Jim Gregory
Senior Member
One on eBay now!
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Free spirit 15ft hi s mk1
- Thread starter Jim Gregory
- Start date
Jon Frisby
Senior Member & Supporter
Silly money? Few years ago,I really, really wanted one, mostly bcos it was a free spirit and did the job exceptionally well. I have looked and tried many, I will stick with my Shimmy Aerocast 15 and Tourney 15, both specialist tools and do the job just aswell if not better than any out there.... then again, to get one of these would be a great addition... 
Jon Elliott
Senior Member & Supporter
I have an immaculate butt section of a 13ft two piece Hi S float, after the tip section let me down - if anyone needs half a rod, let me know.
You could always get a tip section made for it
Jon Elliott
Senior Member & Supporter
yep - I could, but this is second time it's happened. So i've lost a bit of faith in it. Plus i'd rather roll some spam about frankly.
Jim Gregory
Senior Member
Price bump , too 363, that's if you've got it on watch on eBay.. and IMHO, you won't get anything anywhere near, to the power this has mid section to tip, especially under the tip close too netting .
I've got one so , "needs don't must", but if you're looking for the only rod which will literally bully barbell.
Not that I would in the current low water level, and low oxygen levels.
It has too be a serious addition to your barbel armory....
,
I've got one so , "needs don't must", but if you're looking for the only rod which will literally bully barbell.
Not that I would in the current low water level, and low oxygen levels.
It has too be a serious addition to your barbel armory....
,
Jim Gregory
Senior Member
And in my honest opinion, there is nothing on the market old or new that this rod can!!!!!?
Jim Gregory
Senior Member
Do
Jon Frisby
Senior Member & Supporter
Can't do 
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Jim Gregory
Senior Member
Jim Gregory
Senior Member
Unless you're a Southern Softie catching 1 to 6 barbel, then it's not good for you 
Richard Isaacs
Senior Member & Supporter
I’m a fan of them having experienced just how far they can be pushed.
They ain’t the lightest blank in the world. In standard format the handle feels clumsy, the carbon reel seat has a habit of letting go and for the money I’d expect a better set of guides but then free spirit have never been one for giving much away.
The blank is progressive and has a bit more steel (stiffness) in the middle and lower sections than the updated mk2 version making it feel better and more useful on running water with TnB floats.
Tip sections on both mk1 and mk2 seem to be pretty comparable apart from the fact that some early mk2’s would break from some fault in the manufacturing process which I’m sure is all long sorted by now.
My guess would be pushing the limits to the absolute maximum with resin content.
Where these rods are special is the carbon strength and quality.
You can apply pressure and watch it bend and bend progressively right down to the forgrip and not give that fish an inch and I can assure you the rod will take it. I absolutely believe every other float rod I own or have owned will break through this type of pressure before this one does ***(currently touching wood not to jinx my next outing with it
)**** it is exceptionally strong carbon.
Is it really the best float rod out there now for big barbel???? I’m going to say in most instances ….. no!
Because you’ve got to look at things from how they are going to be used by the majority of people.
Middle of the Trent, Severn, wye and Ribble etc Lots of fish lots of space so why not use a lighter faster action rod and does it matter if it’s not quite as strong. Not one bit.
This rod comes into its own when the fishing changes dramatically. Really big fish and you can’t give em much line. This is the rod for that game. It’s not the stiffest, or the lightest or got the fastest tip but it’s the one that’s got your back when you really need it the most.
They ain’t the lightest blank in the world. In standard format the handle feels clumsy, the carbon reel seat has a habit of letting go and for the money I’d expect a better set of guides but then free spirit have never been one for giving much away.
The blank is progressive and has a bit more steel (stiffness) in the middle and lower sections than the updated mk2 version making it feel better and more useful on running water with TnB floats.
Tip sections on both mk1 and mk2 seem to be pretty comparable apart from the fact that some early mk2’s would break from some fault in the manufacturing process which I’m sure is all long sorted by now.
My guess would be pushing the limits to the absolute maximum with resin content.
Where these rods are special is the carbon strength and quality.
You can apply pressure and watch it bend and bend progressively right down to the forgrip and not give that fish an inch and I can assure you the rod will take it. I absolutely believe every other float rod I own or have owned will break through this type of pressure before this one does ***(currently touching wood not to jinx my next outing with it
)**** it is exceptionally strong carbon.Is it really the best float rod out there now for big barbel???? I’m going to say in most instances ….. no!
Because you’ve got to look at things from how they are going to be used by the majority of people.
Middle of the Trent, Severn, wye and Ribble etc Lots of fish lots of space so why not use a lighter faster action rod and does it matter if it’s not quite as strong. Not one bit.
This rod comes into its own when the fishing changes dramatically. Really big fish and you can’t give em much line. This is the rod for that game. It’s not the stiffest, or the lightest or got the fastest tip but it’s the one that’s got your back when you really need it the most.
Ian Woods
Senior Member
I haven't got one of the mk1 rods.
I did get the mk2 12ft power float rod and it feels nice to use, but for me personally it lacks in power. I have caught a few barbel with it but the biggest fish was prolly about 7lb at a push and that was in a swim where I could play the fish without worrying about it getting into any snags. If there had been any snags close by the only way I could have kept them away from them would have been to dropp the rod tip and play the fish off the reel, otherwise i'm not too sure if the blank may have broken.
So, I wouldn't recommend the 12ft mk2 as being a rod suited to targetting barbel. The rod is ok for barbel in open clear areas where you can play the fish comfortably, but a microlite or ultra would be adequate for that lol.
I use the rod for chub and am confident it would also be a lovely rod to target larger grayling.
I forgot to mention that I have handled the 14, 15 and the longer rod, can't remember if it was 16 or 17ft in lenght.
I can't comment on the power of those rods as I didn't actually use them, so they may have more grunt than my 12ft model.
I did get the mk2 12ft power float rod and it feels nice to use, but for me personally it lacks in power. I have caught a few barbel with it but the biggest fish was prolly about 7lb at a push and that was in a swim where I could play the fish without worrying about it getting into any snags. If there had been any snags close by the only way I could have kept them away from them would have been to dropp the rod tip and play the fish off the reel, otherwise i'm not too sure if the blank may have broken.
So, I wouldn't recommend the 12ft mk2 as being a rod suited to targetting barbel. The rod is ok for barbel in open clear areas where you can play the fish comfortably, but a microlite or ultra would be adequate for that lol.
I use the rod for chub and am confident it would also be a lovely rod to target larger grayling.
I forgot to mention that I have handled the 14, 15 and the longer rod, can't remember if it was 16 or 17ft in lenght.
I can't comment on the power of those rods as I didn't actually use them, so they may have more grunt than my 12ft model.