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New chub rod

Richard Isaacs said:
Just thought I’d share I’ve been down to see mr Tunley today to collect my order.
I love a bit of chub fishing especially in winter and it’s been long over due that I customized a rod to suit my requirements exactly for chub ledgering methods. Float is sorted as the compact Acolyte is spot on for my trotting but my quiver rods can be vastly improved on for my small water big chub roaming.
My Spec.
Harrison Avon 11ft 1.125 Avon rod. Lots of power lovely soft action. 4-8lb main lines. An awesome blank for chub recommendation made by Mark.

Tip cut down and spliced with Long 2oz quiver tip for ledgering with small weights on small rivers and streams. I don’t like interchangeables I like 1 tip that works properly with the rod.

Fuji 20mm k series singles set.
My favorite rings on specialist rods.

Full cork with sliding bands
For me on rods like this a sliding band reel seat is far nicer than the fixed type.
I can chose exactly how much handle I want sticking out the back and balance up a reel perfectly to the rod. Something I think is very beneficial with touch ledgering feeling for bites.

Last 75mm Japanese shrink tube.
I don’t like any Eva on my rods but I do let the back end sit in the wet mud quite often when roaming. This should provide a little extra protection on the cork.

Tip painted white and orange. Covers most backgrounds I’d say.

So overall functionality over form. It’s a very understated Matt finish with simple black whippings.
As you’d expect from MT it’s an amazing job.
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I never knew that I needed one of these:)

@Richard Isaacs Did you have a carbon quiver tip fitted or glass? Im presuming you could have had a choice. I rarely properly quiver tip so can get away with carbon tips as Im holding the rod but if you want to spot delicate little plucks you need a glass tip so I'd be interested to know what you went with?
 
Joe Winstanley said:
Looks fabulous Paul, what reel have you matched it with?

I also asked once asked Dave Lumb about making me a quivertip and his advice was to get a Preston Carbonactive as he wouldn't be able to build anything better which I thought was very honest advice.

ps - what is a h/b rod?
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Hi Joe - sorry for the delay
H/B is lazy speak for handbuilt
I have matched with a Cadence CS10 which is a 4000 series and very light- balance is nice
I got a Carbonactive off you and it is a fantastic rod, love it but had a number of stand-offs with chub where the rod has a curve that is rod-porn and should be on the front of a glossy angling mag, but nothing left in it to stop a dive into willow roots.
He is an honest broker is Dave, he tried to talk me out of buying a 1.25 x 11' Chimera for Chub and I didn't listen and he was right
Great rod for perch fishing though.
Richard Isaacs said:
That’s very strange Paul. The builder doesn’t splice the tip, Harrison’s do it and send the blanks pre spliced. All Dave would have to do is whip over the spliced joint and slap some guides on.
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Richard Isaacs said:
Paul I think it looks great and you made the right call to choose function over form.
mine was certainly built with functionality as the priority over looks. It’s been a sensational rod and on the few occasions I’ve used it (not many to be fair) it’s really impressed me. The sliding reel bands are definitely the way to go for me on a rod like that as you can really achieve perfect balance of the reel and reduce that cork sitting under your arm.
not a fan of push in tips personally but again that’s what custom built is all about. Making it individual to you.
ive had afew high 4’s and low 5’s on it now and it’s spot on for the job. Mines the Avon 1.25 blank but I’m a big fan of 11 foot rods. I bet the torrix is awesome.
I Love this pic of the rod and small chub together View attachment 13683
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I've never had a spliced in tip, and honestly I was nervous about it snapping it then the rod was goosed. A bit negative I know but I have cracked my fair share of tips. The one and only outing for this rod I got to the steps to my peg, gingerly made my way down them, went to step off the last one and my crampon got caught in the chicken-wire on the step and I went down like a sack of s**t with my bergen, chair rod holdall, bait buckets.
Complete face plant into the snow but managed to throw this rod clear as it was in a separate sleeve. So that's what you're dealing with - Mr Clumsy.
I have quite a few twin tips and rarely use the Avon section so when Mark mentioned the carrier that uses off-the-shelf Drennan tips I liked that as it gives me the versatility to go as light as 1.5oz if it's really hard, up-to 4oz for a bit of push. And if I do snap a tip it's £15-16 for a new one as opposed to ££?? and months for a repair. If the worst happens I can still fish.
All theory at the moment and will enjoy having a play and working out what suits best when we can get back on.
The one time I have used it, my casting was as good as I get which always endears me to a rod, picked a spot on the far shelf, and hit it most times
 
