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Rod for the Warwickshire Avon

K

Kevin Steele

Senior Member & Supporter
Hello everyone. I joined last year, having been a fly fisherman (mostly fishing in north Wales) for forty years. I don't think I posted anything as I'd only just bought my first coarse fishing rods (Drennan Acolyte Plus, float and feeder) and wasn't quite ready to get into barbel fishing.

I now live in the north Cotswolds near to the Avon and need a rod for barbel fishing - on that river only.

I might fish in the winter, but if I do I'll then consider an additional rod. But for the summer and autumn, when the Avon is quite benign, what would you suggest as a first rod for those seasons - my question is as much about test curves as it is about specific makes of rod. I believe most Avon barbel are singles, but I'd love to hear from anyone familiar with the river.

If it helps, when fly fishing I liked a 'slow' rod with plenty of feel (Winston rather than Sage, for instance), but then I was only fishing mountain streams for small fish. I guess what I'm saying is that I don't want to be over-gunned and I don't want a broomstick. Budget preferably around £100-150.00, but up to £200.00. This is for a new rod - I don't really want to wait around for something used.

Thanks in advance.
 
Hi Kevin,

I live in the same area as you and have fished the Avon for 20 odd years.

Any good quality rod in a 1.75 test will cover almost every situation you're likely to encounter on The Warks Avon. With the budget you have, you can almost take your pick at that TC.

I Use Free Spirit Barbel Tamers, original Wychwood Barbel Specialist and Wychwood Maximisers.

Both Wychwood ones are discontinued however the Free Spirit is a great rod for the price. Lovely slim blank, light and has a really nice playing action with plenty of reserve for when you hook a bigger fish and have to give it a bit of welly.

Thanks

Lewis
 
Lewis Baldwin said:
I Use Free Spirit Barbel Tamers....
Click to expand...

Hi Lewis. I'm a little confused by Free Spirit rods. The ones I've been eyeing are the CTX Barbel Tamer at about £160.00 (which I've seen in the flesh and liked the look of) and the Helical Barbel Twin Tip that is £120.00. Is yours the CTX and/or any idea what the actual difference is?

(Not sure if it was obvious, but this rod is for feeder fishing, not trotting for barbel, so I've no need for a twin tip.)

Thanks.
.
 
Graham Elliott said:
I also would say a 1.75 rod..

I use the Harrison Torrix make. There is a reason why so many barbel anglers buy Harrison rods.
Click to expand...
That would be my choice too! And Incidentally will be my next custom builds, when I decide to go for them.
Currently my barbel rods are the Trefor West Barbel Rods, which have served me well over the years.
 
Kevin Steele said:
Hello everyone. I joined last year, having been a fly fisherman (mostly fishing in north Wales) for forty years. I don't think I posted anything as I'd only just bought my first coarse fishing rods (Drennan Acolyte Plus, float and feeder) and wasn't quite ready to get into barbel fishing.

I now live in the north Cotswolds near to the Avon and need a rod for barbel fishing - on that river only.

I might fish in the winter, but if I do I'll then consider an additional rod. But for the summer and autumn, when the Avon is quite benign, what would you suggest as a first rod for those seasons - my question is as much about test curves as it is about specific makes of rod. I believe most Avon barbel are singles, but I'd love to hear from anyone familiar with the river.

If it helps, when fly fishing I liked a 'slow' rod with plenty of feel (Winston rather than Sage, for instance), but then I was only fishing mountain streams for small fish. I guess what I'm saying is that I don't want to be over-gunned and I don't want a broomstick. Budget preferably around £100-150.00, but up to £200.00. This is for a new rod - I don't really want to wait around for something used.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
I currently use the 2 2.5lb korum barbel rods. I love em lovely action straight through. I did own the 11ft 1.75llb version also that was a cracking rod also. Theres about 4 or 5 rods in the range. They've got them on special at the mo in angling direct. But like Lewis, Graham and Julian said a 1 7.5lb will serve you well on the warks avon.
 
www.anglingdirect.co.uk

Korum Barbel Fishing Rods

Key Features Customised to suit the needs of the modern big-fish river angler Complete with white tips for bite detection Tough SIC lined rod guides Slim cork handles Perfect for chasing big barbel All rods feature an anti-frap tip guide Packs down into two equal pieces
www.anglingdirect.co.uk www.anglingdirect.co.uk
Chris
 
Kevin Steele said:
Hi Lewis. I'm a little confused by Free Spirit rods. The ones I've been eyeing are the CTX Barbel Tamer at about £160.00 (which I've seen in the flesh and liked the look of) and the Helical Barbel Twin Tip that is £120.00. Is yours the CTX and/or any idea what the actual difference is?

