TACKLE TIPS - SHAKESPEARE UGLY STIK CONGER ROD
 

I've used a variety of rods and found few that really suit this sort of heavy fishing in big tides with perhaps as much as 3 lbs of lead to nail the big fish baits to the sea bed, where these species are found.

Some rods I've used have been stiffer than a broomstick and provided limited bite indication as a result.  Other (often very expensive) rods have a far softer action and show every bite clearly, but seem to lack the necessary backbone when a big fish has been hooked and a hard fight ensues.

A few weeks ago, I bought one of the new range of "Conger" rods produced by Shakespeare Fishing Tackle as a recent addition to their "Ugly Stik" range.

The model I chose was the 50 lb class "Conger" rod, although they do also produce a 30 lb version, if this is too heavy for you.

At 7' 9" these rods are a little longer than many of the heavy "stand up" style boat rods which are currently in vogue.  The extra length is welcome.

It is a shiny gloss black blank with gold coloured "titanium" lined eyes well secured to it.

The main section of the rod blank, together with the front part of the grip, is held securely into the butt by a solid screw fitting.  It is located correctly by twin lugs into the reel seat which effectively prevents it from twisting under load..

The grip is of "Duplon" closed cell foam and is properly secured so that it does not come loose from the blank and twist in your hand.

This rod really does look "the business".

The screw reel seat fitting is of black anodised aluminium.  It too is properly secured to the blank.

The portion of the grip below the reel seat is not too long and the rod sits well in a butt pad when you pump a big fish up from deep water.  It seems to place the reel handle in just the right place.

In use, the extremity of the tip clearly shows any bite.  It is very responsive.

When a big fish is hooked, you really get to feel the power in this rod blank.  You can put the pressure on a big fish to get it quickly away from the wreck.  You can use this rod to effectively bully the hard fighting bigger specimens so that you can wrestle them to the surface on your own terms.  This rod has serious backbone.

On our first trip out with it, my Wife Patsy used it to break our Paignton S.A. club lady's records for both Conger and Ling.  She actually broke three records that day and two records, Conger and Ling, fell to this rod.  She told me she loves it, so I had to go out and buy another for myself.  I love mine too.  First impressions are very positive.

We have used them with both  Shimano TLD 50 and TLD 30 lever drag two speed reels loaded with monofilament lines.  It feels just right with a big powerful reel.

Expect to pay about £80 at discount for this rod.  It's worth every penny.

Mike Concannon - 23rd November, 2003