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The full armoury of rods?

Chris Jones

Chris Jones

Senior Member
My own current thinking sees me with rods that cover 1.5/1.75/2.0 lb test rods (with the option of quiver tips) and then dedicated flood/big river rods at 2.2 lb (which may be upgraded, but not uprated, in time). What do folks think constitutes a full armoury of rods to tackle any barbel fishing situation?
I'll be interested if many go for lighter Avon type rods at 1/1.5lb test.
 
I stick with my i-powers now. They have 1 3/4lb and 2lb tips.

I honestly thought the 2lb tops would be too stiff but they have a lovely through action so means you don't just swing to hand anything under 10lbs.

They do need something over 11lb to put up a struggle but as I'm a slave to the biggies at the moment they are perfect for the job. I don't bother with the 1 3/4 tops as if you're going for a specimen and then a proper kipper comes along leaving you undergunned, well, I'd eat my own arm.

For smaller stuff I use 1.5lb rods, can't remember what they are now.

So in summary same as you, 1.5lb up to 2lb.

cheers, simon
 
Chris,

I have a pair of 1.75lb t.c. Torrix's, they cover ALL my Barbel fishing, be it summer or winter floods, can handle 6 oz leads swung out gently so they are fine. I don't fish the severn or trent as a rule so don't need more. I thought about getting a pair of 2lb tops made up but have not needed them so far........

I have a softer rod which I use for chub and other for trotting, heavy float fishing or carp/pike but no change for Barbel.
 
From tomorrow I will have 2 x 2lb TC torrixes, 2 x 2.25 TC torrix floods and a 1.75lb TC peregrine built Gti for roving on a couple of small local rivers that I fish. The only thing that I am considering to supplement this is something for barbel trotting which I have not done much of but quite fancy doing more often.

I have said a few times that I consider the 2lb TC torrix as the most versatile rod I have ever had the pleasure of using. It is a slightly stiffer rod than the i-power which sold recently. The torrix floods are specifically for fishing heavy feeders at distance on the Trent. They will be delivered tomorrow and I will be using them on Saturday whatever the conditions, it would be nice to christen them on Saturday but I'm not holding my breath.

Conrad
 
Full armoury?

11' 1.25lb avons for small rivers
12' 1.5lb or 12' 1.75lb for low conditions on most waters
12' 2lb or 2.25lb - my standard choice for the Ribble these days
13' 2.5lb for when the Ribble's in an angry mood!

That lot just about covers everything! Must admit that most rarely see the river bank! :rolleyes: If i'm fishing 1 rod it is usually a Drennan Specialist Power Barbel with it's 2lb top on, 2 rods and i give my pair 2.25lb Tamers an airing! It's hard to justify buying any more rods but one of Bobs I-Floods is definately on the wish list! :cool:
 
My armoury concists of one of Bobs I powers a Fox kelvar 1.75 an avon trotter for float fishing.and several others picked up over the years.
 
Ian Crook said:
Chris,

I have a pair of 1.75lb t.c. Torrix's, they cover ALL my Barbel fishing, be it summer or winter floods, can handle 6 oz leads swung out gently so they are fine. I don't fish the severn or trent as a rule so don't need more. I thought about getting a pair of 2lb tops made up but have not needed them so far........

I have a softer rod which I use for chub and other for trotting, heavy float fishing or carp/pike but no change for Barbel.
Click to expand...

Snap! Even down to the same rod builder!
 
Tend to use my two 2lb BFW torrix for nearly all my barbel fishing. Have got some 2.75 incase i want to chuck 8/10oz of lead over a flooded Severn etc lol. Today i have bought a cracking little Drennan 7 series 9ft spinmaster 2.25lb for stalking in tight swims on the Teme and Tern, for only £40 it will get used for the pike, zander and a bit of fun with the carp in the summer as well.
 
My Dave Lumb rod suits 90% of my fishing, if i need something bigger i have a pair of Seekers, they usually do the trick.

Funny, when i first started barbel fishing a Diawa Powermesh 1.25lbs tc suited all my fishing needs............. funny how much things have changed in fifteen seasons or so.
 
The obvious missing points for Barbel are a short rod for close in overgrown swims (I have a 10' Split Cane on order, hopefully to replace a "butchered" old Daiwa with shortened handle and lopped top!), and a float rod (I use a S/H, otherwise expensive, 14' Daiwa Tournament Carp).
 
Tom Herbert said:
Funny, when i first started barbel fishing a Diawa Powermesh 1.25lbs tc suited all my fishing needs
Click to expand...

Same here, up until a few years back when I bought a pair of 1.75 Prodigy's I was quite happy with a 1.5lbs North Western Specialist and a Bob James prototype Avon that was about 1.25lbs.
 
I used my two 1.75 tc Torrix for all my barbel fishing on the Severn got a 2 lb tc top for them but never use them . One thing theo great rods but i do give my rod some hammer and dont really look after them as i should do at the price they are
 
Only five barbel rods in total. 2 x Torrix 1.75lb, one built by Mark Tunley the other by Ian Tucker. Both with A1 workmanship, great rods and can even cope with under-arming 8oz on small to medium rivers.
Also 2 x 13 foot Big River specials, built by Bruce Ashby, these are my standard Trent rods that will cope with Normal to flood conditions and chucking 8oz to the far bank when required.
I also have one very dusty 15 foot GTI SU float rod, that needs a barbel. Also built by Ian Tucker at Custom Fishing Rods. All the above builders provide great service and super fast build time IMO.
 
That's the one 15 foot GTi SU, when you get bored with it you can let me have it. I know just the spot to use that rod.

Conrad
 
Conrad, I think i can name at least 3 places it should get a run for its money. One of them very close to home indeed.

Jon
 
I have more rods than I need and will at some point get onto ebay to offload a few. But currently any of the following could be my barbel rod of choice, depending on venue and conditions.

Diawa Powermesh Avons 11' - 3 piece x 2
Bob James Masterline Travel Barbel Rods, 1.25, 12' - 5 piece x 2
Harrison Triptych 1.5, 12' - 3 piece x 2
Youngs Travel Barbel 1.75 - 5 piece x 2
Greys Prodigy Barbel, 1.75 - 3 piece x 1
Harrison Specialist no 3, 2.0, - 2 piece x 2
Harrison Stalker 9', 2.25 - 2 piece x 1

Which ones get used the most? Harrison Triptych's.

There isn't one among these that I don't enjoy using though, that's the trouble...annoying....
 
If I'm just fishing one rod I use a Normark carp/barbel rod. It has 1.5lb and 2lb tips and most conditions, the lower tc is suitable. If two rods I get out the North Western Sealey 2lb specimen rod (very flexible but strong). I don't fish any big rivers so they do the job for me.
 
I will stick my head above the paraphet and say that a well made split cane rod will do most situations.!
I have a bespoke 11ft 2 piece made by Andy Sliwa. with an AJP deluxe pin. Simply beautiful. On the Trent I can chuck 30yrd no prob, yes flood water is a problem but I fish close in as most of you do.

On my small stream I can fish in most condtions and plop it in anywhere. I also have a Hardy Wallis avon circa 1960's which Andy is renovating for me, this will make a cracking chub/ perch rod. It really is a material which is so alive. Yes Carbon has its place but its so harsh and unforgiving.

I know its all about personal perferances but lets not forget good old wood !

Anyone else in praise of Cane !!!

Andy
 
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