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Torrix / ACURIX

Adam Wylie

Adam Wylie

Senior Member & Supporter
Hi all,
Is the HARRISON TORRIX SPECIALIST 2lb rod more powerful than the ACURIX 2.5 ???
The test curve wood make you think the latter was the most powerfull .
 
Have a look at Mark Tunleys videos on youtube. He explains rod actions and test curves really well. Had a good chat with him last week about different Harrison blanks like the Torrix and Chimera comparing them with his dark carbon Harrison blank Really interesting.
 
I've stopped trying to work it out TBH - it can drive you insane.
I know for barbel fishing on my regular river, that all Harrison rods from 1.25 upwards will land double figure barbel. I've done it.
But.. I wouldn't use a Chimera 1 - 1.25tc to target Barbel despite Marks mantra of " soft on you- hard on the fish".
But I would use a Torrix in the same test curve or a Dark Carbon in 1.5 TC. And why does a 1.25TC Torrix feel more ' powerful' than a 1.5 DC??
Dave Lumb isn't far off. If you look on his website he has what he call's "Daves Faves" and he cherry picks the best blank in the Harrison range and they are a mix of everything, but again that's just his personal opinion but he is a seriously experienced angler/ rodbuilder.
Mark is spot on too as he wants to understand where and how you're going to fish and works from that.

I prefer to fish as light as I can for barbel as again I know from experience that i'm going to catch more 4-7lb fish than doubles and a lighter rod will offer a more sporting fight, but still land the fish in an acceptable timescale.
I can also cast way more accurately and consistently with a lighter rod.
Nowadays it's always flow and feeder/ lead size that dictate what rod I use and if I can get away with 40-50g then I stick with that.

I use seriously powerful Harrison rods when I'm pike fishing on big waters and to be honest I don't really like them. Would much prefer a softer/ through action rod but then I can't chuck a big herring where I want to. But in this case I think Mark is right, I get more hook-pulls with powerful rods and braid than softer rods.

When did it get this complicated??
 
Yes it's very confusing !! I wish they would get rid of the "TEST CURVE RATING "
And give some indication of Action and casting weight !!
 
I don’t think test curves are complicated, I just don’t think they have much relevance today as they did a good number of years ago.
If all rod actions were equal or even close then they would make an awful lot of sense but they ain’t and so you end up with like Paul mentioned above torrix 1.25 and chimera 1.25 feeling like chalk and cheese despite holding the same test curve.

The problem now is it’s become the norm. It’s the language we speak and despite the fact it’s a bloody pointless term to use to describe a rod……. We all use it…….. and buy based on it. Crazy!!!

You can’t even use it in rod groups either because the actions between different rods holding the same model name are different.
Take torrix again for example.
The 12ft 2lb torrix is a very tippy rod and it feels very powerful in the but section.

The 12ft 2.25 is much slower in action. The whole rod bends easier than the 2lb apart from the tip so the TC there for is higher.

It’s very simple if you understand what TC is but even understanding it doesn’t make it a viable measurement to select a rod.
 
In an ideal world we'd use a rod for a session before purchasing. But it's not easy. A fried of mine loaned me Harrison Torrix and Avons in various test curves to try out and I was pretty underwhelmed with most of them, but on paper they were all the dogs doo-daas, He likes them, not for me. People are strange etc..
But an honest conversation with a rod builder is a good alternative and in my experience they pretty much nail the brief.
The ' custom/ hand-built ' rods I like the least are the ones I've ordered impulsively. I've also foolishly ignored advice and had a rod made when they told me it probably wasn't suitable. And it wasn't. Doh.
My faves have been always been talked through with a rod-builder or waggled with in a shop.
 
You simply cannot buy a rod without handling them first..... a test curve is just a mere indication, that's all. In less than a minute, I can tell if a rods worth a good look at and I'm sure, .ost of you can too.
Even rod builders, they have a recommendation, but you will not know it suits until you actually use it.
Personally, I have had 4 sets of rod custom built on recommendations etc and in less than a year I have moved them.on...
You would be etter asking; has anyone got an Acurrix, that I can have a look at and take that trip.
Then you will be certain or there abouts if it suits
 
I know its not regarded as top of the range, but my all time fav rod, is an original Greys Prodigy 2lb TC. Granted, NOT EVERYONES CUP OF TEA, I,ve owned a few Harrisons in my time, but absolutely hated them, I Couldn,t get rid quick enough, just felt so sloppy. Whereas, the Greys have never ever felt out of control. Super strong in the Butt, but, very sensitive in the tip, but hey ho, each to their own.
 
