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Harrison Chimera 11ft 1.75lbs?

M

Marcus Ruoff

Active Member
My Chimera 3s I bought after your great recommendations here are my goto carp and barbel rods for my local fishing on the river and small lak es. Fantastic rods. Absolutely live them!

I have been offered seemingly old new stock Chimera blanks in 11ft 1.75lbs for a really good price.

Couldnt find any reference for such a blank so I wonder if you have heard about such Chimera blanks or know of rods made from these blanks?

Blanks look like Chimeras but I want to be sure they are the real thing before I buy.

Your opinion would be appreciated! All the best!
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To my knowledge it doesn’t exist. If it did I’m absolutely sure I’d own one. Chimera specialist blanks consist of
Avon 11ft 1.25
Avon 11ft 1.5
No1 12ft 1.5
No2 12ft 1.75
No3 12ft 2.25
No4 13ft 2.75
Snag n flood 11’6 2.25
Then there is a carp rod range which I’m less familiar with.
 
It does exist - I've got one I had made by Harrisons in about 2009.

It's slimmer all round then the 12ft model and much lighter in the hand. I've only had a handful of barbel on a 12ft model to compare but the 11ft seems to me a little softer in the tip.

It's far and away my favourite rod, it landed my first 20lb carp in a Thames a weir pool, 9lb+ tench and double figure barbel in hit and hold swims on the pin.

If I was only allowed to keep one rod that would be it. I've got heavier rods and lighter rods but if I can get away with it I use the 11ft Chimera, it's a joy to use.

Strangely though I've never found a reference to one online anywhere.

Love letter over.
 
Christian Tyroll said:
It does exist - I've got one I had made by Harrisons in about 2009.

It's slimmer all round then the 12ft model and much lighter in the hand. I've only had a handful of barbel on a 12ft model to compare but the 11ft seems to me a little softer in the tip.

It's far and away my favourite rod, it landed my first 20lb carp in a Thames a weir pool, 9lb+ tench and double figure barbel in hit and hold swims on the pin.

If I was only allowed to keep one rod that would be it. I've got heavier rods and lighter rods but if I can get away with it I use the 11ft Chimera, it's a joy to use.

Strangely though I've never found a reference to one online anywhere.

Love letter over.
Click to expand...
Every day is a school day. I shall have to keep my eyes peeled
Cheers for the info
 
Christian Tyroll said:
It does exist - I've got one I had made by Harrisons in about 2009.

It's slimmer all round then the 12ft model and much lighter in the hand. I've only had a handful of barbel on a 12ft model to compare but the 11ft seems to me a little softer in the tip.

It's far and away my favourite rod, it landed my first 20lb carp in a Thames a weir pool, 9lb+ tench and double figure barbel in hit and hold swims on the pin.

If I was only allowed to keep one rod that would be it. I've got heavier rods and lighter rods but if I can get away with it I use the 11ft Chimera, it's a joy to use.

Strangely though I've never found a reference to one online anywhere.

Love letter over.
Click to expand...
Thanks - that is really helpful info.

I’d never heard of this rod either and I love Chimeras……
 
Just for clarity - on the blank on mine it says, 11ft Chimera Avon 1.75lb

It does seem quite different to a no2 as well so I've wondered does the Avon bit denote a different style rod to the 1,2,3 series?
 
There is also a Chimera 2b blank 12ft 2lb TC which Dave Lumb used to advertise. Intermediate between the C2 and C3.

Tbh, you could probably get Harrisons to make any variant on a Chimera you wanted so long as you are prepared to pay for it.

I see no reason why they won't have made a 11ft 1.75 at some time.
 

