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harrison rods, what tc?

The new freespirit specialist advanced barbel rod are well worth a look they do a 11ft 1.5tc one and IMO best action rod I've come across in that tc and better still won't break the bank at £124.99 from Johnson Ross tackle.
 
Hi Marcin, I fish the area around Symonds Yat too and five years ago invested in a Torrix twin top 1.75 lb/2lb .I seldom use the 1.75lb these days on the Wye , maybe in NSL conditions in areas without snags in which it's a pleasure to use but most of the time use the 2lb tip as it gives me the confidence to play fish in snaggy areas, also with a few feet of water on in the autumn I find it copes much better .If you already have the 1.5lb I can't see the 1.75lb giving you a lot more to be honest .The main reason I went with the Harrison was so I could have bullet proof rings fitted as I'm so clumsy and ham fisted that these things have tended to let me down in the past.Previously I used a Greys Prodigy's 1.75/2lb which were good but a bit less forgiving than the Torrix when it came to playing fish and also in their durability.
 
Hi Marcin. i've had "through" action Harrison rods and absolutely hated them. ( I couldn't sell them quick enough ) My all time fav rod is an " original " Greys Prodigy 2lb tc. (but not everyone's cup of tea ) It does everything it says on the tin. Very forgiving in the tip, but tons of power in the lower halve of the rod if needed. But each to their own, we all have our own preferences what a good rod should be. I,m sure after trying a few, you'll find exactly what suits you. Good luck in your search. :)
 
Thank you all for the input, great advises and very valuable info there!! Good forum it is. That's very good read there Anthony. Thinking about casting longer distances after tench and bream, the last thing I need is a through action. I believe torrix has a progressive action. The ones I have are Mark Tunley's dark carbons, lovely progressive action and they are based on modified torrix blanks according to what Mark has explained to me. He reckons a rod I need is his dark carbon 1.75 12' but I have a feeling it will be too soft for what I need. I am talking one maybe two barbel trips per year and after that they will be used for tench/bream fishing at 70-80 yards most of the time.

Mark Lavis said:
Hi Marcin, I fish the area around Symonds Yat too and five years ago invested in a Torrix twin top 1.75 lb/2lb .I seldom use the 1.75lb these days on the Wye , maybe in NSL conditions in areas without snags in which it's a pleasure to use but most of the time use the 2lb tip as it gives me the confidence to play fish in snaggy areas, also with a few feet of water on in the autumn I find it copes much better .If you already have the 1.5lb I can't see the 1.75lb giving you a lot more to be honest .The main reason I went with the Harrison was so I could have bullet proof rings fitted as I'm so clumsy and ham fisted that these things have tended to let me down in the past.Previously I used a Greys Prodigy's 1.75/2lb which were good but a bit less forgiving than the Torrix when it came to playing fish and also in their durability.
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That's exactly the feedback I was looking for the Mark, appreciate this. tell me there, do you not feel the 2lb top has less "feel" when it comes to playing the fish or is too stiff when it comes to bites detection. from what I learned first time barbel fishing when it comes to bites detection it's more a case of holding on to the rod to keep it on the bank ;) rather then spotting bites, but how does it indicate twitches etc. and if you were to pick one of these tops to go casting 1.5-2oz method feeder good 70yards, which one would you go for? is 2lb up for that job do you reckon?
 
Marcin, your worries and stressing out about the 2.0lb tc rods being too stiff etc. are a product of your previous match fishing background. The type of rods you were used to using for many years make barbel rods feel like monstrosities...bu they are not.

When I came into carp fishing after years of match/general coarse fishing, it was an even bigger step up...from float and quiver tips to a thing that looked like a broom handle in comparison. However, you soon appreciate their values and suitability for the job they were built for...and then they no longer seem over-gunned or like broom handles at all...quite the reverse in fact, on some occasions. Then, when I returned to the rivers for barbel fishing, the rods felt like weird floppy things...it's just the change, the different tools for different jobs that feel so odd at first.

Barbel rods are built somewhat differently, they have a softer tip to allow good bite detection...because that is what they are built to do. If I were you, and in view of the low number of times you will actually be using them for barbeling, I would go for the 2.0 and have done with it. They WILL do all you want, and more....and be good rods for all your needs for a very long time. It seems as though your circumstances mean that you can't borrow a mates rod and give it a try, so you don't have an easy answer that way.

As has been said, rods are a personal thing, with individuals preferring different qualities and actions, so no amount of advice is going to set your mind at rest. If you ask a hundred different anglers 'which rod is best for 'X' job, you will get a hundred different answers....I know, I have been there :D. Take the plunge Marcin, and enjoy.

Cheers, Dave.
 
Marcin, 13/4 tc top will stop anything i will catch mate unless its a massive river pig, but the extra 2lb tc top helps when the waters coming down a bit heavier, 13/4 ideal for tench at distance, handling is a delight, well balanced not at all over heavy,in fact when i got my bfw i-powers i stopped using most of my other rods except for my peregrine mk1 flood rod but thats a real beastie
what can lob a 6 oz webtube loaded with goodies 40 yards with no problem,
Our Bob Gills skill at finishing rods to perfection and the selection of goodies is unbeleivable, you ask him and he does it for you right down to the tiniest detail, once bought you,ll never wanna part with them, they are real players rods and once flexed in fighting curve the power just turns on enormously:)
 
Hi Marcin, to be honest i don't really think about the feel anymore , both tips are sensitive and responsive as far as I'm concerned, its just that when you have say an 8lb+ fish on the 1.75lb bends almost right through to the cork and the 2lb doesn't.The last winter fish I caught on the 2lb TC was an 8 oz roach which still gave a twitch big enough to spot on a flooded river.Don't get hung up with stats/facts 'n' figures , I can happily fire off 2oz feeders to the far bank of the Wye all day anything over 4oz and I take it a bit easier. If you PM me an email address I can send you some footage I shot with a go-pro attached to the rod handle which gives a good example of bite detection and the bend in the rod.Enjoy.Mark.
 
Marcin, I prefer the i-powers as they are softer than the Torrid and have a through action which I find more forgiving that said they have plenty of power in the butt section. Got mine from Bob and as others have already said worth speaking to him or one of the other rod builders, its down to personal preference at the end of the day.
 
Lads, just wanted to say thank you for all the advices received here. You all were of great help, in the end I went for torrix 2lbs in chestnut brown colour made to my spec. just perfect for a tackle tart I am :) Great rod, thanks again!

I'm after coming back from my Wye trip recently and although fishing wasn't the easiest with very bright, sunny, dry conditions; water low and clear; hard work every day and long sessions resulted in 30 barbel to 9lbs and 36 chub to 5.04lbs. These were my two new PBs and I am absolutely chuffed with that. Can't wait to get back over there! tight lines
 

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Hi Marcin, welcome to the forum :)

You said a couple of things that I would question (if I may)

Marcin Kantor said:
...... I'd like to double as barbel rod and distance fishing tench/bream rod in a range of 70-80 yards.
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I don't believe that you can have a rod that doubles up in this respect.

Marcin Kantor said:
I know 2.0 will give me the bit of extra power when comes to distance casting ...
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That is not so, surely the test curve is not the defining factor here, it is the rod's action.


fwiw. I use 11ft (11ft is more powerful than a same-spec 12ft rod) 1.75tc GTi (Harrison blank) for ALL of my barbel fishing, coupled with a centrepin so I rarely wish to cast over 30 yards :)
 
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