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Torrix 11' blank & Peregrine's 11' GTI blank

Julian Griffiths

Julian Griffiths

Senior Member & Supporter
Just a quick question here. Was wondering if anyone could briefly tell me the differences between the two rod blanks in the 11ft version. For example, the rods actions, weight comparisons (I know the Torrix is quite a light blank as I've got a 11ft version)
Cheers šŸ‘
 
I can only comment on the 1.75 TC version of either blanks, but for a start while very different, they are both superb.

Compared with the GTI, the Torrix is 'faster' actioned with more power in reserve, whereas the GTI has a more compound action with a tip that bends through to the butt section which gets progressively stiffer. Through-actioned but far from sloppy.

90% of the time the GTI has the nicer fish playing action, imo and obviously very subjective. Where the Torrix comes into it's own is when you need to put the breaks onto a biggie heading towards trouble.

The 11' 1.75 GTI also makes a good tench rod, whereas I didn't think the Torrix did.

The Torrix is lighter, but in practice you would only notice this if holding the rod for a long-time, say for rolling meat for instance.
 
Julian Griffiths said:
Just a quick question here. Was wondering if anyone could briefly tell me the differences between the two rod blanks in the 11ft version. For example, the rods actions, weight comparisons (I know the Torrix is quite a light blank as I've got a 11ft version)
Cheers šŸ‘
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Chalk and cheese Julian. Couldnā€™t be any different even when holding the same test curves.
The GTI has a very classical through action itā€™s very old school Avon rod like, and every inch bends, but itā€™s powerful through the bend. It will stop anything in its tracks if you want it too. This has a slower taper and thicker walls than the torrix and the blank will be heavier slightly.

Torrix is tippy with a faster taper and faster action. So it gets stiffer and stiffer the further you dare take it. Iā€™d call the 11ft Torrix a 2/3 progressive through action with that last 2ft only bending when something really quite special is pulling back
Youā€™ll cast a bigger payload further and more accurate with a Torrix, youā€™ll put more pressure on the fish through leverage with the GTI being softer.
 
Joe Winstanley said:
I can only comment on the 1.75 TC version of either blanks, but for a start while very different, they are both superb.

Compared with the GTI, the Torrix is 'faster' actioned with more power in reserve, whereas the GTI has a more compound action with a tip that bends through to the butt section which gets progressively stiffer. Through-actioned but far from sloppy.

90% of the time the GTI has the nicer fish playing action, imo and obviously very subjective. Where the Torrix comes into it's own is when you need to put the breaks onto a biggie heading towards trouble.

The 11' 1.75 GTI also makes a good tench rod, whereas I didn't think the Torrix did.

The Torrix is lighter, but in practice you would only notice this if holding the rod for a long-time, say for rolling meat for instance.
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Cheers Joe for your comments mate!šŸ‘
 
Richard Isaacs said:
Chalk and cheese Julian. Couldnā€™t be any different even when holding the same test curves.
The GTI has a very classical through action itā€™s very old school Avon rod like, and every inch bends, but itā€™s powerful through the bend. It will stop anything in its tracks if you want it too. This has a slower taper and thicker walls than the torrix and the blank will be heavier slightly.

Torrix is tippy with a faster taper and faster action. So it gets stiffer and stiffer the further you dare take it. Iā€™d call the 11ft Torrix a 2/3 progressive through action with that last 2ft only bending when something really quite special is pulling back
Youā€™ll cast a bigger payload further and more accurate with a Torrix, youā€™ll put more pressure on the fish through leverage with the GTI being softer.
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Great reply also Richard. And thanks. I must admit I do like the action of an old school Avon šŸ‘
 
Never owned a gti but had a very love hate relationship with a torrix. Always prefer more though action rod, over the last 12 years had 2x1.75ā€™s made, a 1.5 and a 2lb with different builds but never gelled with the blank. Much prefer freespirit barbel seeker su blanks but never liked the freespirit build, so had some custom made. The freespirit blank is lighter than the torrix, i feel the tip is more sensitive and has that nice through action progressive bend, as mentioned whereas the torrix is more tippy with more power in reserve. The torrix does have a huge following though.
 
Ben Jennings said:
Never owned a gti but had a very love hate relationship with a torrix. Always prefer more though action rod, over the last 12 years had 2x1.75ā€™s made, a 1.5 and a 2lb with different builds but never gelled with the blank. Much prefer freespirit barbel seeker su blanks but never liked the freespirit build, so had some custom made. The freespirit blank is lighter than the torrix, i feel the tip is more sensitive and has that nice through action progressive bend, as mentioned whereas the torrix is more tippy with more power in reserve. The torrix does have a huge following though.
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Hi Ben.