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Christian Tyroll said:
Just for clarity - on the blank on mine it says, 11ft Chimera Avon 1.75lb

It does seem quite different to a no2 as well so I've wondered does the Avon bit denote a different style rod to the 1,2,3 series?
Click to expand...
What’s the last 2 ft of it like just above the handle when it’s under load.
Can you apply the brakes quite hard if needed?
I’m a big 11ft Torrix fan and them things have a set of 6 pot calipers on tap if needed
I do love a chimera specialist mind.
A no2 11footer would be lovely
 
Marcus Ruoff said:
My Chimera 3s I bought after your great recommendations here are my goto carp and barbel rods for my local fishing on the river and small lak es. Fantastic rods. Absolutely live them!

I have been offered seemingly old new stock Chimera blanks in 11ft 1.75lbs for a really good price.

Couldnt find any reference for such a blank so I wonder if you have heard about such Chimera blanks or know of rods made from these blanks?

Blanks look like Chimeras but I want to be sure they are the real thing before I buy.

Your opinion would be appreciated! All the best!View attachment 23046View attachment 23048
Click to expand...
Bite their hands off and get it built Marcus!
 
Richard Isaacs said:
What’s the last 2 ft of it like just above the handle when it’s under load.
Can you apply the brakes quite hard if needed?
I’m a big 11ft Torrix fan and them things have a set of 6 pot calipers on tap if needed
I do love a chimera specialist mind.
A no2 11footer would be lovely
Click to expand...

It's got some meat at the bottom. I've never had any monster barbel but on the occasions I've actually had to clamp down and not give line it's turned 10/11lbers with something to spare. I will have been concentrating too much on keeping clean trousers at the time to say how much though.

It left me wanting a little more when I hooked a big fish mid river on the Wye with 4/5ft on but it's probably not the rod for that.
 
Last edited:
2009 time frame or before is probably about right as the rodbuilder says He has bought the blank about 20 years ago.

He will build it for me for a super cheap price as no one wanted the blank in the last 20 years.... Go figure.

If I am lucky I could be on to something with these as I just think the Chimera 3s are incredible rods.

Will be super interesting how the 11ft Chimeras compare to my 11ft 2lbs Torrix!

Will also check what other vintage blanks this guy has lying around.

Will report...
Have a nice weekend!
 
Richard Isaacs said:
What’s the last 2 ft of it like just above the handle when it’s under load.
Can you apply the brakes quite hard if needed?
I’m a big 11ft Torrix fan and them things have a set of 6 pot calipers on tap if needed
I do love a chimera specialist mind.
A no2 11footer would be lovely
Click to expand...

Hi Richard

Just to say I've put the 11ft next to a 12ft for a side by side.

The actions seem pretty similar but I'd still stand by the 11ft being softer in the top third, then they seem to match a bit more in the middle.

And in answer to your question about the 2ft above the handle, I'd suggest that loosely the extra length on the 12ft equates to an extra ft of stopping power above the butt.

The difference in thickness and weight is really noticeably. I've used the 11ft for rolling meat before and can now say that I'd have absolutely no inclination to use the 12ft for that. The 11fter is just a far nicer rod if needing to hold it for any length of time.

Look forward to hearing what Marcus makes of it.
 
Christian Tyroll said:
Hi Richard

Just to say I've put the 11ft next to a 12ft for a side by side.

The actions seem pretty similar but I'd still stand by the 11ft being softer in the top third, then they seem to match a bit more in the middle.

And in answer to your question about the 2ft above the handle, I'd suggest that loosely the extra length on the 12ft equates to an extra ft of stopping power above the butt.

The difference in thickness and weight is really noticeably. I've used the 11ft for rolling meat before and can now say that I'd have absolutely no inclination to use the 12ft for that. The 11fter is just a far nicer rod if needing to hold it for any length of time.

Look forward to hearing what Marcus makes of it.
Click to expand...
👍🏻
 
Love my 12' Chimeras 1 and 2. Just bought an 11' Torrix 1 3/4. Haven't used it yet ( signs are next week). In the garden ( like you do) it felt great in the hand with a lovely balance and quite powerful though it has a lovely fine tip and is a slim rod.
Wonder how the 11' Chimera would compare?
 
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