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Avon rod - lightweight eye choice

Christian Tyroll

Christian Tyroll

Senior Member
Morning all

I’ve got a handful of custom made rods and have generally been very happy with them.

However, I got an 11ft 1.25lb chimera built last year and it was a total clanger.

I’m looking to change the eyes on it as I think what I’ve got is adversely affecting its action.

I was thinking of having double/ triple legged eyes for the bottom half of the rod and singles for the top half.

Please could people be kind enough to offer some opions on how they think it be best rung and to recommend a suitable pattern, one that has ceramic eyes though. I’m not interested in minimas etc.
 
My factory built chimeras were fitted with Kigan guides at Harrisons. Without looking I think they are double or treble leg all through.
I like them a lot, genuine quality guides.
 
Christian Tyroll said:
Morning all

I’ve got a handful of custom made rods and have generally been very happy with them.

However, I got an 11ft 1.25lb chimera built last year and it was a total clanger.

I’m looking to change the eyes on it as I think what I’ve got is adversely affecting its action.

I was thinking of having double/ triple legged eyes for the bottom half of the rod and singles for the top half.

Please could people be kind enough to offer some opions on how they think it be best rung and to recommend a suitable pattern, one that has ceramic eyes though. I’m not interested in minimas etc.
Click to expand...
Minimas every time!
 
Christian Tyroll said:
Morning all

I’ve got a handful of custom made rods and have generally been very happy with them.

However, I got an 11ft 1.25lb chimera built last year and it was a total clanger.

I’m looking to change the eyes on it as I think what I’ve got is adversely affecting its action.

I was thinking of having double/ triple legged eyes for the bottom half of the rod and singles for the top half.

Please could people be kind enough to offer some opions on how they think it be best rung and to recommend a suitable pattern, one that has ceramic eyes though. I’m not interested in minimas etc.
Click to expand...
What is up with the action Christian?
 
Ian Woods said:
My factory built chimeras were fitted with Kigan guides at Harrisons. Without looking I think they are double or treble leg all through.
I like them a lot, genuine quality guides.
Click to expand...

I’ve got Kigans on a carp rod and they are really nice. Looks like they do single leg so would definately be open to those. Cheers.
 
Paul Richardson said:
What is up with the action Christian?
Click to expand...

The eyes are a bit big and are k series or something similar that has a lot of metal work. It seems like they’re affecting the responsiveness and it feels a bit unwieldy. If you saw it im pretty sure you’d think, ‘what are those eyes doing on there’.
 
I have one that Dave Lumb built and I was just having a look to see what rings he fits as standard but I’m not sure - Fuji but not sure which model- whatever they are the are perfectly good
The deep draw SIC rings that mark Tunley uses a lot are also excellent - I have them on quite a few rods
Horses for courses but for me durability is the most important feature having been through the years of losing ceramic liners and single leg rings bending in transit
I bought a pair of rods with Vortex rings on and one or two bent and that put me off
Also have a pair with K series which are durable but on barbel rods not sure I get the design benefits as I’m rarely casting big distances
I really like the rings on the Martin Bowler barbel - noticeably bigger than on a Lumby standard build Chimera 2 and for me just less chance of tip ring getting bunged up with weed at the wrong time - nothing more complicated than that
Personally I’d prefer them slightly bigger than the other way

On a pike rod trying to launch a 4oz lead and a herring into a headwind and hit a spot at 50yards whilst avoiding wind knots is when I need every bit of help with anti- frap, minimum resistance and so on
 
Christian Tyroll said:
The eyes are a bit big and are k series or something similar that has a lot of metal work. It seems like they’re affecting the responsiveness and it feels a bit unwieldy. If you saw it im pretty sure you’d think, ‘what are those eyes doing on there’.
Click to expand...
Fuji k series guides. Best specialist guide pattern on the planet.
Sure they are heavier than others but they are alot stronger too.
Get them in singles throughout, all my barbel rods and avons are fitted with single legged Fuji k’s
 
Christian Tyroll said:
I had such an unjoyable experience with vortex airs on a carp rod. The liner coating was wearing off after a few uses. Are minimas going to be a different kettle of fish?
Click to expand...
The black shadow pvd coated, are braid safe upto 30 percent lighter, and very strong.
If in doubt, have a word with Graham at buzzard rods.
Hell give you all this info you need.
He's currently making the best rods money can buy!
 
