Inside FC FIGHT: Tony’s vertical strategy, Rodhouse prostaff

Tony, Rodhouse prostaff, competing in FC FIGHT on the Fishing Club channel

FC FIGHT, the in-house competition of the YouTube channel Fishing Club, has become in just a few seasons a must-see event for lure fishing enthusiasts. After the editions dedicated to pike and perch – and while waiting for zander – the best anglers face off there with a goal that is simple, but incredibly demanding: catch the 3 biggest fish of the target species.

At the heart of this highly publicised arena we find Tony, Rodhouse prostaff, facing the pressure of the clock, the cameras and the new rules of FC FIGHT Lowrance, where “Live” technology is only allowed in the last three hours, with just one fish counted using this system. It is the perfect context to showcase a well-oiled strategy and meticulously selected tackle.

A high-pressure group: “The leader under pressure”

In the episode entitled “The leader under pressure: WHO will qualify for the FC FIGHT Lowrance final??”, everything comes down to Group A. The leaderboard is tight, every bite counts, and the competitors have to adapt in real time to fish that can be very moody. It is in this context that Tony brings his experience in vertical fishing and his feel for the right tackle into play.

Tony’s strategy: heavy, ultra-precise vertical fishing

When vertical tactics win out over linear fishing

During this leg, drawing on what he learned in pre-fishing, Tony immediately switches to vertical tactics.

His choice is then clear: fish fairly heavy to keep the lure right under the boat, with a stable, very precise presentation, even in current. This style of fishing demands tight control of the drift, excellent interpretation of the electronics and, above all, a perfectly matched rod / lure combo.

Pre-fishing with Stéphane Quinton: the key role of finesse baits

Before the competition, Tony does a pre-fishing session with his buddy Stéphane Quinton. These hours of scouting are decisive: they reveal that finesse baits clearly outperform shads, and vertical fishing clearly outperforms linear tactics. The fish are not spooked by the lead, quite the opposite: to reach them in the strongest current seams, you need to add plenty of weight.

This reading of the area and the behaviour of the fish shapes Tony’s entire game plan during FC FIGHT: heavy vertical fishing, with lively, responsive finesse baits rigged on jig heads whose profile is perfectly suited to the current.

The tackle Tony used during his run on FC FIGHT

Rods: SSH 637 & MB 665 HM, a complementary duo

To support this demanding approach, Tony relies on two blanks he knows by heart:

• SSH 637
  Tony’s preferred rod (or blank) for heavy vertical fishing.
  • Plenty of power in reserve to turn fish and control fights, even with heavy weights.
  • Fine tip that absorbs headshakes very well and reduces lost fish, provided the hook-set and fight management are on point.
  • Still fun on smaller fish despite the overall power of the set-up.
• MB 665 HM
  Tony’s “go-to” all-rounder, a rod that can do a bit of everything and that he really likes.
  • Can be used both for vertical fishing and for jerkbait fishing.
  • Snappy action and strong sensitivity, typical of HM blanks, which transmit bottom information and the subtlest bites extremely well.
  • An excellent compromise for adapting your fishing to the activity level of the fish at any given moment.

In competition, this duo allows him to cover a wide range of situations: the SSH 637 to stay locked into heavy vertical fishing, and the MB 665 HM to adapt, fine-tune or vary his animations.

Soft lures: NAYS SPLT 70 & 80 – finesse and snap

To make the most of what pre-fishing revealed, Tony relies on NAYS SPLT in sizes 70 and 80. These finesse baits stand out for several key points:

• A very carefully designed shape: the ratio between body and tail is particularly well balanced.
• A lively, responsive material: the lure reacts to the slightest twitch of the rod tip, making it ideal for vertical fishing where precise micro-animations often make the difference.
• Ultra-effective colours: the C06, C07 and C08 patterns really stand out, with a special mention for C08, which proved deadly during the competition.

This rod / SPLT combo allows Tony to offer a swim that is both subtle and lively, capable of convincing pressured or hesitant fish while remaining perfectly readable on the electronics.

Jig heads: SPRO Screw In Cone Head

To complete his rigs, Tony uses SPRO Screw In Cone Head jig heads. Their conical profile offers several advantages for this type of fishing:

• Excellent penetration in current: the shape lets them “cut” through the water and maintain precise contact with the bottom.
• Stable presentation: even with heavy weights, the lure stays nicely in place under the boat.
• Very good value for money, ideal both for competition and for everyday fishing.

In terms of weight, Tony does not hesitate to scale up depending on the conditions:

• From 30 to 60 g, depending on current and depth.

