Back-Bouncing Rods. gear review Back-Bouncing Rods

gear review Back-Bouncing Rods Back-Bouncing Rods Back-bouncing is one of the most exciting methods to target salmon, it can also be one of the most effective assuming you use the correct rod. By eric martin Few things will get a salmon fisherman s blood pumping faster than a good bite. The savage attack of a plug bite, the slam on a spinner, the nerve racking chomp-chomp-chomp on a herring, a peacefully drifting bobber suddenly slipping beneath the surface are moments that become burned into memory and fuel fervent salmon addicts to pursue their quarry through hell and high water. But when it comes to bites, it is those that are felt that are held in the highest of reverence. Nothing compares to holding a rod and feeling the very instant a salmon picks up your bait; and when it comes to feeling the bite, back-bouncing reigns supreme. In a matter of milliseconds, a flood of thoughts and impulses overwhelms your body as you prepare to set the hook. Every little bump and bite telegraphs up your line, through the rod, and blasts your sensory system like an electrical current. Your heart races, muscles in your hand and arm tense, neurons fire off in your brain as part of your consciousness says, wait for it, wait for it while yet another part says, set the hook! You hold your breath. Seconds drag on like hours waiting for the fish to fully eric martin photo lamiglas ] x80 hbc gh 8', 15-40lb, 1-8oz Mod/ $330, lamiglas.com Targeting big fish in big water? Check out the all new X80 HBC GH by Lamiglas. A blend of intermediate and high modulus graphite allows for great and durability while providing the optimal moderate-fast needed in a big water back-bouncer. Power in the tip was impressive; easily handling weights of 8 ounces without feeling soft. Power through the butt was excellent, and 12 guides provide plenty of line clearance even when maximum pressure is being put to big fish. Though described by Lamiglas as a monster of a back bouncer, don t be afraid and think this just some lifeless pool cue of a rod. The X80 HBC GH is actually quite slim in profile when compared to other magnum bouncers, and feels very light and comfortable. The graphite handles not only fit well in hand, but allow for easy cleaning of bait goo and fish slime at the end of the day. The X80 HBC GH is one of two models of back bouncers available from Lamiglas. * * + + 58

salmonandsteelheadjournal.com daiwa ] dxs801hfb 8', 10-30lb, 1-6oz $79.95, daiwa.com For anglers who are looking for quality rods that will leave enough money in your wallet for bait and boat gas, check out the new DXS line of salmon and steelhead rods by Daiwa. The DXS801HFB features a core of IM7 graphite, dressed out in a sharp, matte black finish with quality Fuji guides and reel seat. The second lightest bouncer in the review, the DXS801HFB balanced nicely and remained comfortable after hours of bouncing. Rated for 1 to 6 ounce weights, the best performance was found through the 1 to 4 ounce range. Weights exceeding 4 ounces left the tip feeling a bit undered. Deflection with a 6 ounce weight was 9 inches, resulting in an elastic feel which required a greater range of motion to lift the weight. Sensitivity was good, and could likely be improved a bit with an exposed blank reel seat. The DXS801NFB would be a good fit to smaller waters and fish upwards of 20 pounds. There are two back bouncers available in the DXS line. All DXS rods carry a 5 year warranty. st. croix ] wrc80hf2 8', 15-40lb, 3/4-3oz Two-Piece $190, stcroixrods.com The St. Croix Wild River WRC80HF2 is the only two piece back bouncer in the review, which is very beneficial to safe and secure travel and storage, especially if you are someone dealing with the confines of a small vehicle or boat., the WRC80HF2 felt quite comfortable in hand and balanced nicely. The bulb shaped foregrip fits the palm of your hand well, and the exposed blank Fuji reel seat enhances. The fast results in a very responsive tip for watching subtle bites. Participants in the review felt if primarily utilized on smaller water where bouncing weights of 1- to 3 ounces is most common while targeting fish in the 15-20 pound class, the WRC80HF2 is an excellent choice. berkley ] a92-7-9hb 7'9", 15-50lb, 1/2-4oz $99.95, berkley-fishing.com Since its creation, the popular AIR line of rods by Berkley has been a hit with anglers for dependable performance and budget friendly prices. The new IM8 series features advanced modulus graphite which provides great strength, lighter overall weight, and good. The A92-7-9HB performed very well with weights within its rated range of ½ to 4 ounces, and overall also felt quite good. Special titanium carbide plated stainless steel guides are extremely strong and durable and are a great fit to fishing with braided super lines. The reel seat allows for a very large area of blank to be exposed, greatly enhancing transmission of subtle vibrations into your hand. However, two of the reels used during testing would not work in the reel seat; one due to the reel foot being not being able fit into the rear pocket, and the foot on another being short enough that when the seat is fully tightened down, the reel was still able to slide forward and pull out of the seat. 59

