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Free spirit vs Daiwa barbel rods

There’s an old saying “one mans meat is another mans poison “....I’m firmly in the Free Spirit camp ‘cos that’s what I’ve got and have never handled a Daiwa and have very limited experience with Harrison. If you are looking to buy Adam you need to get rods in hand and see what you like the feel of 👍
 
I’ve only owned one set of Freespirit rods, which was the S range, ‘Special Pike’ rod. A 12’ rod with a tc of approx 3lb and bought for a knockdown price on Ebay. I couldn’t move them on quick enough, awful rods imo. Would have been gutted if I bought them new for the rrp of £240. I’m sure they won’t have been representative of all FS rods - as Richard points out the Seekers are tried and tested and have been used by many top anglers for years. They can’t be bad rods.

Owned an infinity 1.75 for a season or two. Seriously impressive, must one if not the best off the shelf specialist rods available. If I didn’t have my beloved 1.75 Interceptors (my favourite all time rods) I would have a pair of the Infinity 1.75s. No question about it.

Another pair of Daiwa rods I regret selling were the Daiwa Neville Fickling Esox Special Whisker Kevlar 12’ 2.5’s. I should have gone to the trouble of having them rebuilt - they were seriously top draw rods. But you live and learn.
 
Built on some Conoflex and North Western blanks as well.
The Daiwas were Whisker Kevlar in the light carp range - including a delightful Whisker 1lb test 11' 'floater' rod.
Tricasts were 11' and 12' ranging from 1.25 to 2.5 test.

Now we are spoilt for choice regarding blanks and test curves - all potentially confusing without actually using one.
In years past used my Tricast MLs (1.25) and CMs (1.75) for all barbel fishing. Was very happy with my Harrison Interceptors at 12' and 1.75.
The are imo, brilliant specialist rods Bob. I’m surprised more people don’t use them, just because rod tech is newer doesn’t always make it better I find.

Have you still got them?
 
Can't comment on Daiwa barbel rods as I've never used them let alone seen them. I do have a pair of 12' Free Spirit Hi-S 2lb TC barbel rods though that are absolute blinding rods. I used these for most of my fishing last year on the Yorkshire Ouse and Trent and they handled fish to 13lb with plenty of power in reserve, but at the same time remaining very sensitive to the movement from the fish. It's a rod that you can feel going through the various steps of power in a totally controlled manner, a feeling I've not had with other rods (admittedly I've not owned many barbel rods!).
As a plus for the Daiwa camp, one of the nicest sets of carp rods I've ever owned and used were Infinity Slims in 3.25lb TC, sublime rods and a set I wish I had kept hold of :(
many many years ago when Kevin Nash went to Diawa and asked them to build a rod with specific features money no object
they produced the Amorphous Kevin Nash 12h ((AKN12H) 2.75lb
it was the biggest selling rod in the 90s and rightly so I dont see much as changed in advancement in rods to day ...........I still have 4 of them and a spare blank ! I fish with them when carp fishing a joy to use at distance or close in
 
many many years ago when Kevin Nash went to Diawa and asked them to build a rod with specific features money no object
they produced the Amorphous Kevin Nash 12h ((AKN12H) 2.75lb
it was the biggest selling rod in the 90s and rightly so I dont see much as changed in advancement in rods to day ...........I still have 4 of them and a spare blank ! I fish with them when carp fishing a joy to use at distance or close in
A lad in a stillwater syndicate I’m a member of has 3 of them. I reckon someone could offer him £500 a rod and he wouldn’t part with them. He can cast awesome distances for a rod of that tc.
 
You should see the pike pro bob Watson limited edition rods on Harrison blanks. 🤣
The monogram area alone is probably getting on for 18 inches long 😳

I know exactly what you mean with those rods. I’m pretty sure the 12’ rod is a P1? Not sure what the thinking was behind the smaller diameter ringing either?
 
some of them drennan rods have the makings of a novel written on them
They’ve always been like that on the underside since day one. Very specific writing stating the suited main lines and hook links.
my acolyte is very much the same with a bold in your face monogram and a ton of writing underneath. Fantastic rod but yeah like you say ott on the information.
saves googling the rods specs I suppose
 
A lad in a stillwater syndicate I’m a member of has 3 of them. I reckon someone could offer him £500 a rod and he wouldn’t part with them. He can cast awesome distances for a rod of that tc.
yes its all about tip recovery speed Terry Edmonds had never seen an AKN12H till I took one on a casting lesson it was a horrendous day and Terry wanted to cancel as we had gusting 60mph cross winds but my pal had driven up fro somerset and we talked him into carrying on he was very reluctant to give it the biggun due to the age and rarety of the rod and promptly cast it 184 yards with about a 40 yard cross bow in the line Terry was very impressed and said it will comfortably do 200 yards !! ( I have never done (200 yards ) but Ive got 140 to 150 with a baited rig when I was fitter
 
Slightly off topic. Talking of powermesh rods. I bought an ex display 2.75 about 6 months ago. Which arrived in a padded bag that accommodates a ready made up rod and reel. A month ago another ex display came up from a different supplier. This one arrived in a standard rod bag. Which doesn't accommodate a reel.
Does anyone know where I can get the padded case from? I have looked. I've got the part/stock number down to a dr1 or dr2. I also bought a powermesh float rod which also arrived in a padded case.
 

