Help With Sealey Rod Range

[WoodBurnerMatt]

Good Evening All,

I wonder if any of you would be good enough to help me?
I am trying to get my head around the Sealey (float?) range of rods, namely the Octofloat, Floatcaster (11 & 12ft Models) etc, but I keep geting conflicting reports and info. Which is the more powerful rod and are there any others to consider as a good powerful float rod (Tench, the odd Barbel etc?)

Thanks in Advance
Woodburnermatt

[Nobby]

The Octofloat is a slightly heavier in the tip...more of an all-rounder, whereas the 11 foot Floatcaster de-Luxe has a finer tip, yet the same ferrule counter size, so a slightly tippier action.


The Octofloat de-Luxe is the same rod as the Octofloat with better fittings, but the Floatcaster is a very different rod from the Floatcaster de-Luxe having a whole cane middle section.

Later two-fish logo Octofloats seem a bit floppier and the varnish is awful.

Later Floatcaster de-Luxes have hollow fibreglass middle and tip sections on split cane butt....vastly underated they sell for peanuts yet feel just like an Allcocks Wizard....with a decent length handle.


Phew!

[MGs]

In answer to your what to use for question. If you are looking at tench and barbel either an Octofloat or 12' Floatcaster. I regularly catch carp in the 5-8lb range with both rods (I have the 11' Octofloat). If you want something with a bit of backbone for the barbel, the 12' Floatcaster could be for you. It is a much beefier rod than the 11' Floatcaster. I have had several double figure barbel on mine with no issues (also lots of tench to 5lb+). Despite what others think. I still use my 12' Floatcaster for float fishing where the situation demands. ie deeper water, where silver fish are present but there is the odd chance of something bigger.

Something to be aware of. Although all of the Floatcasters I have handled have been fine. The Octofloats have not been. Mine is OK and has a good action, the one my dad owns is a real dog. So if you go down that route, it may be worth a waggle first

Hope this helps

[Nobby]

Nothing wrong with the 12' Floatcaster de-Luxe, just a bit heavy to sit and hold waiting for quick bites all day....you might compare it to the F J Taylor Roach Rod from Chapmans.

Btw...the Octofloat was only ever offered at 11 foot, it's the Floatcaster de-Luxe ( NOT the floatcaster) that was offerded in two lengths.

[MaggotDrowner]

Anyone know how the Nufloat compares to the Octofloat?

[Wallys-Cast]

MD, The Nufloat rods I have seen look to be the same rod but with poor quality fittings and finish.

They were made in the early 1970s when decent quality hollow glass rods became cheaper to mass produce, plus a lot of clever marketing and they more or less took over.
For companies still producing cane rods, they had to cut costs to sell them so fittings and finish had to suffer. Chapmans of Ware are a perfect example, great quality cane but cheap ferrules and rings. Always worth rebuilding with good quality fittings though..

Split cane rods eventually became too expensive to make competitively due to the skilled man hours involved and soon became the specialist and expensive items we know and love today.

Wal.

[MaggotDrowner]

Thanks Wal. They seem a good buy if you are willing to do the work they need! I wonder what sort of test curve they have. I would guess they would be a touch less than a avon, so just under 1lb? Although I haven't handled a good one. Only a cream-crackered one with a broken tip. It was my first cane rod purchase and far from successful!