gear review Back-Bouncing Rods commit to the bait. Finally, you come back on the rod and feel the reassuring headshakes of a well-hooked chinook. Fish on! Not only is back-bouncing one of the most exciting methods to target salmon, it can also be one of the most effective. Salmon are notorious for congregating and sulking in deep holes with strong, boiling current conditions that render most techniques and presentation useless. However, using boats or even bank structures such as rocky points and ledges, you ll find that by positioning yourself upstream of a likely hole, heavy weights can be used to keep baits close to the bottom and in the zone, while utilizing the current to slowly walk the offering back through the hole by repeatedly lifting the rod, letting out a bit of line, then lowering the rod to once again make contact with the bottom. Every time the lead makes contact with the bottom, vital bits of information on depth, current speed, and bottom composition are relayed back to you while holding the rod. Combine this information with where bites occur and you can paint a picture of every hole fished, identifying particular features or areas where fish hold, increasing efficiency. ROD DESIGN Effective back-bouncing requires very technique specific rod design. Rods must be capable of handling heavy lead weights, provide the needed for solid hook sets and controlling fish, for reading the bottom and detecting bites, comfort and maneuverability to be held in hand all day, and quality to withstand rugged use. Back-bouncing rods typically run 7 feet, 6 inches to 8 feet, 2 inches in length. This allows for a well-balanced rod, one that is easy to maneuver and feels comfortable. Longer rods require more effort to bounce, can feel tip heavy causing fatigue in your wrist, forearm and shoulder ultimately making for a miserable day on the water. Shorter length also benefits the overall EDITOR S BEST BUY SALMON & STEELHEAD JOURNAL wright ] & mcgill wmescbb79c1 7'9", 15-40lb, 1-4oz $99, wright-mcgill.com Utilizing ultra-durable and super strong T-Glass and high-density graphite S Curve Technology, the WMESCBB79C1 proved to be an incredibly ful rod with great. Though the weight rating tops out at 4 ounces, we tested weights nearly double that with impressive results. Even the biggest chinook would be no match for this rod. Sensitivity was fair and may be improved a bit with an exposed blank reel seat. was also good, with the zirconium ringed guides offering excellent durability with super braid lines. The non-slip rubberized grips cleaned off nicely and did provide good grip even when wet, especially the triangle shaped foregrip; however the enlarged portion of the grip at the base of the reel seat felt a bit awkward when trying to hold and palm the reel while bouncing. One participant in the review with large hands commented that the larger grip sizes on the WMESCBB79C1 felt very comfortable in his hand. S-Curve Salmon Rods feature a Limited Lifetime Warranty. * + g.loomis ] sabbr965c 8', 17-40lb, 2-8oz Mag $310, gloomis.com Whether targeting spring chinook with big lead in the strong flows of late spring, or gargantuan fall chinook fighting their way up the low flows of late fall, the SABBR965C by G. Loomis will handle just about anything you can throw at it. The and of the SABBR965C easily controlled weights from 2 to 8 ounces, while also packing the muscle needed for solid hook sets and corralling hard-charging fish. Sensitivity was good, and the overall balance and comfort over long periods of use was nice also. The light and strong Fuji Alconite guides work well with braided lines and feature compact thread wraps with perfect epoxy. The gunmetal colored blank looks very sharp, and the cork is excellent with few defects. It would be nice to see the reel seat changed to one featuring an exposed blank design for enhanced and better fit in hand. There are two models of back bouncer available in the Salmon Series of rods by G. Loomis. * * + + 60

