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Free Spirit hi s 2 lb barbel

Alec Hague

Alec Hague

Senior Member & Supporter
I was lucky to buy a pair of su seekers on eBay with quiver section when prices were low just after the first COVID . I didn't keep them long as I preferred my torrix's. Always hankered after the 2 lb and could be tempted but thought it obviously sensible to ask any users what they think of them .
 
Hi Alec, I treated myself to a pair of Free Spirit Hi S 2lb barbel rods a couple of years ago as they seemed to be the only Hi S model that came in a 12' 2lb format which is what I wanted as an 'all rounder'. Personally I think they are superb rods and my favourite rods to use for general barbelling. They will cast/lob a loaded 5 or 6oz feeder if needed but also happy with 2 or 3oz feeders or bombs. Where I feel the rods excel is in the power delivery, they are delicate enough to feel every lunge, yet you can feel the power of the blank come into play when you lean on the rods. I never really know how to describe other than to say you can feel the power of the rods coming through at the time you need it and it is a very linear controlled feeling. In summary, excellent premium rods that are a pleasure to use and play hard fighting barbel on 👍
 
That's just what I wanted Rob , thank you. Been watching out for a used version for a couple of years now but they always seem to be listed in pairs. In the old days when couriers were cheaper (ie 3 years ago) I would have bought, then sold one off, but nowadays at £30 or so per rod, its not feasible.
I really appreciate you taking the trouble to reply, convinced me to look harder!
 
Had a pair of Seekers for about 20 years, great rod and an excellent blank generally.
I bought a pair of Hi S 2lb and agree with Rob, they really are excellent and when you need to stop a decent fish going in a snag, they've got the power to do so. I would say that one top section has cracked and i need to get it replaced. Not sure how it happened, could be my fault, could have been a blank fault.
Wish they did something more along the lines of an 11.6 rod for smaller rivers with a lighter curve.
 
Jon Elliott said:
Had a pair of Seekers for about 20 years, great rod and an excellent blank generally.
I bought a pair of Hi S 2lb and agree with Rob, they really are excellent and when you need to stop a decent fish going in a snag, they've got the power to do so. I would say that one top section has cracked and i need to get it replaced. Not sure how it happened, could be my fault, could have been a blank fault.
Wish they did something more along the lines of an 11.6 rod for smaller rivers with a lighter curve.
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They do a 11ft 1lb small water rod, but I remember you have it already? It would be great they do a 1.5-1.75 hi s rod in 11ft.
 
Chris Belcher said:
Hi S about to trumped by Hi Q . . .will be interesting to see whether they create a specialist range
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I live just a few miles from the venue of the Essex carp Show so I usually pop in. so tomorrow I will have a particular look and ask about "Q". Johnson Ross is normally the biggest contributor and their F/S range extensively on show
 
They've just bought out a new budget range - the 'Helical' . . .maybe they're considering a budget specialist version in this range as well?

Free Spirit Helical Carp Rods

Free Spirit have sought to offer the best quality possible at any given price by keeping check on overheads and putting as much as possible into the product. With the new Helical range of carp rods, we believe you will be shocked at the quality of these at the price point they hit.
johnsonrosstackle.co.uk johnsonrosstackle.co.uk
 
Chris Belcher said:
They've just bought out a new budget range - the 'Helical' . . .maybe they're considering a budget specialist version in this range as well?

Free Spirit Helical Carp Rods

Free Spirit have sought to offer the best quality possible at any given price by keeping check on overheads and putting as much as possible into the product. With the new Helical range of carp rods, we believe you will be shocked at the quality of these at the price point they hit.
johnsonrosstackle.co.uk johnsonrosstackle.co.uk
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I remember helical coils but that was nothing to do with fishing rods, Ha! Again I will ask tomorrow.
Maybe its just me that I can see why F/S want to have a huge range, ala Daiwa /Shimano et al, and I can see their P/Rr over the last 25 years has been an object lesson on how to do it properly. But I just have a gut feeling they for me are going too far. Some of their heavy feeders for example I look at in J/R has me scratching my head!
 
Chris Belcher said:
They've just bought out a new budget range - the 'Helical' . . .maybe they're considering a budget specialist version in this range as well?

Free Spirit Helical Carp Rods

Free Spirit have sought to offer the best quality possible at any given price by keeping check on overheads and putting as much as possible into the product. With the new Helical range of carp rods, we believe you will be shocked at the quality of these at the price point they hit.
johnsonrosstackle.co.uk johnsonrosstackle.co.uk
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They did make a barbel rod in this range
 
Huanzhou Zhu said:
I have no experience of playing fish with Hi s, but I love my seekers, together with my torrix, I don't think I need another 11ft barbel rod.
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I’ve used different models of both the seekers and hi s rods. They both great. Seekers are awesome and definitely up there with hi s imo
 
I prefer my seekers to my hi s but they are completely different tc,s seekers are 175 su,s and you would have to kill me before I got rid of them ….the hi s are 2.25 bit of an animal
 
To my simple mind, using the su seeker along side a torrix suggested to me that the seeker was dramatically quicker to wrap round than the torr. In fact it was the speed of movement which I found disconcerting
 
Alec Hague said:
To my simple mind, using the su seeker along side a torrix suggested to me that the seeker was dramatically quicker to wrap round than the torr. In fact it was the speed of movement which I found disconcerting
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They are completely different rods. Couldn’t be any further apart.
The torrix actually has the faster tip but lower down it is much more powerful. The seeker is a lot slower in the tip and the action is what I would describe as a full through action
 
Richard Isaacs said:
They are completely different rods. Couldn’t be any further apart.
The torrix actually has the faster tip but lower down it is much more powerful. The seeker is a lot slower in the tip and the action is what I would describe as a full through action
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Yep, thats what I found.
 
Haven't seen Helical Specialists yet? E Class is being morphed out with CTX (arguably the broadest and most popular range) presumably taking its place . .

Rumours are Hi Q will be retailing at £750 per rod (mad money for a factory build) . . . which is good news for the used Hi S market as the tarts will be selling in their droves!
 
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