the newts.net

I’ve fished in some cold weather but this was just ridiculous…
(click to enlarge pictures)

This is what happened to my short baitcaster rod while pike fishing at Bardney Lock a few days before Christmas.  After noticing what was happening I put my rod down and tried to remove some of the ice build up from the end eye.  The ice was very crisp and solid and I couldn’t remove it without using considerable force and risking damaging the eye.  By this time the line had frozen solid through every eye on the rod except the butt eye.

It took two hours for my rod to thaw out!

You wouldn’t mind freezing your b*ll*cks off for a nice double figure personal best Pike, but we didn’t catch a bean.  I tell a lie, this is probably when I caught the flu that laid me up for most of Christmas!

I quite fancy one of these little fellas, they look pretty damn neat. Having seen one for the first time; this one actually, I’ve had a bit of a surf around and it seems there’s a few different outlets in the UK selling these mini fishing rods. They however all seem to be the same rod, whereas the one in the video above seems to be somewhat better quality.

The 2008 model of the Pen Fishing Rod Extreme is a little longer than the common model that’s currently floating around the internet. The Extreme looks the same size as normal pen rods while collapsed, but when it is extended it measures a respectable 4′ 9”, almost 1 foot longer than it’s predecessor. I also saw mentioned on the website that these rods feature titanium line guides right through to the end eye and incorporate a pressed aluminium oxide insert in every eye. I very much doubt the cheaper versions are built to that standard, and unlike cheaper versions, the Pen Extreme comes with a choice of reels including a fly reel, a graphite rear drag, an aluminium rear drag or a bait caster.

It looks a quality little piece of equipment. I’m not totally convinced about the whole keeping it in your ‘briefcase’ thing, not for me anyway, and how many ’suits’ do you see at the riverbank on their dinner hour? However, it’s definitely a gadget worth having on you if you on a recce mission, checking new waters out, or even just an hour or three of an evening at your local water. And brought along to a proper fishing session, I can see this little gem could provide some quality entertainment while killing time listening out for bite alarms on your carp rods or your pike dead baits.

All for the price of a couple of rapala lures or a maybe a day ticket?? It’s hard to resist! So I won’t!

Shame they don’t sell them in the UK, but you can get your hands on one from ‘across the pond’ with the very nice people at penfishingrods.com where you can also read up a bit more on these great little rods and take advantage of the current two dollars to the pound exchange rate making these rods effectively HALF PRICE!

***PLUS***

If you read the kind comments left by Michael, the CEO of penfishingrods.com, if you mention the newts.net when you order one of these rods you will receive either a discount or, at no extra charge, faster shipping!

Mine’s on order. Well I say mine, it’s actually a birthday present for a mate, but as soon as the 2008 model aluminium rear drag reels are in stock I’ll be placing my second order. So folks, watch this space where I’ll post some more photo’s and a review of the rod in action. Maybe a little bit of video if we get the chance!