• You need to be a registered member of Barbel Fishing World to post on these forums. Some of the forums are hidden from non-members. Please refer to the instructions on the ‘Register’ page for details of how to join the new incarnation of BFW...

Centuary Armalite m3 12 vs Free Spirit Hi S

Adam Wylie

Adam Wylie

Senior Member & Supporter
Hi all ,
Which would you choose for Barbel fishing :
Armalite 12' .175 or 2.25
FS HI S 12' 1.75 stepped up or 12 big water ( 2.25)
I know these are expensive rods, but they are not to far apart now in price.
Whichever you chose ,would you have a pair or one of each Test curve
Many thanks in Advance
 
Adam Wylie said:
Hi all ,
Which would you choose for Barbel fishing :
Armalite 12' .175 or 2.25
FS HI S 12' 1.75 stepped up or 12 big water ( 2.25)
I know these are expensive rods, but they are not to far apart now in price.
Whichever you chose ,would you have a pair or one of each Test curve
Many thanks in Advance
Click to expand...
So what would be your choice John ?
 
There's all the difference in the world between F/S Hi S SU (notionally 1.75) and FS Big Waters (2.25), the former is MUCH softer and (IMO) feels more like a through/progressive 1.5lb tc. I love them, been using a pair on the Middle Severn over the last 2 days ... but my pair of Big Waters (love them too but only used them twice. Sorry Bob!) are back in their zipped cases, and may stay there... since I've seriously fallen out of love with the Lower Severn.
Oooooops, sorry .... I thought you were saying that the two FS rods were very similar/comparable to each other :oops:
 
Last edited:
Terry Simner said:
There's all the difference in the world between F/S Hi S SU (notionally 1.75) and FS Big Waters (2.25), the former is MUCH softer and (IMO) feels more like a through/progressive 1.5lb tc. I love them, been using a pair on the Middle Severn over the last 2 days ... but my pair of Big Waters (love them too but only used them twice. Sorry Bob!) are back in their zipped cases, and may stay there... since I've seriously fallen out of love with the Lower Severn.
Oooooops, sorry .... I thought you were saying that the two FS rods were very similar/comparable to each other :oops:
Click to expand...

Terry are the hi s SU,s similar to the seeker 175 SU,s I have a pair of the seekers and along with my ss1000,s they are an item of tackle I would never part with
 
Terry Harman said:
Terry are the hi s SU,s similar to the seeker 175 SU,s I have a pair of the seekers and along with my ss1000,s they are an item of tackle I would never part with
Click to expand...
No idea mate, I've never used a 'Seeker'. I start at the 'top' (Hi s SU) 😂
 
Terry Harman said:
Terry are the hi s SU,s similar to the seeker 175 SU,s I have a pair of the seekers and along with my ss1000,s they are an item of tackle I would never part with
Click to expand...
I’ll have to have another pull on your seekers to confirm but I remember the hi s versions are very similar but a bit softer and slimmer in the tip.
Very similar with our 2.25’s tel. Your big waters are slightly softer than my big rivers and yours are slimmer in the tips.

I don’t think the Hi s is any better than the seekers just newer.
The seekers were free spirits premium rods for years before hi s came out.
 
Richard Isaacs said:
Mk1 armalites were a nice actioned rod. Certainly not a poker. I nearly bought a set of 2.25 off a friend but they were too rough in condition for my liking
Nice action rods though
Click to expand...
Yep nice rods, for carp fishing to medium range. Not designed as a barbel rod to put heavy feeders out short distances. They are faster actioned, but more through actioned in carp rod terms if that makes sense. Great for casting a 2oz lead to 90 yards, not lobbing a 5oz loaded feeder into a river.

Classic carp blanks that have stood the test of time..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top