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Shimano purist barbel is back.

I have two of the originals (the lighter 1.5lb ones). Absolutely fantastic rods in my opinion.

Hopefully they bring back the Purist river feeder as well. I've been desperate to get my hands on one of those for years.
 
Steve Lewis said:
I have two of the originals (the lighter 1.5lb ones). Absolutely fantastic rods in my opinion.

Hopefully they bring back the Purist river feeder as well. I've been desperate to get my hands on one of those for years.
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I am after the same rod as well. Hopefully they will release more rods.
 
Slightly different but I have three Shimano Purist Tench Float - which are nice rods to go with my 'quite a few'
Drennan Tench Floats.

Cheers
Bob
 
It's always very interesting to see how the original Purist rods are perceived. It always strikes me that the 1st Purist range wasn't widely lauded when they were current. I do have a pair of the Purist Brench rods. They ended up with a small fan club amongst a specific group of anglers I know. Second hand prices ended up exceeding the prices that the rods were cleared for.

I do recall looking at the 15' Purist Trotter. I got the distinct impression that it was a 15' Catana Match rod (of the same era) in a different frock. No one was particularly inspired by that rod or most other Shimano float rods of the time. It struck me that it's amazing the difference a name and a paint job can make to the success of a fishing rod.
 
I have the Barbel Purist 2lb quiver / Avon and love it. I have never put the extension piece in that makes it a 13 footer, but it is a lovely progressive rod that handles rogue carp and catfish as sell as lobbing any feeders I need to use. If they bring out a 1.5lb version I'll be looking for one.
 
I’ve got the purist specimen twin top Avon type rod and an old purist pike rod somewhere.
Average range of rods that people now go mad for for some reason.
I’d sooner have the technium, Antares or stradic specialist over the purist any day of the week.
 
Perhaps some people go mad for them because they aren't an average rod?
 
Of all the Purist rods, I know the Light Specialist was by far the most divisive (in fact, from memory, it's one of the most marmite rods released in the last 20 years), but I know Jan Porter (RIP) was mental over it. I heard or read an interview with him where he said except for carp and barbel, it was pretty much the only rod he used.

Richard Isaacs said:
I’ve got the purist specimen twin top Avon type rod and an old purist pike rod somewhere.
Average range of rods that people now go mad for for some reason.
I’d sooner have the technium, Antares or stradic specialist over the purist any day of the week.
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I think the "problem" with the range was that some of them were merely rebadged and repurposed Shimano rods that already existed (as Chris aluded to above) and/or pre-existed at a lower price point, whilst others - like the Brench and barbel rods - were newly designed and built specifically for that purpose, so there was a bit of a difference in inherent design and quality.

All I know is I love love love the barbel rod and have been desperate to get hold of the river feeder ever since I had a go with a mate's some years ago.
 
Clive Kenyon said:
Perhaps some people go mad for them because they aren't an average rod?
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They are fine Clive there’s nothing wrong with them I just think they are over rated now compared to what they were before shimano dropped the range.
The carry case I got with it was a really nice touch but I prefer to use the stradic specialist nowadays. It’s worth far less as far as second hand value goes but it’s just nicer all round to use. Lighter, slimmer, feels better with a bend through it and imo looks nicer. Doesn’t have the extension piece like the purist but I never used that anyway. Same with the pike rod. I prefer the old fox predators personally.
 
Richard Isaacs said:
They are fine Clive there’s nothing wrong with them I just think they are over rated now compared to what they were before shimano dropped the range.
The carry case I got with it was a really nice touch but I prefer to use the stradic specialist nowadays. It’s worth far less as far as second hand value goes but it’s just nicer all round to use. Lighter, slimmer, feels better with a bend through it and imo looks nicer. Doesn’t have the extension piece like the purist but I never used that anyway. Same with the pike rod. I prefer the old fox predators personally.
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That reply I can understand. But your first one came across as arrogant and somewhat demeaning. We all have different preferences and it is only when you use a rod for some time do you get to form a proper opinion of its characteristics. Just because you 'think' that they are over rated doesn't mean that others ar wrong in thinking differently. They might see something that you don't.

Mine is just over 10 years old. I bought it specifically for the French rivers I fish and it has done me proud whether catching chub of a pound or so through to carp over twenty and catfish double that. And the carry case is perfect for one rod stalking sessions. If I get chance I will replace my 1.5lb Alveo for a new Purist.
 
Interesting to read about the ‘heritage’ aspect of this brand re-launch.

I know nothing of the pre-history; but the new rods look like a calculated effort to compete with the success of the Daiwa Powermesh range and an attempt to build on the cult status of the current Shimano TX carp rod range. Surprise, surprise I think they are 10 quid cheaper than the Daiwa…..

A pal of mine is getting back into fishing this year (when he takes early retirement) and I’ll be helping him buy some gear. We will look at these rods, but they will have to be good to better the Daiwa equivalent. The proof will be in the quality of the blanks and their action.

Excuse my cynicism; but as an ex retail marketing consultant it all looks a bit predictable to me.
 
Tim, you are spot on with the marketing aspect. It seems that everything is being re-launched from MG cars to ATCO lawnmowers and none have any relationship to the products they are trying to suggest that they are.

At least the Purist name is still owned by the same company and has not just been bought by an investment group looking to make money on people's memories.
 
Chris Jones said:
I do recall looking at the 15' Purist Trotter.
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Another rod which mysteriously appeared in the attic several years ago. I used it for grayling and it bumped off every fish. Until then I didn't know what the term meant. Thank heavens I had taken another rod with me. It might perform better with bigger fish like chub - we'll see.
 
I had the same experience with a Greys 15 foot float rod on the Don in Sheffield. The 12 foot version was better for grayling.
 
Is the new Moto Guzzi v100 , the direct lineage to the classic, Le Mans 850 ? I really liked my Shakespeare tetra float rod great line pick up through action and landed numerous river and lake fish, till i lent it to some ming mong that broke the tip. Crazy when anglers are being introverted snobs about what gear is used.
 
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