(Not sure if it was obvious, but this rod is for feeder fishing, not trotting for barbel, so I've no need for a twin tip.)

Thanks.
.
Click to expand...
Kevin,

I use these mate

www.freespiritfishing.com

Free Spirit Fishing

Uncompromising Perfection Hand Built Fishing Products Rods
www.freespiritfishing.com www.freespiritfishing.com

I have the 1.75's for general barbel fishing which also come with a 3oz carbon tip

I also have the 2.25's that come with a 5oz carbon tip but only use these on the Trent tbh.

Thanks

Lewis
 
Kevin Steele said:
Hi Lewis. I'm a little confused by Free Spirit rods. The ones I've been eyeing are the CTX Barbel Tamer at about £160.00 (which I've seen in the flesh and liked the look of) and the Helical Barbel Twin Tip that is £120.00. Is yours the CTX and/or any idea what the actual difference is?

(Not sure if it was obvious, but this rod is for feeder fishing, not trotting for barbel, so I've no need for a twin tip.)

Thanks.
.
Click to expand...
I have the 11ft 2lb free spirit tamer ctx barbel rod, which I think is better suited for Warwick Avon than 12ft 1.75, afterall, Warwick Avon is not a big river. Forget the tc, ctx is a soft blank with beautiful through action, which is enjoyable to play fish with
 
Huanzhou Zhu said:
I have the 11ft 2lb free spirit tamer ctx barbel rod, which I think is better suited for Warwick Avon than 12ft 1.75, afterall, Warwick Avon is not a big river. Forget the tc, ctx is a soft blank with beautiful through action, which is enjoyable to play fish with
Click to expand...


Correct me if I'm wrong, but the CTX appears to be the rod that Lewis recommended (post #9), but the rod itself isn't actually badged CTX, just 'Barbel Tamer' (hence my earlier confusion about FS rod names).

But I'm curious - how would you describe the difference in action between a 2lb 11ft rod and one that is 1.75lb 12ft of the same spec? In theory, shouldn't the shorter rod with a higher test curve be faster and less 'through'?

Any other views on rod length would be welcome, but I prefer my 12ft Acolyte feeder to the 11ft version that I sold... because it just 'feels' better, both when playing a fish and for underarm casting, which I guess I do 99% of of the time on the Avon.

.
 
Kevin Steele said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the CTX appears to be the rod that Lewis recommended (post #9), but the rod itself isn't actually badged CTX, just 'Barbel Tamer' (hence my earlier confusion about FS rod names).

But I'm curious - how would you describe the difference in action between a 2lb 11ft rod and one that is 1.75lb 12ft of the same spec? In theory, shouldn't the shorter rod with a higher test curve be faster and less 'through'?

Any other views on rod length would be welcome, but I prefer my 12ft Acolyte feeder to the 11ft version that I sold... because it just 'feels' better, both when playing a fish and for underarm casting, which I guess I do 99% of of the time on the Avon.

.
Click to expand...
Ctx is the name of the blank, the one I mentioned and Lewis are using the same blanks, just different tc and length.

The 11 and 12 rods actually have similar action, tc has nothing to do with action and length. It’s only tells you the rod will bend to 90 degree at that weight at some point, that’s why feeder rod never use tc, otherwise it can only be few oz. Hope this make sense to you.

Regarding the length choice, this is purely personal, I lived in Coventry and Warwick for few years, although I didn’t fish the Avon due to various reasons, which I really regret now, but I’ve seen that river a lot, and I don’t see the need of the 12 ft there, as you said, underarm cast is all you need.
 
Hi Kevin I too live in the north Cotswolds and close to the Avon. Used to be Tewkesbury but now a small village closest I live in hope Barbel venues being Fladbury Pershore etc.
My Torrix 11 ft 1.75 covers most situations and coupled with a light quiver outfit for picking off some other species and a float rod sometimes I am good to go.
As per usual the Barbel sport has diminished somewhat, but the river is packed with a great variety of quality fish, Bream Chub and Perch especially, I had a pb Perch recently.
I enjoy targeting other species on the quiver and set up the Barbel gear at sunset.
I find the lower Avon fishes better for Barbel August onwards...despite all the problems this river has had recently she is doing OK.
Welcome🎇🎇🎇
 
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