Recent content by Mark Evans 2

I don't recall seeing much of the MK2, my memory is fuzzy of that time but I'm sure the MK2 came in after the business was taken over by Masterline and moved out of Redditch. The reels look very similar apart from the reel seat mech. Still very nice reels.

Rolling pin MK1, I personally would have no issues buying one in 2025. No idea how many were sold but I don't recall many coming back in for repair to the reel seat mech. Even Rays own personal reels which were well used judging by the state of them when he sent them in for a clean, I don't...

What's the difference in a custom build and off the shelf? Still the exact same Torrix blanks right? Just custom choice of fittings?

I almost bought myself a Tamer, either the 1.5 or the 2lb version but I was worried they would feel too soft for me and from the sounds of it they would have been. Shame as they look a really lovely rod. At least it sames my relationship and bank account by not buying yet another rod 🤣

Let us know how they compare to the Guru rods when you get them. From the specs the FS Tamer rods look a lot lighter and I'd hope better balanced, most barbel rods feel really tip heavy to me. I was planning on getting a Tamer but never did get around to buying one. In fact I ended up with a...

St 4000 are brilliant reels and plenty of spare spools available along with the double handle option if you wanted. I tried an Okuma once, I'm used to fast type drags but I found the one I had a bit unusable, it went from loose to locked up in a couple of clicks so I sold it straight away. I...

This isn't the first time I've seen someone mention issues with the Minima style guides on korum rods But the big waters were meant to seaguide branded guides so I'd have expected a little better quality from them? I guess if the blanks were worth it then you could have new guides fitted but...

I've never used the heavy barbels rods, I only fish the W.Avon and even a 1.75 feels overkill on there sometimes. But I've had their 1.25 and 1.75 rods before and I thought they were ok, matched the korum rods for quality, blanks were slimmer and they didn't feel as tip heavy. I tested the 1.25...

I was a huge korum fan boy up till last year but I don't touch their stuff now. I'm quite the hypocrite too as I really dislike AD but I found their Advanta brand of rods on par or even slightly better and I believe they do a heavy twin tip barbel rod with 2.25/2.75 tips. Might be worth...

Yeah it's a shame, not long ago I was helping her up the hill to her home cause her battery cart had run of juice and the dog was biting the hell out of my ankles the whole time 🤣🤣 Was a nice venue they had/have but the busy nature just wasn't for me and I never fished it.

Anchor was still closed towards the end of last year around November /December time, not heard anything about it being open again.

Is there anything left in stretches of the W.Avon apart from Manor Farm? 2 seasons now on a BAA stretch with zero barbel. Your time is probably best spent on a stretch of the Severn but I don't like that river so I can't suggest any areas I'm afraid.

I was going to ask this, I mean, with smaller independent shops going one after the other, who's to blame? Are the brands giving places like AD the better prices which the smaller shops cannot compete with? We've all seen the low prices that some korum stuff gets sold for at AD for example and I...

For someone who's into lure fishing for perch too, I've found the majority of braid on AliExpress not to be genuine. The Xbraid stuff is 100% fake, I wouldn't trust that this is any different.

Looks a nice reel, and just from the view, the reel seat mech looks very similar to what we were building at Youngs in the Rolling Pin. Probably my favourite of all the reels we built out of Redditch.