Joe Winstanley
Senior Member & Supporter
Loads of fantastic rods out there - quite simply specialist anglers have never had it so good. In all honesty, you’ve got to try hard to find a genuinely bad rod, imo.
As with most things, you do get what you pay for though. It’s no coincidence though that the majority of custom builders use Harrison blanks.
It’s all down to personal opinion, but based on my experience for big river barbel, the Chimera 2.25 (No.3) takes a lot of beating imo, as does the Chimera 1.75 (No.2) in lighter flows. For smaller rivers the 12’ 1.75 Interceptor (also a brilliant tench rod) and 11’ 1.75 GTI are also really great rods. And someone else has stated, the 11ft Chimera Avon (1.25) has a really sweet action - great for chub and perch. I’m told by those who know that the 11ft Torrix is perfect for rolling meat.
All very different rods designed for very different applications, but the one thing they all have in common is that none of them are ‘broomsticks’ or ‘sloppy’.
I have owned some freespirits over the years, very good rods imo. Although the last ones I owned the ‘S Range Special Pike Rods’ bought for a knockdown price on Ebay were distinctly average - simply not in the same league as a DLST P1.
In terms of ‘off the peg’ rods, I think Drennan produce consistently high quality rods which are built to last, as do Korum. Both brands probably the best for all-round value for money, although a mate who has worked in the tackle trade for years tells me the Daiwa Theory is the rod he has sold the most of and one that has had the fewest come backs.
As with most things, you do get what you pay for though. It’s no coincidence though that the majority of custom builders use Harrison blanks.
It’s all down to personal opinion, but based on my experience for big river barbel, the Chimera 2.25 (No.3) takes a lot of beating imo, as does the Chimera 1.75 (No.2) in lighter flows. For smaller rivers the 12’ 1.75 Interceptor (also a brilliant tench rod) and 11’ 1.75 GTI are also really great rods. And someone else has stated, the 11ft Chimera Avon (1.25) has a really sweet action - great for chub and perch. I’m told by those who know that the 11ft Torrix is perfect for rolling meat.
All very different rods designed for very different applications, but the one thing they all have in common is that none of them are ‘broomsticks’ or ‘sloppy’.
I have owned some freespirits over the years, very good rods imo. Although the last ones I owned the ‘S Range Special Pike Rods’ bought for a knockdown price on Ebay were distinctly average - simply not in the same league as a DLST P1.
In terms of ‘off the peg’ rods, I think Drennan produce consistently high quality rods which are built to last, as do Korum. Both brands probably the best for all-round value for money, although a mate who has worked in the tackle trade for years tells me the Daiwa Theory is the rod he has sold the most of and one that has had the fewest come backs.