Paul Richardson said:
I've never had a spliced in tip, and honestly I was nervous about it snapping it then the rod was goosed. A bit negative I know but I have cracked my fair share of tips. The one and only outing for this rod I got to the steps to my peg, gingerly made my way down them, went to step off the last one and my crampon got caught in the chicken-wire on the step and I went down like a sack of s**t with my bergen, chair rod holdall, bait buckets.
Complete face plant into the snow but managed to throw this rod clear as it was in a separate sleeve. So that's what you're dealing with - Mr Clumsy.
I have quite a few twin tips and rarely use the Avon section so when Mark mentioned the carrier that uses off-the-shelf Drennan tips I liked that as it gives me the versatility to go as light as 1.5oz if it's really hard, up-to 4oz for a bit of push. And if I do snap a tip it's £15-16 for a new one as opposed to ££?? and months for a repair. If the worst happens I can still fish.
All theory at the moment and will enjoy having a play and working out what suits best when we can get back on.
The one time I have used it, my casting was as good as I get which always endears me to a rod, picked a spot on the far shelf, and hit it most times
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Hi Paul,

I placed an order for a similar custom build today with Mark. I have the 12’ 1.25 Torrix Twin with push in Drennan tips on the quiver side. Really excited to use this rod. I have ultra matte black carbon, alps black matte, SIC guides, full cork, dark green whippings.

Best.
 
Chris Guy said:
Aren't you limiting yourself to certain river conditions with a spliced in quivertip?
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Hi Chris,

I think you are to a degree but then the action of spliced in is better than push in so horses for courses. I personally wanted push in and will get loads of tips covering all the conditions I want to use it in but equally see why someone would say well I only really use 2oz for 90% of the fishing I do on river xx so I am happy with that.
 
Bill Malcolm said:
Hi Chris,

I think you are to a degree but then the action of spliced in is better than push in so horses for courses. I personally wanted push in and will get loads of tips covering all the conditions I want to use it in but equally see why someone would say well I only really use 2oz for 90% of the fishing I do on river xx so I am happy with that.
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The difference in the action between spliced and push-in is tiny, probably not even noticeable when bent into a chub. You're lucky to get away with a 2 oz tip for most of your fishing, the Ouse is up and down like a yo-yo just now (actually mostly up). I may only be using a 1.5 tip in the summer or if the river has dropped a little and I'm fishing the margins, or if I'm fishing the Ivel. Which being much smaller, fines down quicker than the Ouse. Two days ago I was on a 3 oz tip, as I was fishing just into the main flow. This winter I'm faced with different river conditions with each visit, so I need to have the options of tips readily available to me. With the river high, the chub can be caught just about anywhere, from the margins to mid river, to far bank, and certainly not always in the traditional summer holding areas, as long as the river isn't boiling over on itself. Challenging times.
 
Chris Guy said:
The difference in the action between spliced and push-in is tiny, probably not even noticeable when bent into a chub.
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It’s very noticeable Chris. Certainly not tiny at all.
I’ve always found a carry section that comes with 3 tips really only works well with one of those tips and the others being more of a compromise
A spliced tip is even nicer again as it actually feels like a single section rather than a section with another hinge point.
Regarding one tip limiting your fishing I can tell you that in most cases the limit is more psychological in the respect some people believe a single tip covers you for 1 river condition and if that condition changes you need to change the tip.
A 2oz tip on a 1.25 Avon rod will cover a variety of conditions if you know how and where to cast and when. By removing the 2 oz tip and putting in a 3 oz tip you change the action of the carry section a lot but you don’t increase it’s performance by a lot.
It’s no different to buying a 1.5lb barbel rod. If you need to cover flood conditions you don’t put a 1.6 tip in it you step up the whole rod
 
Richard Isaacs said:
It’s very noticeable Chris. Certainly not tiny at all.
I’ve always found a carry section that comes with 3 tips really only works well with one of those tips and the others being more of a compromise
A spliced tip is even nicer again as it actually feels like a single section rather than a section with another hinge point.
Regarding one tip limiting your fishing I can tell you that in most cases the limit is more psychological in the respect some people believe a single tip covers you for 1 river condition and if that condition changes you need to change the tip.
A 2oz tip on a 1.25 Avon rod will cover a variety of conditions if you know how and where to cast and when. By removing the 2 oz tip and putting in a 3 oz tip you change the action of the carry section a lot but you don’t increase it’s performance by a lot.
It’s no different to buying a 1.5lb barbel rod. If you need to cover flood conditions you don’t put a 1.6 tip in it you step up the whole rod
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This time of year I will be carrying two or even three tip rods of varying test curves, as mentioned the conditions are changing constantly. A 3 oz tip I'll be generally using in a 1.5 tc rod. I guess the action may change somewhat in 1.25 tc rod, when implementing a 2 or 3 oz tip, but not enough to make me wish I'd had a spliced-in tip.
Oh, and bear in mind, I'm generally not fishing for barbel, it's the Great Ouse. And if do target the barbel, I'll be using a standard Avon top.
 
