... I like the look of HRF and LRF as it seems to be very minimalistic utilising small (8ft) rods and lightweight gear. I guess the same gear can be used for pike and perch aswell though?
...
I haven't the sea angling experience or success of ADM but I have a few observations/insights which might be worth consideration or discussion:
Rod length seem to be a personal preference thing - and another case of "horses for courses". The Americans seem to use mainly very short rods (5.5ft-7ft) for their bass lure fishing but they usually do it from boats in freshwater. Mike Ladle's signature rods are, I think, all/mainly in the 10.5-11.5ft range (inc. his state of the art 3-piece rod - the 1010?) - he seems to like a longer rod, to reach over the weeds & rocks, and play fish I believe (although he wears waders and is usually/often standing in the water). Henry Gilbey seems to be promoting these 8-8.5ft Japanese-style rods currently - and I think that's a valid preference.
I think my lure rod & my father-in-law's are 10/10.5ft and they're plenty light enough, especially with a 2500 reel (although I'd get 4000F-style next time), but I do find mine a wee bit too long sometimes (and I'm used to handling my 13ft old coarse rod & a 12ft bass rod) - certainly not as "carefree" as the light, little Shimano 6'6" carbon rod I used prior to that (or my recently acquired short but sturdy Browning baitcaster). I would be tempted to go for
a little shorter lure rod next time (if there is a next time) - probably
9ft or 9.5ft (daring to be different
), but perhaps even 8ft but I don't think I'd go any lower than that; I'd be torn between that and getting Mike Ladle rod (but which one?! The 1010, the popper rod, the classic 2-piece or the upgraded travel version
).
Oh, one more thing, re. the tip. I find the tip of my lure rod (rated 10-60g) too floppy for the large lures I like to use - it will sometimes oscillate, causing the braid to wrap around it. It's also not great with poppers - which I love to use
. I bought a similarly rated rod (10-60g) but with a much stiffer tip for my FIL, more suitable for sea fishing with large/heavy lures (e.g. 15g-40g) - the rod cost less that £20 but is excellent
. If you go for a lightweight rod might be worth considering how well it will work (esp. the tip) with heavier and/or more "draggy" lures (like poppers) - if you plan to use them.
I can see the attraction of lightweight gear - but in practice, for the sea I usually find myself going for 14/20g+ (11cm+) lures to get more range and/or cut through the wind - 30g+ when the wind is a problem (and then usually only dense metal lures like tobys/krill/bars/slim-jim). That said, it seems to be a "law of diminishing returns" as going much above 30g (esp. with a longer rod/heavier reel) for an extended period can become tiring/straining (I have/had shoulder tendinitis recently, which I suspect was caused by using my heavier bass rig as a heavy-lure/feathering rod in the summer - casting 2/3/4oz) - remember that you will be repeatedly and constantly casting and re-casting.
Note: 28g ~= 1oz
Have you considered flyfishing for mullet? [Mike Ladle uses homemade fake maggot as the fly, sometimes supplemented with live seaweed maggots.]