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I know exactly what you mean with those rods. I’m pretty sure the 12’ rod is a P1? Not sure what the thinking was behind the smaller diameter ringing either?
I think (and could be wrong) that this was one of the pikemaster blanks like they used for some of the older classic fox pikemasters/zandermasters. Some of the comments on the pikerspit forum suggests it wasn’t a popular rod at all and possibly rung up more with multipliers in mind. Many small guides.
 
The are imo, brilliant specialist rods Bob. I’m surprised more people don’t use them, just because rod tech is newer doesn’t always make it better I find.

Have you still got them?
Still got a pair of 1.75 Interceptors Joe - which have seen long service and caught me a lot of barbel from summer to winter flood conditions. Keep meaning to rebuild them and maybe I will. Reviewed them back in 2001 Link
Interceptors

I also have a brand new 1lb 10oz Interceptor which I built but not got round to using.
Have a couple of Kevin Nash Whisker but at 2.25 test.

Cheers
Bob
 
yes its all about tip recovery speed Terry Edmonds had never seen an AKN12H till I took one on a casting lesson it was a horrendous day and Terry wanted to cancel as we had gusting 60mph cross winds but my pal had driven up fro somerset and we talked him into carrying on he was very reluctant to give it the biggun due to the age and rarety of the rod and promptly cast it 184 yards with about a 40 yard cross bow in the line Terry was very impressed and said it will comfortably do 200 yards !! ( I have never done (200 yards ) but Ive got 140 to 150 with a baited rig when I was fitter
I picked up a couple of Basia DFs in a job lot sale a few years ago. Have to say I really don't get them, someone mentioned broomsticks and these fit that bill. I should sell them on as I don't really do any serious carp fishing and even when I gave them an outing as pike rods they were awful for that job. But to a lot of people they are a classic and a serious casting rod with good tip recovery speed.
I guess if you're fishing for BIG carp on French lakes then , yes, it comes into it's own but for your average UK carper it seems completely OTT.
I also got a Longbow Floater rod 2.25TC in the same job lot and a different animal again and would probably make a decent barbel rod. And the odd times I've used it and had small carp off the top it's been a pleasure to fish with TBH.

On the original thread - I love Daiwa Theory barbel rods - awesome for an inexpensive, mass-produced rod. I would be interested to see what you get from a higher grade Daiwa rod as I really do rate these.
Never been tempted by Free Spirit only because I'm not sure what they would offer me over Harrisons and at a similar price point?
Even with these I've only just been tempted away from Chimeras onto my first Torrix so plenty of scope to ' invest'
I had to laugh at the description of Harrison rods as broomsticks - clearly never fished with Chimeras.
Still - it wouldn't pay us all to be the same.
 
25 years ago Daiwa did the AKN series, the 116 being the best thing i've ever found for rolling meat, or light pellet fishing. Terrific progressive bend. Light as a feather. Their modern rods i've never been tempted by. The Free Spirit Hi S barbel is fantastic, no two ways about it. Am about to sell my FS Barbel Seekers, been fabulous rods for 10 years or so.
 
When I was into my carp fishing I had Harrison torrix 12ft 3 1/4 tc over time they seem to have got softer not very impressed with them at all. I brought a set of free spirit hi-s 12ft 3lb tc which in my opinion were light years ahead of the Harrison torrix carp blanks. The best carp rods I ever used were Nash extreme pursuits these rods were the nuts very rare now and quite hard to find
 
When I was into my carp fishing I had Harrison torrix 12ft 3 1/4 tc over time they seem to have got softer not very impressed with them at all. I brought a set of free spirit hi-s 12ft 3lb tc which in my opinion were light years ahead of the Harrison torrix carp blanks. The best carp rods I ever used were Nash extreme pursuits these rods were the nuts very rare now and quite hard to find
I think its highly unlikely your rods have got softer I was read somewhere that it only the very cheap carbon fibre rods that go soft the expensive quality thicker better made carbon does not go soft ever !
 
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