Neil Smart said:
Why have doubles on an Avon? Surely it better to have singles, lighter and a better action.
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Because they are strong and I like them. I see no detrement to the action of the rods I have which are fitted with treble leg guides.
The Kigan guides are very light.

 
Paul Richardson said:
I have one that Dave Lumb built and I was just having a look to see what rings he fits as standard but I’m not sure - Fuji but not sure which model- whatever they are the are perfectly good
The deep draw SIC rings that mark Tunley uses a lot are also excellent - I have them on quite a few rods
Horses for courses but for me durability is the most important feature having been through the years of losing ceramic liners and single leg rings bending in transit
I bought a pair of rods with Vortex rings on and one or two bent and that put me off
Also have a pair with K series which are durable but on barbel rods not sure I get the design benefits as I’m rarely casting big distances
I really like the rings on the Martin Bowler barbel - noticeably bigger than on a Lumby standard build Chimera 2 and for me just less chance of tip ring getting bunged up with weed at the wrong time - nothing more complicated than that
Personally I’d prefer them slightly bigger than the other way

On a pike rod trying to launch a 4oz lead and a herring into a headwind and hit a spot at 50yards whilst avoiding wind knots is when I need every bit of help with anti- frap, minimum resistance and so on
Click to expand...
I also have a pair of DL standard builds and whatever rings they are as standard, the action is perfect.

Without trying to come across as a contrary Mary, I can't see any rings drastically compromising the action of a decent blank??
 
Ian Woods said:
Because they are strong and I like them. I see no detrement to the action of the rods I have which are fitted with treble leg guides.
The Kigan guides are very light.

Click to expand...
It does make a bigger difference than you’d expect.
I had two free spirits re built ages ago
Originally they were 9 double legged guides plus tip a total of 19 whippings
I went down to 7 plus tip with 6 of them being singles in Fuji k series. 9 whippings total and the guide strength of the k series in single is stronger than the conventional shape of a double legged guide.

This unlocked a nice proportion of the rods action having far less and far shorter stiff points on the blank. It also made the rod feel lighter in the hand and less sloppy in the tip. It was surprising what a decent ringing pattern could do for them.

It’s become the fashion on specialist rods to have at least 8 or 9 guides on a rod but it doesn’t offer any benefits. Just additional weight and additional stiff points on the blank.

I prefer float rods to have less and higher stand off single legged guides too rather than loads of short ones compensating for the fact they don’t stand off the blank far enough.
 
Richard Isaacs said:
It does make a bigger difference than you’d expect.
I had two free spirits re built ages ago
Originally they were 9 double legged guides plus tip a total of 19 whippings
I went down to 7 plus tip with 6 of them being singles in Fuji k series. 9 whippings total and the guide strength of the k series in single is stronger than the conventional shape of a double legged guide.

This unlocked a nice proportion of the rods action having far less and far shorter stiff points on the blank. It also made the rod feel lighter in the hand and less sloppy in the tip. It was surprising what a decent ringing pattern could do for them.

It’s become the fashion on specialist rods to have at least 8 or 9 guides on a rod but it doesn’t offer any benefits. Just additional weight and additional stiff points on the blank.

I prefer float rods to have less and higher stand off single legged guides too rather than loads of short ones compensating for the fact they don’t stand off the blank far enough.
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That's very useful, cheers Richard.

The balance and the sloppy feeling in the tip is what doesn't feel quite right. Putting it side by side with a lighter rung chimera it feels quite noticeable.

I have just tried it with a comparatively heavy centrepin, instead of a lightweight fixed spool and the overall balance feels much better. Although I don't think it will do anything for the sloppiness. I'm going to give it another run out tomorrow and see if I can put up with it but it's useful to have some more opinions.

Someone has also recommended Alps S Lites which look worth consideration.
 
Christian Tyroll said:
That's very useful, cheers Richard.

The balance and the sloppy feeling in the tip is what doesn't feel quite right. Putting it side by side with a lighter rung chimera it feels quite noticeable.

I have just tried it with a comparatively heavy centrepin, instead of a lightweight fixed spool and the overall balance feels much better. Although I don't think it will do anything for the sloppiness. I'm going to give it another run out tomorrow and see if I can put up with it but it's useful to have some more opinions.