The braid used: Prodigy X8 Braid

On his SSH 637 and MB 665 HM combos, Tony leaves nothing to chance, including the braid. He has opted for Prodigy X8 in PE 1.5 on the SSH 637 and PE 1.2 on the 665 HM, line sizes deliberately chosen to balance discretion and efficiency. For the stated diameter, the braid is surprisingly thin, which allows it to cut through the water well, reduce drag in the current and keep maximum control over the drift – a crucial point in heavy vertical fishing. Despite this finesse, it remains perfectly visible, a real plus for tracking the line and instantly adjusting the presentation.

Its breaking strength is another decisive argument: with better-than-average fish, Tony knows he can tighten the drag a little and drive the hook home with confidence. Paired with a 40/100 leader, the set-up offers an excellent compromise between robustness and discretion, suited to the conditions encountered on FC FIGHT. In the fight, the braid also stands out for its flawless glide through the guides: even during powerful runs from big fish, the line leaves the spool smoothly, without parasitic vibrations or jolts, which makes the fight more secure and reduces the risk of losing the fish at the worst possible moment.

The Shimano choice!

When it comes to reels, Tony trusts a 100% Shimano duo that he knows inside out: a Metanium on the SSH637 and a Curado K on the 665HM. Two very different profiles on paper, but perfectly complementary on the water.

On the SSH637, the Metanium is all about lightness and responsiveness. With its CoreSolid magnesium frame and micro-module gearing, it is a competition reel designed to be both ultra-smooth and extremely rigid. Its Magnumlite / MGL spool, designed to minimise inertia, starts up instantly and lets him place a vertical rig precisely, control the fall of the weight and pick up every bit of slack line effortlessly, even with heavy jig heads. The result: less fatigue over a full day of drifting, more comfort to chain together millimetre-perfect animations and set the hook hard when a big fish finally decides to bite.
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On the MB 665 HM, Tony switches to a Curado K in size 300/301, a true low-profile workhorse designed for bulky lures and serious predators. Its HAGANE aluminium body shrugs off heavy loads, the Cross Carbon drag offers more than enough stopping power for a big pike or a zander hooked deep in the current, and the gear ratio around 6.6:1 provides the ideal compromise between torque and retrieve speed. Add to that a large spool capacity in 30/100 and an X-Ship / stainless bearing drive train built to last, and you get a reel you can lean on hard all season without worrying.
Rodhouse

On the water, this tandem mirrors the roles of the two rods perfectly: the Metanium to maximise precision, sensitivity and comfort for pure vertical fishing; the Curado K to soak up more aggressive animations, heavier weights and hard-fought battles. Two different characters, but one guiding idea: never having to wonder whether the reel will keep up, and focusing only on what’s happening on the screen and at the rod tip.

Tony’s combos on FC FIGHT

To sum up, here are the two main configurations he used during this FC FIGHT leg:

• Combo 1: SSH 637 + NAYS SPLT 80 + Prodigy X8 PE1.5
  Main rigs: SPRO Screw In Cone Head jig heads in 50 g and 60 g.
• Combo 2: MB 665 HM + NAYS SPLT 70 + Prodigy X8 PE1.2
  Main rigs: SPRO Screw In Cone Head jig heads in 30 g and 40 g.

These two outfits give him both the ability to fish very precisely and heavy when the drift picks up, and to adjust the weight when conditions soften or when the fish position themselves differently in the water column.

NB: Both of Tony’s rods are built in spiral casting configuration.

Key takeaways from Tony’s approach

• A strategy built around vertical fishing, which proved more productive than linear tactics in this leg.
• Powerful yet sensitive rods (SSH 637 and MB 665 HM) to combine control in the fight with pure fishing pleasure.
• NAYS SPLT finesse baits in 70 and 80 mm, lively and reactive, which clearly outperformed shads during the competition.
• Jig heads adapted to the current (SPRO Screw In Cone Head) with weights from 30 to 60 g to stay pinned to the bottom.
• Smart pre-fishing with Stéphane Quinton, which made it possible to identify the winning combo: finesse + heavy lead.

If you would like to take inspiration from Tony’s approach on FC FIGHT for your own vertical sessions, you can recreate these combos and adjust the weights to your local conditions. And to fine-tune your set-up even further, feel free to talk with the Rodhouse team and the rodbuilding community to find the blank, the build and the lures best suited to your fishing style.

In the meantime, head over to the Fishing Club channel to rewatch the episode “The leader under pressure: WHO will qualify for the FC FIGHT Lowrance final??” and follow the upcoming pike, perch and zander editions with Tony and all the other competitors.