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New rod recommendations

Funnily enough John, after wiggling and putting the bend into a number of torrix, chimera's, freespirits, even walkers of trowell very own 2 3/4 lb tc 12ft flood version,

I walked out with the Harrison Chimera 11ft 6 flood and snag, and happy as a pig in sh*t

just got to test it now,

hopefully Bob's still doing custom rods in 3 years time when I hit 40, as I'm already telling the family that they'll need to put the order in at the start of November 2015 to be ready in time!

thanks to everyone for the help and advice
 
You'll probably follow the crowd and get a Harrson's.
I have had Harrison's blanks since 1980s - still have an 11' 1&1/14
These days, I prefer the Free Spirit Rods myself (or a Hexagraph) Free Spirit Fishing - Barbel And Specialist
If you get the Advanced 2.25, ensure you have it built with Cork front piece (or one of Bob's Hardwood fronts) and not the Duplon. - it tends to crack after 2 hard seasons!
The Barbel Seeker is 1.75, you need the The Big River Barbel 12'

You'll buy a Torrix anyway! You got the Chimnera instead!
 
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Is there a practical reason for those hardwood bits or are they just for aesthetics?
If it is only for aesthetics I think I would want something a bit more in keeping with the rest of the colour scheme, A nice bit of hickory, to quote Clint, or perhaps a burr ash or birds eye maple or beech to match the cork. For really dense black timber old crown green bowls were made of lignum vitae which is black as a harlots heart but takes a beautiful polish and would look great against the carbon. Have you thought of chequer boarding Bob? Its a bit labour intensive but if you have a bandsaw it's not to bad. I think some suppliers even have cutting jigs now.
 
Ade - very good practical reason for the choice of wood and species. Among those reasons - no grain raising while wet, durable and robust, fairly expensive but available, takes on a good finish without the need to lacquer.
Lignum OK ticks most of the boxes.
A lot of woods when wet will exhibit varying degress of grain raising: rosewoods, maples and other 'light' woods can stain badly without treatment (spalt etc) - tried most and a lot of species/sub species - I have quite a bit of from guitar making days. Ash, hickory and open grained wood - difficult to get a smooth finish without resorting to grain filling. Lots of fly rod seats utilise wood (treated or stabilised) but these are not as vulnerable as say a barbel or cork rod which are often find themselves in the grot.
Chequering - labour intensive and too 'Americana' - a bit like threadart. But done both.
Bob
 
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