High v Low

[kelpy kid]

Reel positioning wise, I can't quite seem to get the timing right with the reel in the high position but it feels more natural having the reel low down the butt. What's other people's preferred position.

[Bushwhacker]

Rods under 13ft don,t do well with the reel down.
Rods over that don,t do well with it up,unless you have long arms.

[john/r]

Fishing with reel down has probs as it is more prone to get sand etc blown onto it and more scepitcle to get damaged from rocks especially when fishing rock Skeets etc.
I use reel down as casting is more relaxed easier for me than reel up.
Pros and cons you have to wiegh them up.

[dabcatcher]

when I started sea fishing everyone used reel up. the only one I knew who didn't was Jim Dobie. after years of trapping my nuts it felt great to use the reel low. with the modern rods I find they are much more user friendly this way. fishing long, stiff rods though into heavy ground can make the rod feel very heavy. when I first started with fixed spools I tried reel up but I couldn't get away with it and it brought back lots of bad memories. using it reel low though feels a lot more natural...... for me.

[Phil83]

Reel down for me, you can get away from the problems mentioned above (sand and scrapes) by using a reducer when it's in the stand if your rod comes with one

[RossW]

Agree with Phil83. I spent years persisting with the reel in "high" position because I assumed it was easier. The opposite is true. If your rod is over 13ft, I'd definitely recommend sticking it "low"... makes for smooth casting. A reducer sorts out the other problems and makes for a nice high position in the rod rest too.

[g.ordon]

reel up for me, just seems more natural for control. Saying that I don't suppose I've tried reel down long enough to adapt properly.

[CHUKKA]

I used to cast reel up with rods to about 13ft using a multiplier. As rods got longer and longer I switched to the down position. I've been on the fixed spool for the last couple of years and gone back to high reel on a 14ft 6rod and it's no problem. Don't be blinkered, try it out for yourself and see what you prefer. Fixed spool low down feels awful to me but lots would disagree. Don't forget reel position has a massive effect on the effective casting rod length. Push the reel 10inch up the butt and your bottom hand moves with it and your rod becomes shorter to cast. Hence why some guys are using 14ft 10 rods when actually they are only using 13ft8-14ft to cast.

[john/r]

I used to cast reel up with rods to about 13ft using a multiplier. As rods got longer and longer I switched to the down position. I've been on the fixed spool for the last couple of years and gone back to high reel on a 14ft 6rod and it's no problem. Don't be blinkered, try it out for yourself and see what you prefer. Fixed spool low down feels awful to me but lots would disagree. Don't forget reel position has a massive effect on the effective casting rod length. Push the reel 10inch up the butt and your bottom hand moves with it and your rod becomes shorter to cast. Hence why some guys are using 14ft 10 rods when actually they are only using 13ft8-14ft to cast.

are you using a pendulum cast wit reel high on 14ft 6 rod trc and what size lead do you use if you dont mind me asking.

[CHUKKA]

More flat arc aerialised ground cast than classic pendulum. 175-200g plus baits. To get the best out of the rod requires good technique and a fair bit of body rotation and a very late hit, TRC doesn't like to be lobbed and only works properly fully loaded. Hard to describe but definitely an on off rod. If your scared of them and don't fully compress them they seem to bite due to the very fast recovery. Probably not the case with mono.
Imo the issue with high and low reel is more down to grip. It's very hard to grip a multiplier on a long rod in the high position but a fixed spool is no problem.

Fishing wise it's much better for wading, your reels not constantly swimming and you can keep it off the rocks, concrete or sand. Good news on a high end reel!

[john/r]

175 and 200 grm with bait surprised you can do but I have heard guys saying how they are impressed when they have seen you cast,know what you mean flat aerilised pendulum fishing cast its very reliable hardly ever decking lead.seems as if you have ideal set up for yourself ,I have TRC myself one of the best rods I have ever used and I have had one or two.

[Phil83]

Oh and one word of advice, if you're casting with the reel down low make sure you roll your sleeves up or - don't wear anything too baggy that the line can catch on ! (from personal experience - my float' suit likes grabbing the line as it flies out haha)