SALMON & STEELHEAD JOURNAL salmonandsteelheadjournal.com E D I T O R S P I C K edge ] SBB 806-1 IM 8', 12-25lb, 1-6oz Mod/ $497, edgerods.com Perfect, awesome, superb and customizable made the SBB 806-1 (IM) a unanimous favorite of the back bouncing aficionados who helped with the review. The SBB 806-1 felt very light and comfortable over long periods of use. The of the tip was excellent throughout the range of rated weights and the overall of the rod allowed for solid hook sets and nice, uniform load distribution while also providing excellent. Unique to EDGE Rods, is the ability for consumers to customize the configuration of their specific dream rod. Everything from grip material, reels seats, guides and layout can be selected by the consumer to create a custom rod to best fit their specific usage or taste. The SBB 806 reviewed was customized with spiral wrapped REC guides, reducing weight and rod torque, carbon fiber grips for and ease of cleaning, and a Black Widow reel seat exposing the entire blank under the reel for maximum in hand. Three back bouncers are available from EDGE Rods. *MSRP for stock configuration shimano ] cvc80mhb 8', 10-20lb, 1-3oz Med/ $79.95, fish.shimano.com The Convergence CVC- 80MHB back-bouncer by Shimano produced an impressive performance during the review to match its impressive price. The CVC80MHB had a very nice that worked well within the rated weight range of 1 to 3 ounces. Usage with weights over 3 ounces, however, did hinder performance. All participants in the review found the overall of the rod to be quite impressive, and the IM7 graphite provides excellent durability. The reel seat is not an exposed blank style, and instead features a split design with a glossy, slim barrel that felt very comfortable and easy to grip, while also transmitting vibrations quite well. The economical CVC80MHB would be a great option for those who most frequently fish areas requiring only a couple ounces of weight. It would be nice to see more than one model of bouncer available in the Convergence line; particularly heavier options for big water strong current applications where weights of 6 to 8 ounces may be necessary. All Convergence rods carry a lifetime, over the counter replacement warranty. river creek ] rods sabb956-1 7'11", 12-25lb, 1/2-3oz Mod/ $365, rivercreekrods.com With a background spanning nearly 25 years involving some of the biggest names in the fishing rod industry, as well as being a custom rod builder and diehard angler, River Creek Rods owner Greg Cobb understands the expectations anglers demand from a high quality fishing rod. The SABB965-1 felt very light and well balanced. The blank features a blend of high modulus and intermediate modulus graphite built using a fiberglassfree scrim, which benefits weight savings, and durability. The felt perfect and the was also good. The Fuji SK2 split reel seat exposed a large section of the blank, allowing for secure comfortable grip and enhanced. Titanium REC guides help keep overall weight to a minimum while offering great durability. A pure titanium tip with silicon carbide ring will never corrode or chip, and is excellent for use with braided lines. Slim,.874 graphite handles provide a secure, comfortable grip and clean up easily. There are five models of back-bouncers available from River Creek Rods. All River Creek Rods come with a lifetime warranty. * * * * * + + + + + 61

River Creek Rods Inc. Owners Greg Cobb and John Lubinsky rivercreekrods.com gear review Back-Bouncing Rods Making rods with only the best parts on the market. Example: REC guides only, HM material made with 57 million Modulus. 40% lighter than others in the industry. Carbon Fiber handles on all rods that our smaller diameter than any in the industry. Rods are designed to be fished all day without tiring you out Complete Lifetime warranty that exceeds all other warranties in the industry Full line up of rods, Steelhead, Salmon, surf, offshore, bass, fly, spey, switch, trout. Our selection exceeds other manufactures Fuji SK2 split reelseats on all models All our model names are named after places in Washington State they are : Blue Creek (steelhead) Cedar Creek (Salmon) Long Beach (Surf) Merwin (Musky) Ilwaco (off Shore) Silver Lake (bass) Canyon Creek (Fly, Spey, Switch) and last but not least Swift (Trout) and s needed for back-bouncing. In order to support heavy lead weights, back-bouncing rods utilize short overall length in combination with special tapers and designs to create s that allow for massive through the rear of the rod for setting hooks and corralling big fish, while creating the strength needed through the middle and tip sections of the rod to carry the load of the weight without excessive deflection. Many will also feature one-piece designs, providing greater overall strength, more uniform and smooth. Ideally, a quality back-bouncer should provide a rod lift/weight lift ratio of near 1:1, meaning that lifting the rod tip should generate the same amount of lift on the weight. A rod that is too weak or has too soft of a tip may strain under the load of the weight, requiring more lift of the rod to provide lift on the weight. This will require considerably more effort and range of motion to bounce the weight and will leave you feeling like you ve been arm wrestling with a giant rubber band all day. Light duty back-bouncers often sport faster s which provide adequate for weights up to a couple of ounces and allow for a very light and sensitive tip; an excellent match for smaller water with less current. However, when using weights in excess of 4 ounces, light, fast tips often feel undered. For heavier weights, bouncers featuring a moderatefast will perform better as these s provide more support to the tip, flexing deeper down the blank, distributing the load of the heavy weight over a greater range of the rod. Sensitivity is crucial. A rod can be as ful as a 2X4, but if it lacks, it s useless. Not only is important for detecting the spongy thump of a salmon mouthing your bait, but also for reading what all those taps of your weight on the bottom are telling you about the hole you are fishing. Can you discern the thwack of bedrock from the tick of small cobble or the thud of sand? Being able to identify structure and how fish associate with it, particularly in holes you fish frequently, will pay dividends. Look for models where every effort to enhancing has been made such as quality graphite, lightweight guides and components, and exposed blank reel seats. Be sure to evaluate the overall quality of when selecting a back-bouncer. Heavy weights, strong fish and damage from braided line can take a toll on subpar equipment. Everything from guides to handle materials and configurations will affect both performance and lifespan of a rod. Make sure reel seats will securely grip the small foot of compact reels. Guides need to be designed for use with strong super lines. Even handle material is important. I am particularly fond of graphite handles, as they are extremely durable and easy to clean. Cleaning accumulated bait goo off your rods daily is important to prevent foul odors and contaminants from affecting your bait and gear on the next trip. ssj 62