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Best barbel rod for medium sized rivers between £50-150

Hi guys I'm investing in a pair of new barbel rods and need a bit of advice on what seems to be the best out there for between £50-£150 with test curve of 1.75lb could be a twin tips involved etc
 
you can get a daiwa theory for about 80-85 quid, twin tips, a 3oz tip and an Avon tip. I've got one and it's very good.
 
I can recommend the Free Spirit Barbel Tamer CTX 12' 1.75lb TC, great rods for the coin. Forgiving action, but plenty in reserve when they dive for the snags..

Avon top and quiver top, if my memory serves me right a 3oz tip in the quiver.

Sorry was that budget for each rod or the pair?
 
Korum do one for under 50quid in 1.75. A friend of mine has one and it's a bargain imo.
 
I can recommend the Free Spirit Barbel Tamer CTX 12' 1.75lb TC, great rods for the coin. Forgiving action, but plenty in reserve when they dive for the snags..

Avon top and quiver top, if my memory serves me right a 3oz tip in the quiver.

Sorry was that budget for each rod or the pair?

Each rod.... I have a pair of Korum Neoteric xs twin tips at the moment but they are old battered and I'm just in the market for an update. I'm looking at probably now going for something which has a white tip for visibility. thanks for your input very kind
 
you can get a daiwa theory for about 80-85 quid, twin tips, a 3oz tip and an Avon tip. I've got one and it's very good.

Daiwa theory look to be a good rod they do well in a test published in the Anglers Mail in 2011, but there doesn't seem to be a more recent objective test done and I'm guessing theres been a few more rods bought out since then. but really appreciate your feed back. it's between the one you mentioned the Fox Royale Barbel, although i did spot a Centium which looks good.
 
I can recommend the Free Spirit Barbel Tamer CTX 12' 1.75lb TC, great rods for the coin. Forgiving action, but plenty in reserve when they dive for the snags..

Avon top and quiver top, if my memory serves me right a 3oz tip in the quiver.

Sorry was that budget for each rod or the pair?

Free Spirit Barbel Tamer CTX 12' 1.75lb TC ill take a look at this one josh seems like I've got some really helpful advice today. many thanks
 
Hi Julian. I have a pair of the original neoterics , brilliant rods and wouldn't swap them. I also use a pair of the korum Xpert rods. Again cracking rods but completely different action. Stiffer through the middle and better suited to bigger leads/ feeders. It's down to what you require I guess but the xperts are definitely worth a look.
 
I wouldn't swap my original twin tip Neoterics for any other rod out there to be honest. Love them to bits. If you can find a pair - buy them!
 
You can't go wrong with the TFG Classic Barbel rods. I have 2 from this range, 1 in 1.5lb and the other in 2.0lb. Both are twin tips and you can change the quiver tip if you want a lower or higher strength one. They have a dark green carbon blank with very good fittings. They have a nice progressive action. The 1.5lb is a great rod for Chub, Silvers, Barbel and Tench. When testing this rod out the first time i landed a 13.8lb Barbel with ease. The 2.0lb is a better rod for fast running waters, this again has a progressive action. Will also make a good Tench, Carp rod. I've yet to try this one out.
Am very very fussy about my Barbel rods, i even had to go down the custom route when i couldn't find one with the action i needed.
It's a shame TFG don't do a 1.25lb rod as i would grab one ASAP. These i believe are as close as you can buy off the shelf proper Avon rods. The 2.0lb being a specialist rod with an Avon action. Anything above 1.5lb i class as a specialist rod.
For the normal price of £49.00 inc delivery they are a bargain. Fishtec on eBay also have some ex-display ones left for £41 inc delivery left.
 
Julian,
You mentioned white tips. I have painted all my river rod tips, it's very easy.
Buy a can of white Plasticote spray paint ( I chose Matt finish). Mask the rings and whipping with ordinary masking tape, and also mask below where you want the white to finish. Spray directly onto the rod and 30 minutes later remove masking tape, job done. And if you ever want to revert back to black, just respray.
Plasticote is really hard wearing and easy to use.
 
Slightly off topic but it may help the original poster select suitable rods.

Do many people actually use the quiver tip sections for barbel fishing?

The majority of takes I get would take the rod in the river so i find i don't need the subtle indication afforded by a quiver tip.
 
I am always suspicious of asking advice on tackle from fellow anglers, because sometimes we can be 'blinded' by what we own, without the un-biased review that might be needed.

But The Torrix takes some beating...a bit beyond £150 but look for a good second hand one.

I have Drennan Power Rods, old but very good,and Fox Barbel Plus, brilliant rods again discontinued but possibly the best off the shelf rods, certainly they have a following, I have just purchased a second one on here, so they can be had, twin tips, a 1.75 'avon' and a quiver, which would make a good heavy'ish' feeder tip.

There you go, see what I have done :rolleyes:
 
Julian,
You mentioned white tips. I have painted all my river rod tips, it's very easy.
Buy a can of white Plasticote spray paint ( I chose Matt finish). Mask the rings and whipping with ordinary masking tape, and also mask below where you want the white to finish. Spray directly onto the rod and 30 minutes later remove masking tape, job done. And if you ever want to revert back to black, just respray.
Plasticote is really hard wearing and easy to use.

Tipex is a lot easier...just replace every season, or spray clear on it you want it to 'stay put'
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IMHO
 
Contact Chris Cheshire and see what he wants for his I-Powers (he mentioned on another thread he had a pair he would consider selling), imo better than anything else mentioned so far, fab rods.
 
Contact Chris Cheshire and see what he wants for his I-Powers (he mentioned on another thread he had a pair he would consider selling), imo better than anything else mentioned so far, fab rods.

The op is on a budget, if Chris sells them to me for 150 he can save on p&p.. :)
It doesn't have to be Harrison, but as I said we all prefer what we have or owned.
 
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