What Taper Rod For Squidding

[Wantingaboat]

Hi All. Just a question that i i have been curious about of late. I used to use a cheap shimano catana rod for my squidding and used to have fair success. A while back i got myself a TD Advantage which as you may know is a fast taper rod. I have noticed that since then my squid catching ability has suffered but not sure if its just the lack of squid around. Do any raiders have any opinions as to whether the squid prefer a little give when they grab the jig thus making slow tapered rods better suited to squidding? Cheers for aany info. Mike.

[slinkymalinky]

G'day Mike,

Longer, slightly softer rods are definitely my preference. It's easy to lose squid if there's no give in the system. Try backing your drag off a fair bit to compensate for the faster taper rod.

Cheers, Slinky

[Young Gun]

I agree with slinky, defiantly long say around a 7ft rod with abit of give is my prefrence when squidding. Also a 2-4kg rod.

Cheers YG

Edited January 13, 2010 by Young Gun

[hottyscotty]

if you look at japanese specialised egi rods, they're all very soft and whippy

[Wantingaboat]

Thanks for the replies. I do back off my drag when squidding but will back off a bit more. I think i will just buy a crap rod that is really flimsy and use that and keep my TD rod for bream and flathead.

[jlloyd]

I kinda agree but have had a lot of success with very light drag set up on a 2-4 kg IM-6 graphite rod. The rod enables me to feel hits better and control the jig whilst when a squid hits and sticks the light drag stops him pulling off the spikes. I set drag just (and only just) above that required to move the jig. I find now with whippy rods I don't catch anything as I can't feel the hits as well

[customcasting]

by far the best squid ive used was made from a Salmon/Steelhead lamiglas blank with a 18 inch custom butt ,i made it up with the same titanium guide used on the top shelf jap egi rods , the blank number was XMG126-2ML

this was made as rock fishing squid ,it also is the best blackfish i have used . rod is under 200 grams in weidht and 12 foot long 3 piece ,

[ant180]

It's all well and good to set a low drag, but I have hooked some monster squid before that have pulled considerable drag and taken me into the kelp. A bit more drag and a soft rod does the trick now. And all you guys fishing 2-4kg rods with no backbone would have a hell of a time lifting a monster up onto a rock platform!

[Mik]

Ditto as above on the softer rods for squidding, also you didn't mention braid or mono. If your running braid try adding a few extra metres to your leader in mono (Top shot say about 3-4 metres & tie with an albright so if will handle the guides easily. I run this on a reasonably fast tapered rod with 6Lbs braid topshotted with 4 metres of 6Lb mono.Might just give you that extra bit of give your looking for.

PS - this isn't setup only for squid, its my 6 year old sons rod & I ran braid coz I feel in love with it for flicking small plastic myself....hehehe now he has to get in quick to grab his own rod!

Edited January 27, 2010 by Boofhead

[Jewhunter]

It's all well and good to set a low drag, but I have hooked some monster squid before that have pulled considerable drag and taken me into the kelp. A bit more drag and a soft rod does the trick now. And all you guys fishing 2-4kg rods with no backbone would have a hell of a time lifting a monster up onto a rock platform!

Sorry Ant but I disagree.

I usually use a 2-4kg quality 7ft bream stick with 4 kg braid & flouro leader. I've landed some massive squid in the harbour landbased with this outfit.

No matter what setup you use if you try to lift a big squid into a boat or up a rock platform you will more than likely end up with a couple of tentacles on your jig rather than the squid. Net or wash up big squid if you can.

Cheers,

Grant.

[disturb3d]

When squidding, i use my Shimano Jewel (1-4kg) rod. The rod has enough give to secure hookups. Though i haven't landed any monster squids, most of my squidding is for bait around the wharfs or structures. I used to use my pfluger trion (2-4kg) but the Shimano i believe has better flexibility with the same amount of durability.

I guess it really depends what type of squid you're really targeting and where

Cheers

Mark

[jlloyd]

I agree that a light rod and light drag is the way to go. I caught some big winter middle harbour squid on my 2-4 kg Berkley dropshot rod. As for drag it all depends on where you are, sight fishing at this time of year off wharves in the harbour I use very light drag. If fishing with dead baits with a spike off north head for big southerns I up the drag. For bigger squid a net is essential.