REVIEW : Ian Gold Enticer f/s Rod

[shamoo0804]

My reasoning behind buying the rod was simple - to enjoy catching/playing fish again.

The sport, or rather the art of playing a fish in order to land it seems to be gone these days, with modern beach setups capable of landing fish well in excess of 100lbs in the right hands, we seem content to just drag a 4lb bass up the beach - where's the fun in that

So I had decided wherever possible to take a light tackle approach to most of my fishing this year.

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Well, had been looking forward to getting a full session using the new rod as its only had a few casts farting around on the beach since I bought it.

Managed a full session with it last night fishing for smoothies.

A few first impressions :

Excellent build quality and top quality fittings,, stylish looks (will suit you tackle tarts ), but I thought it looked a little light weight, flimsy for want of a better expression. The casting rating is specified at 2-4oz, 3-4 oz would be too much I thought at 1st glance.

However, it had no problem launching big crab baits and a 3oz lead 100 yards or so and felt like there was plenty in reserve for the harder hitters out there.

I only caught one fish last night, a smoothie of around 3 - 3 1/2lb but the rod handled it beautifully, I'd say its well capable of double figure fish once you have your drag set correctly.

I was using it with a 4000 size spinning reel loaded with 15lb mono, but my braid is in the post and I'd say it would be better suited to braid.

I'm considering whether to pair it up with a 4000 or 5000 size shimano stella in the long run, and have spools of both 10lb and 20lb braid.

It wont suit all fishing conditions or venues, but if your fishing within a 120 yard range on a clean beach with not too much wind, surf or weed then you'll certainly enjoy this rod

How the rod will stand up to the rigours of salt water fishing over a few years we dont know yet, but I must say for €120 which included a very well made rod bag, its money well spent in my book.

Oh, and before you ask, no I'm not telling where I got the smoothie

[Dave]

The quality and finish of those new Ian Golds rods is superb especially for the price. I got the Super Match Xtra (the long one) when they came out and absolutely love it and I'd be tempted to get another one from the range at some point.

My reasoning behind buying the rod was simple - to enjoy catching/playing fish again.

The sport, or rather the art of playing a fish in order to land it seems to be gone these days, with modern beach setups capable of landing fish well in excess of 100lbs in the right hands, we seem content to just drag a 4lb Bass up the beach - where's the fun in that

So I had decided wherever possible to take a light tackle approach to most of my fishing this year.

I know what you mean and I completely agree that most of the time we are over gunned with the tackle we tend to use relative to the size of fish we are targeting, I know that sometimes you need heavier gear but I think most of my bait fishing last year was done with a 2-4 oz Greys Bze and a little 7' ugly stick with fixed spools and braid on both. Personally I found it easier spot bites and that kind of thing and you could actually get a bit of a fight out of the fish rather than as you rightly say, just drag decent fish in. Ok they aren't going to be suitable all the time.

Would I be right in thinking that the Enticer would be a similar type rod to the Bze, in other words a lightweight bass rod? It certainly seems to be priced in the same bracket and judging by the quality of my own Ian Golds rods I'd go for the Enticer.

I was using it with a 4000 size spinning reel loaded with 15lb mono, but my braid is in the post and I'd say it would be better suited to braid.

I'm considering whether to pair it up with a 4000 or 5000 size shimano stella in the long run, and have spools of both 10lb and 20lb braid.

The Stella is an awesome reel but it just seems a little to nice if you know what I mean to use for bait fishing, maybe its just me I don't know. I mean it would certainly do the job perfectly but did you win the lotto or something?

[shamoo0804]

Hi Dave,

Yeh cracking range of rods alright, I'm that pleased with it I'm collecting an International Match next week.

I've just had a 2500 stella delivered from Japan(€200 2nd hand inc postage) and am that impressed with it I want a bigger one aswell.

I'll use the 2500 for light lure work with 6-10lb braid, and have the 4000/5000 size for heavier lure and bait fishing.

I've never held a reel that felt as well made as this little stella - pure fishing porn

[Dave]

I only saw your other post about the price of the Stella after and it kind of explains things, €200 delivered sounds very tempting indeed and I could do with a 2500 sized reel, hmmm

The International Match is actually the other rod in the range that I'm interested in, I pick up one for a mate when I was getting my own and had a few casts with it. Its a super rod and you wont be disappointed.

[Mick001]

Nice going on the Smoothie Shamboo.
I must say that rod is a beauty and agree with the right reel, line, venue and targeted species you will have some great sport on it. I bet you felt the smoothie on the other end...

[eric]

though the same, this rod really is the business. savage bit of kit. and for the money? top value too. used it flattie bashing on toberpatrick a few months ago and it was a joy to use pulling flats out of a gentle roll.


now more importantly where did you get the hound? pm's welcome mark

[shamoo0804]

now more importantly where did you get the hound? pm's welcome mark

Oh, and before you ask, no I'm not telling where I got the smoothie

Ah go on eric, I'll tell you then.

It was caught in L'... L'... L'... L'.............................................................................Leinster

[shamoo0804]

now more importantly where did you get the hound? pm's welcome mark

ERHBYADA




Can ya guess what it is yet, well can ya


Where's carol when ya need her

[shamoo0804]

Mick, was some craic with the nature of the venue I can tell ya, but the rod coped admirably.

How you feeling after getting a few, still on cloud9 I bet

Just need a big un now

[eric]

thanks mark, carol says.................................(??)

i think got it, but im not sure if the anigram is sincere

[shamoo0804]

Carol guessed right, but it could be a case of the boy who cried wolf to many times

[eric]

so its kilgorman then everyone to kilgorman!

[shamoo0804]

Nah, I was fishing off the rocks at Kilmichael point actually, hence the nervousness landing him (or her)

[eyesreilly]

No,,,not ERHBYADA again ,out with the ropes and harness again so Nice fishing Mark,that must have been some fight on a light rod

[Mick001]

Mark
Yea that is a lovely rod and the Ian Golds range in general are very nice. My brother bought the Ian Golds International FX 200 and is delighted with it in comparison to the Greys GRX-s and Daiwa Beach Theory he has, he is using a mitchell blue 7000 with it and has a nice balance. Yup still buzzing, planning the next trip already...

Mick

[Tony Fella]

Yea kilgorman is fishing well eric and so is bray head...

I used sods enticer before and its nice and light

[roger de dodger]

some lovely pups lads got myself a penn slammer liveliner for my smut fishing the shimano baitrunners just cant handle the saltwater the baitrunner drag is too easy to get sand and salted up ,hope to match it to my sensi tip or for reel distance work my anyfish anywhere universal
20 lb braid with 45 lb tapered shockleader ,
leads are gonna fly

[bigsod]

I hope i can Eintice a Hound on my Einticer , its a cracking rod best fish ive had on it though is a 35 cm flounder which is hardly going to test it to the limit, a double figure hound might though

[shamoo0804]

Yeh, cant wait to get some 5 lb + fish on it now, some bend in the rod for the hound I got, but you could tell the rod was capable of much more.

[bigsod]

One thing i disagree with you on shamoo is your belief this rod will cast up to 120 yards. most lads wouldnt get much further than that with conventional beach gear let alone this ultra light rod. Id say 60 to 80 yards is the max for this little gem.