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Specialist Rods (1.25-1.5lbtc)

Chris Belcher

Chris Belcher

Senior Member & Supporter
Did some Tench fishing the other week and whilst my 11ft 80's Boron Silstars (bend to the butt) are still a joy to use they were a bit lacking when the bigger fish made an appearance.

Any advice on some decent 'specialist' all rounders to help fill a gap in my rod collection please? - don't want the faff of multi tip rods - just all rounders that I can float fish / use light feeders on still waters with (for bigger fish) but also use as light barbel / chub rods on smaller rivers. Historically prefer through(ish) action rods but more recently have been converted to more 'medium / tippy' rods (eg Torrix) as they're a bit more versatile

Free Spirit 12' Specialist (E Class)?
 
Chris If you're looking for a rod in that TC range then I've a pair of Terry Eustace Big Tench rods on the angling classifieds section of the forum. Bit old hat I know:oops:, so maybe you're not interested. However, they do the job even with barbel. A through actioned hollow glass rod.
 
I'd recommend having a look at the Cadence range. Very similar to the Torrix in action (I have both), from what you want it for I'd go for the 1.25lb TC.
 
I use Chimera 2’s for my normal tench (etc) fishing and love them.

Below that test curve (1 3/4) I have really struggled to find something that I like…

I have a pair of old Tony Fordham built Carbon-Kevlar 12ft 1lb test rods that I use for Stillwater roach fishing at sensible ranges and they are okay, but I don’t love them. They are more powerful than the test curve suggests, they dealt with a 17lb carp recently (on roach gear).

Recently Ive looked at Torrix rods in 1.25, 1.5 and 1.12 and I didn’t much like any of them.

For what you are looking for I’d seriously consider the Chimera 1. They are a bit lighter than the C2, but not much…..

Other suggestions (unseen) would be the Harrison 1.06 Avon or possibly a Free Spirit CTX rod if they do anything suitable - Ive just bought one of their feeder rods and am really impressed with it.
 
Didn't want to spend Torrix/Chimera money on rods I will only use sparingly / when in the mood . . .my OCD also means I'll need a pair!

Spoke with Walkers today and the 11' 1.5 Specialist is about to be / already discontinued; only 4x rods left at the factory! Pricing is currently actually significantly better than CTX (weirdly as the carbon is higher quality) however I'm nervous if the tip is stiff on the 11' (as per Huanzhou's comments) as I did want these to be 'stepped up' pellet waggler rods as much as anything else - wonder if the 12' would actually be a better option?
 
All beautiful and def good recommendations Rich & Paul but outside my price point!

What about Drennan Specialist Twin Tip Duo - either 11' / 12' in 1.5 . . .? Free Spirit Specialist E Class is a similar price point however
 
Chris Belcher said:
All beautiful and def good recommendations Rich & Paul but outside my price point!

What about Drennan Specialist Twin Tip Duo - either 11' / 12' in 1.5 . . .? Free Spirit Specialist E Class is a similar price point however
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What about the freespirit ctx? It is softer than the E class. Drennan one has too many eyes for my liking, but I suppose it’s a good thing for float fishing?
 
If you can find one, the old daiwa powermesh Avon, pmxs 119av, true all around rod. I used my for float fishing roach, also ledgering for chub, barbel when I only want to bring one rod out. And it also handles double figures carp and swan well.

It’s not the best rod I have, I have better rods for different tasks, but if I want to pick one rod for everything, it has to be the powermesh Avon.

Actually, there is one available on Facebook market for 100
 
Chris Belcher said:
All beautiful and def good recommendations Rich & Paul but outside my price point!

What about Drennan Specialist Twin Tip Duo - either 11' / 12' in 1.5 . . .? Free Spirit Specialist E Class is a similar price point however
Click to expand...

I personally think that the build quality of the Drennan SS Rods is poor and they are not a patch on the original Drennan Duo rods.
 
Huanzhou Zhu said:
If you can find one, the old daiwa powermesh Avon, pmxs 119av, true all around rod. I used my for float fishing roach, also ledgering for chub, barbel when I only want to bring one rod out. And it also handles double figures carp and swan well.

It’s not the best rod I have, I have better rods for different tasks, but if I want to pick one rod for everything, it has to be the powermesh Avon.

Actually, there is one available on Facebook market for 100
Click to expand...
Original powermesh Avon. 👍🏻
Rare as hens teeth in the best length of 11ft and definitely one of the best Avon rods ever produced
 
Currently between Free Spirit 11' CTX Tamer 1.5 & 11' / 12' Free Spirit E Class Specialist 1.5 . . .Walkers doing E Class for £130 ea which is Drennan/Daiwa money
 
Chris Belcher said:
Currently between Free Spirit 11' CTX Tamer 1.5 & 11' / 12' Free Spirit E Class Specialist 1.5 . . .Walkers doing E Class for £130 ea which is Drennan/Daiwa money
Click to expand...
For that sort of money, I would definitely go for E class, the blank is super at that price range.
 
Huanzhou Zhu said:
For that sort of money, I would definitely go for E class, the blank is super at that price range.
Click to expand...
Thats what I thought . . .I suppose the fact that they're discontinued could also be an advantage for collectors should I need to shift? Apparently Free Spirit are about to bring in an entry level set of rods (below CTX) range that apparently is the b*llocks!
 
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