Richard Isaacs said:
It’s very noticeable Chris. Certainly not tiny at all.
I’ve always found a carry section that comes with 3 tips really only works well with one of those tips and the others being more of a compromise
A spliced tip is even nicer again as it actually feels like a single section rather than a section with another hinge point.
Regarding one tip limiting your fishing I can tell you that in most cases the limit is more psychological in the respect some people believe a single tip covers you for 1 river condition and if that condition changes you need to change the tip.
A 2oz tip on a 1.25 Avon rod will cover a variety of conditions if you know how and where to cast and when. By removing the 2 oz tip and putting in a 3 oz tip you change the action of the carry section a lot but you don’t increase it’s performance by a lot.
It’s no different to buying a 1.5lb barbel rod. If you need to cover flood conditions you don’t put a 1.6 tip in it you step up the whole rod
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Richard - So is it the playing action that's better on a spiced tip, bite indication or both? Not used it yet with the spliced tip so a genuine question
Mark did say only use carbon tips in the carrier top section so the transition is smoother.
 
For me my chub rod was built for fishing certain rivers between conditions X and Y and the 2oz spiced tip on a 1.25 Avon is built to do that. In lower conditions I’ll fish downstream main flow lighter leads and with a drop of water on I’ll fish up stream, look for calmer water and within the rod limits a slightly heavier lead. (Up to a point)

(Past that point)
if I am going to fish a river and the conditions are between A and B slapping a 3oz tip into the same Avon rod isn’t going to help me much because I’m still using the same rod. I’m not gaining any additional power in the rod itself by making the tip less sensitive. Yes it’s stiffer allowing for a little more weight to be comfortably cast but If the conditions are too much for my little Avon rod I’ll step up the whole rod to a more powerful outfit. It’s no good getting a lead out to hold bottom if the rod itself isn’t up to the job of banking a fish in heavy water conditions.
Personally I’ve got several rods with interchangeable tips and I don’t use 75% of the tips. I just keep the tips that work best with the rods power in the carry section and the rest never see the river bank.
 
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Paul Richardson said:
Richard - So is it the playing action that's better on a spiced tip, bite indication or both? Not used it yet with the spliced tip so a genuine question
Mark did say only use carbon tips in the carrier top section so the transition is smoother.
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Not bite indication really. That would be registered equally as good whether it’s spliced or not. My spliced tip is very long. It covers more than 1/3 of the length of the section and its spliced further into the blank so the curve feels smoother. Just like one piece section. You can get this with certain quiver tips too that match up really nicely with the rods action. When you have a selection of tips some of them just don’t feel right. Eg I’ve got a heavy feeder rod. Comes with 2,3,4 oz tips. The 2 is awful the 3 is ok and the 4 is beautiful
My step dad has that stradic specialist rod. That comes with the same tips. 2,3,4. The 4 is awful on it. You’ve got this lovely through action blank then you stick this very short over stiff tip in and it’s just horrible. It doesn’t make the rod itself any more powerful
Just my opinion mate. I like to use the rods with the tips the work best with the action so if I’m buying custom I get them spliced.
 
Paul Richardson said:
Richard - So is it the playing action that's better on a spiced tip, bite indication or both? Not used it yet with the spliced tip so a genuine question
Mark did say only use carbon tips in the carrier top section so the transition is smoother.
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That the playing action is better on a spliced tip is somewhat of a given really. Push in tips are OK for quick change but there is a compromise with 'actions'. The old 'donkey top' rods were for me a thing of beauty, and really could be adjusted to most conditions by tweaks with leads and presentation.
 
Neil Smart said:
That the playing action is better on a spliced tip is somewhat of a given really. Push in tips are OK for quick change but there is a compromise with 'actions'. The old 'donkey top' rods were for me a thing of beauty, and really could be adjusted to most conditions by tweaks with leads and presentation.
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Probably a silly question but what’s a donkey top Neil?
 
Richard Isaacs said:
Not bite indication really. That would be registered equally as good whether it’s spliced or not. My spliced tip is very long. It covers more than 1/3 of the length of the section and its spliced further into the blank so the curve feels smoother. Just like one piece section. You can get this with certain quiver tips too that match up really nicely with the rods action. When you have a selection of tips some of them just don’t feel right. Eg I’ve got a heavy feeder rod. Comes with 2,3,4 oz tips. The 2 is awful the 3 is ok and the 4 is beautiful
My step dad has that stradic specialist rod. That comes with the same tips. 2,3,4. The 4 is awful on it. You’ve got this lovely through action blank then you stick this very short over stiff tip in and it’s just horrible. It doesn’t make the rod itself any more powerful
Just my opinion mate. I like to use the rods with the tips the work best with the action so if I’m buying custom I get them spliced.
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Good points.

I think that's what makes the old Preston Asaki feeder rods that came with the three 5ft+ spliced top sections such great rods. Completely seamless action with all three tops, 1oz, 2oz and 3oz. The trade off is the dolly handle which isnt the most practical if you want to keep the rod set up.
 
Joe Winstanley said:
Good points.

I think that's what makes the old Preston Asaki feeder rods that came with the three 5ft+ spliced top sections such great rods. Completely seamless action with all three tops, 1oz, 2oz and 3oz. The trade off is the dolly handle which isnt the most practical if you want to keep the rod set up.
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I had the same with my old gtx. Kinda Regret letting that go now 😞
 

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