Yes one if my favourite rods was a 12' Freespirit Hi S think it was a 1.75 rating. Made for a brilliant chub rod when I had them on it, and a nice fight from a 17lb river carp in a small flowing river. I liked the seekers but just hated their build qualities like yourself & thought for the price I was paying for them, I'd might as well pay a little extra for a custom. šŸ˜Š

The gti does sound like a nice rod to get built at some stage....Roger basically said
'Best way to describe the difference is that the Torrix has slightly more power in the butt and is generally a "stiffer " rod'
 
I predominantly use 11ft GTIs on the Ouse Julianā€¦lovely through action rods with plenty of stopping powerā€¦never used a Torrix so canā€™t comment. Only time I feel they are not up to the job is in high water and heavy leads approach. You also get a nice bend in the GTIs from Chub
 
Alan Palmer said:
I predominantly use 11ft GTIs on the Ouse Julianā€¦lovely through action rods with plenty of stopping powerā€¦never used a Torrix so canā€™t comment. Only time I feel they are not up to the job is in high water and heavy leads approach. You also get a nice bend in the GTIs from Chub
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Thanks Alan šŸ‘
 
Current owner of the 11' Torrix which I love, probably the only rod I own that I'd never move on.

Previous owner of an 11' Peregrine GTI which I hated, felt really sloppy and the action not my cup of tea but did land a couple of decent Kennet doubles with it and it coped well enough TBF.

As mentioned earlier definitely chalk and cheese.
 
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For me the GTI is a ā€œsafeā€ buy. You could order one up with out first handling it and 95% of people would get on fine with it as it has a very classic barbel rod type action that you can have a lot of fun with.
I donā€™t describe them as sloppy just a nice slow tapered blank with great capabilities if youā€™ve got the stones to lean in when you think it might be at its limit.

Id actually even go as far to say itā€™s a very stepped up Avon rod imo. I bet itā€™s quite nice for Wallis casting having that bit of lower resistance in action to put a bit of load on.

The Torrix while a much loved blank in todays barbel world is not a rod Iā€™d recommend buying blind especially if coming from a background of using classic through action rods. It can take some people by surprise as a general waggle can almost make it feel poker like. the action is quite advanced because of its faster taper and thin walls.
but before putting it back on the shelf with the rest of the other pokers, get some line through it and get your mate to run around the tackle shop ā€¦ā€¦.. all will be revealed at just how brilliant it is. It will do everything brilliantly if youā€™re happy to persevere with it.

The 11ft 1.75 will put 4oz across any uk river, stop any barbel dead in their tracks and that fast tip will tell you everything thatā€™s going on around your bait.
It will bend right through, you just need to man up a bit with this rod and stick on the pressure. Iā€™ve had the cork following the radius on mine a fair few times when Iā€™ve had to. Absolutely love this rod.
 
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Richard Isaacs said:
For me the GTI is a ā€œsafeā€ buy. You could order one up with out first handling it and 95% of people would get on fine with it as it has a very classic barbel rod type action that you can have a lot of fun with.
I donā€™t describe them as sloppy just a nice slow tapered blank with great capabilities if youā€™ve got the stones to lean in when you think it might be at its limit.

Id actually even go as far to say itā€™s a very stepped up Avon rod imo. I bet itā€™s quite nice for Wallis casting having that bit of lower resistance in action to put a bit of load on.

The Torrix while a much loved blank in todays barbel world is not a rod Iā€™d recommend buying blind especially if coming from a background of using classic through action rods. It can take some people by surprise as a general waggle can almost make it feel poker like. the action is quite advanced because of its faster taper and thin walls.
but before putting it back on the shelf with the rest of the other pokers, get some line through it and get your mate to run around the tackle shop ā€¦ā€¦.. all will be revealed at just how brilliant it is. It will do everything brilliantly if youā€™re happy to persevere with it.

The 11ft 1.75 will put 4oz across any uk river, stop any barbel dead in their tracks and that fast tip will tell you everything thatā€™s going on around your bait.
It will bend right through, you just need to man up a bit with this rod and stick on the pressure. Iā€™ve had the cork following the radius on mine a fair few times when Iā€™ve had to. Absolutely love this rod.
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Cheers Richard.

As it happens I've got a 10' Peregrine stalker coming my way pretty soon for some proper tight under your bank, trees above your head sort of swims!

Also currently looking at the 11' GTI with Roger too, but for a future build unless I give in šŸ‘
 
I built my rods, after advice from Roger at Peregrine, in 2002. Although I've pretty much given up barbel fishing now, these rods were all I used over 20 years, on small and big rivers. I have to add that (if I was still barbel fishing) if I lost or broke them I'd replace with the same.
 
Paul Whiteing said:
I built my rods, after advice from Roger at Peregrine, in 2002. Although I've pretty much given up barbel fishing now, these rods were all I used over 20 years, on small and big rivers. I have to add that (if I was still barbel fishing) if I lost or broke them I'd replace with the same.
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GTI's Paul?
 
Paul 4 variant gtiā€™s (Paulā€™s design) are On the peregrine website Julian, and very nice rods they are indeed šŸ‘ŒšŸ»
 
Julian Griffiths said:
GTI's Paul?
Click to expand...
Yes. At the time Roger said the best blank for a barbel rod was the 11ft Gti

As Jim said, my design is available on Roger's Peregrinerods site. I'm not pushing this, it was just that at the time I refurbished Roger's website and the rod was added :)

paul4 barbel rod
 
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