp 1982:shock::-o:-D
If only there were common that size eh.

 

[Dave Irving]

Matt,
I have seen that weight quoted so many times over the years, But just try and find a photo-and there would have been one-For the record claim. There are also reports of a 6-2-2 "mackerel" caught a few years later, but again impossible to find photo's.
I would bet quite alot of money on that fish being a Bonito, rather than an Atlantic Mackerel.
Largest Mackerel I have ever found through research is a touch over 3lb, and I have caught them to just over 2lb - But I keep my fingers crossed that one fine day, I will hit into a monster.
Best place for big Mackerel used to be a couple of marks near Plymouth around the middle of Oct, used to regularly throw up 2lb'ers. And trust me that is a big hard fighting fish. 20g Silver tobies on 8lb clear mono used to work a treat.

 

[Matt Newcombe]

Have taken Mackeral to just over 2lb around Plymouth on spinners. My Grandad' had a good few to of 3lb from his boat on baited feathers over the years. Not that common though.

That's an interesting point about the Bonito, possibly being the UK record Mackeral. Strange there is no photo evidence, '82 wasn't that long ago.

 

[Tim Murphy]

T'other day my mate showed me the rod he got for his 14th birthday, that was 48 years ago. This was the equivalent of UL or LRF in those days, he used this rod for many years just walking the streams casting a worm for the tiny wild trout we get here. The difference between his rod and my ULX is astronomic! I'm sure it was three times the weight and such a soft action.