Someone has also recommended Alps S Lites which look worth consideration.
Click to expand...
They are a very through action / soft blank in 1.25 - bit too much for my liking
I only use mine for perch fishing with loafer floats nowadays
Assume you were comparing identical blanks , rung differently?
Number & spacing does make a big differnce
These are both C3s
Less is definitely more for me

IMG_1451.jpeg
 
hi Chrstian
I’ve just got my 1.25 chimera out
7 rings + tip and all double legged
Torrix 1.25 has mainly single leg rings which appear fractionally smaller
I use a float rubber up the mainline to catch weed and it does catch in the tip ring of the Torrix but not the chimera , one of the reasons I personally prefer slightly bigger eyes
Tip actions are chalk and cheese. I’d forget how ‘ bouncy’ the Chimera tip is , whereas the Torrix is much quicker and recovers almost immediately
Don’t know if this helps at all but the C1 is an interesting blank, I’m really not sure getting it re-rung will make a massive difference?
I got mine for big chub but never use it for that , always opting for a tip rod
I remember every pluck had the tip bouncing about so difficult to read what’s going on
But I did land a double figure barbel on it ?
Luck was on my side and I wouldn’t do it by design
It’s lovely as a perch rod for fishing a loafer float where I don’t need to be lightning quick on the strike and and it’s plenty soft to avoid hook pulls on bigger stripies
And it’s reallly light to fish with
Arguably most rods would do that but I do like to have a use for it
 
Hi Paul, thank you for the detailed feedback. I have to admit I wasn’t comparing like for like blanks. I had it next to my 11ft 1.75lb chimera which appears to me to be identical in thickness to the 1.25lb. It’s not just a foot shorter version of a chimera 2.

I’ve got 8 rings plus tip on the 1.25lb and I think 9 plus tip on the 1.75lb, but the eyes are a lighter option and smaller.

There is no doubt that in the hand the 1.75lb feels a more nicely balanced rod and has faster recovery. Perhaps though, the responsiveness is a feature of the blank as opposed to impacted by ringing, although I do think the ringing is contributing a bit.

I fished with it yesterday and had a couple of perch on live baits up to 1.10lb. I guess the real question is how it was with a fish on, and to be honest it was lovely. Both fished hooked literally under the rod tip and there was never any chance (beyond the usual) of a hook pull. I always thought of the 11ft 1.75lb as a bit of a bungee cord, particularly after trying a standard chimera 2. However there is certainly still a crispness to it that is missing in the 1.25lb, which now really does feel like a bungee. I got it snagged yesterday and with 6lb sensor found it had something in the butt that I didn’t know was there last year.

I’m going to leave it for now but probably still have it rerung one day.
 
Christian Tyroll said:
Hi Paul, thank you for the detailed feedback. I have to admit I wasn’t comparing like for like blanks. I had it next to my 11ft 1.75lb chimera which appears to me to be identical in thickness to the 1.25lb. It’s not just a foot shorter version of a chimera 2.

I’ve got 8 rings plus tip on the 1.25lb and I think 9 plus tip on the 1.75lb, but the eyes are a lighter option and smaller.

There is no doubt that in the hand the 1.75lb feels a more nicely balanced rod and has faster recovery. Perhaps though, the responsiveness is a feature of the blank as opposed to impacted by ringing, although I do think the ringing is contributing a bit.

I fished with it yesterday and had a couple of perch on live baits up to 1.10lb. I guess the real question is how it was with a fish on, and to be honest it was lovely. Both fished hooked literally under the rod tip and there was never any chance (beyond the usual) of a hook pull. I always thought of the 11ft 1.75lb as a bit of a bungee cord, particularly after trying a standard chimera 2. However there is certainly still a crispness to it that is missing in the 1.25lb, which now really does feel like a bungee. I got it snagged yesterday and with 6lb sensor found it had something in the butt that I didn’t know was there last year.

I’m going to leave it for now but probably still have it rerung one day.
Click to expand...
While I’m a firm believer, that ringing patterns have a big impact on rod behavior, I don’t believe your comparison between two totally different rods in different test curves is an accurate way to determine this.
The stiffer blank will always recover faster than something softer and more though actioned despite the rings used or how they are configured
You absolutely need like for like blanks rung up differently, exactly as Paul does with his C3’s to see a true impact that the guides alone are having
 
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