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If you....

Love my barbel seeker as well. Currently paired with a ss2600 and a pin. Still searching for ss1000 in good condition.
There’s a pair of decent ones on fleabay at the the moment good seller too I have bought from him before the difference between the ss1000and the ss 2600 is immense such a nicer more solid reel to use …one of mine was a bit Grindy when i bought it but a quick trip to Issacs innovations soon sorted that and they would be the last item of tackle that I would part with

 
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I think it’s the forerunner to the ss rich
I’m not a massive fan of the white bail kick

Would love to try out one of those lever brake gs,s though ….. wonder how well the concept works
 
FREE SPIRIT HI S BARBEL BUILT BY MARK TUNLEY 👍
 

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It would have to be the Normark 13ft Titan Match I inherited from my late uncle in 2017 purely for it's sentimental value and the fact that it is a superb trotting rod. Doesn't handle angry barbel too well or big chub for that matter(!) but it'll do for me!

A close call though, It lives side by side with its two brothers: Normark Microlite 12ft Match and 13ft Match so I might just grab all three!

I actually inherited 9 Normarks. Eventually sold 6 of them to various people with the proceeds (£1k+) going to a connected charity.

Oh and a reel! Similarly inherited along with "a few" other centrepins. But it would have to be one of the Speedia MKIV deluxe. Again for sentimental reasons but an absolute work horse of a reel!
 
I think it’s the forerunner to the ss rich
I’m not a massive fan of the white bail kick

Would love to try out one of those lever brake gs,s though ….. wonder how well the concept works
I actually like the white bail trip better than the daft wheel to be honest. Looks more of a functional thing. On the SS it looks a bit gimmicky
 
Kev Baines 3 piece Specialist.
 
I can't stomach making do with jack of all trades rods. I don't enjoy float fishing with an Avon/Barbel rod at all. It's a last resort when caught on the bank without better options thing for me. Mercifully, as I do very little but float fish these days, that's less of a problem for my choice. I did think that I might be better served saving a waggler rod that could be a less than perfect (for me) trotting rod. However, the more I thought about it, I realised that I'd miss a spliced tip rod more. I'd rather have a rod that was less than perfect for waggler fishing than trotting. I'd save my favourite rod ever, the 13'6" Browning Sphere Spliced Tip River.
 
Head - John Wilson Avon Travel
Heart - Toss up between Harrison Aviator Plus & Drennan Acolyte Plus (so I'd have to take both)
 
There’s a pair of decent ones on fleabay at the the moment good seller too I have bought from him before the difference between the ss1000and the ss 2600 is immense such a nicer more solid reel to use …one of mine was a bit Grindy when i bought it but a quick trip to Issacs innovations soon sorted that and they would be the last item of tackle that I would part with

Thanks, Terry. Unfortunately I missed them. Will keep an eye on bay again.
 
Lik
I can't stomach making do with jack of all trades rods. I don't enjoy float fishing with an Avon/Barbel rod at all. It's a last resort when caught on the bank without better options thing for me. Mercifully, as I do very little but float fish these days, that's less of a problem for my choice. I did think that I might be better served saving a waggler rod that could be a less than perfect (for me) trotting rod. However, the more I thought about it, I realised that I'd miss a spliced tip rod more. I'd rather have a rod that was less than perfect for waggler fishing than trotting. I'd save my favourite rod ever, the 13'6" Browning Sphere Spliced Tip River.
Like it... proper old school.
 
Lik
Like it... proper old school.
It’s a very modern and clever rod. Spliced tips are back and put into blanks actually capable of doing the work with big fish. I’d love a sphere. I probably wouldn’t bother with the 13,6 but I’ll definitely have a 15’6 in my collection one day.
 
It’s a very modern and clever rod. Spliced tips are back and put into blanks actually capable of doing the work with big fish. I’d love a sphere. I probably wouldn’t bother with the 13,6 but I’ll definitely have a 15’6 in my collection one day.
Not old school prices though....but the spliced tip is old school, something that has been forgotten recently. suppose I could flog all my gear and put down a deposit on one:)
 
It’s a very modern and clever rod. Spliced tips are back and put into blanks actually capable of doing the work with big fish. I’d love a sphere. I probably wouldn’t bother with the 13,6 but I’ll definitely have a 15’6 in my collection one day.
A brand new 15'6 sold on ebay just recently for £157 from a shop which is the cheapest so far amongst the others they have been selling off.
 
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Not old school prices though....but the spliced tip is old school, something that has been forgotten recently. suppose I could flog all my gear and put down a deposit on one:)
😂 yeah I’ll be looking out for a rare as hens teeth second hand one mate
 
I would grab my 10ft 2 piece split cane Avon rod , built on a JB Walker blank , I acquired it in a very sorry state and restored it to my own specification , landed many a Barbel and Tench with it . Modern rods ? I would save my Fox 1.75 TC 12FT XS Barbel Duo ,lovely blank .
 
I realised that I'd miss a spliced tip rod more. I'd rather have a rod that was less than perfect for waggler fishing than trotting.
As a heathen that (generally) uses the same rod for both waggler or stick float fishing (Drennan Tench & Specimen Float/13ft), just a question on your terminology : When you say "trotting" you appear to be referring to exclusively using a stick float, as opposed to a stick or waggler. True? The only difference I know in what are said to be waggler rods as opposed to stick rod rods is/was (historically) "stick float rods" had spliced tips.
 
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