Derek Funcks said:
I know its not regarded as top of the range, but my all time fav rod, is an original Greys Prodigy 2lb TC. Granted, NOT EVERYONES CUP OF TEA, I,ve owned a few Harrisons in my time, but absolutely hated them, I Couldn,t get rid quick enough, just felt so sloppy. Whereas, the Greys have never ever felt out of control. Super strong in the Butt, but, very sensitive in the tip, but hey ho, each to their own.
Click to expand...

My go to rod for all but floodwater fishing. But I used the quiver tip section instead of the solid top. I bought an extra 6oz tip from Greys when I got my rods, and I mainly use that on the upper Trent. The 6oz tip blends in perfectly with the carrier and as I've never used any other make of Barbel rods, I don't know any different. I just prefer looking at a quiver tip, it plays fish very well and It works for me. I'll some times put the solid top on if I'm fishing the middle Trent and chucking it a bit further, but not very often.

IMG_1202.JPG
 
Paul Richardson said:
I've stopped trying to work it out TBH - it can drive you insane.
I know for barbel fishing on my regular river, that all Harrison rods from 1.25 upwards will land double figure barbel. I've done it.
But.. I wouldn't use a Chimera 1 - 1.25tc to target Barbel despite Marks mantra of " soft on you- hard on the fish".
But I would use a Torrix in the same test curve or a Dark Carbon in 1.5 TC. And why does a 1.25TC Torrix feel more ' powerful' than a 1.5 DC??
Dave Lumb isn't far off. If you look on his website he has what he call's "Daves Faves" and he cherry picks the best blank in the Harrison range and they are a mix of everything, but again that's just his personal opinion but he is a seriously experienced angler/ rodbuilder.
Mark is spot on too as he wants to understand where and how you're going to fish and works from that.

I prefer to fish as light as I can for barbel as again I know from experience that i'm going to catch more 4-7lb fish than doubles and a lighter rod will offer a more sporting fight, but still land the fish in an acceptable timescale.
I can also cast way more accurately and consistently with a lighter rod.
Nowadays it's always flow and feeder/ lead size that dictate what rod I use and if I can get away with 40-50g then I stick with that.

I use seriously powerful Harrison rods when I'm pike fishing on big waters and to be honest I don't really like them. Would much prefer a softer/ through action rod but then I can't chuck a big herring where I want to. But in this case I think Mark is right, I get more hook-pulls with powerful rods and braid than softer rods.

When did it get this complicated??
Click to expand...
Prefer Torrix blanks everytime, if they're in your budget I personally wouldn't use anything else... 1.25's 1.75's are superb rods
 
Julian Griffiths said:
Prefer Torrix blanks everytime, if they're in your budget I personally wouldn't use anything else... 1.25's 1.75's are superb rods
Click to expand...
1.25 is sublime, I don't have much of a need for a 1.75 but my favourite is by far Drennan Martin Bowler but if I need to chuck a bigger feeder or there's some push on it's a Chimera 3 everyday. But I'm not a fan of the C2?
 
Paul Richardson said:
1.25 is sublime, I don't have much of a need for a 1.75 but my favourite is by far Drennan Martin Bowler but if I need to chuck a bigger feeder or there's some push on it's a Chimera 3 everyday. But I'm not a fan of the C2?
Click to expand...
Each to their own, Paul. I picked up an MB Drennan barbel rod in a closing down sale a few years back and absolutely hated it. Stiff as a poker. Much prefer a more through actioned rod as I generally don’t have to cast to the horizon or use weights over 2 - 3oz on my local rivers.


Dave
 
Everyone is different and has very unique requirements or priorities from a rod.

I don’t really like most of the 12ft torrix specialists with the 2lb being my least favorite and the 2.25 being my most favorite.

I do really like all chimeras and if I was forced to only use 12ft rods then I’d probably only have chimeras.

11ft torrix in 1.75 or 2lb is my ultimate favorite barbel rod. The only time I won’t use these is when they are practically useless……. Mega flood
 
Richard Isaacs said:
Everyone is different and has very unique requirements or priorities from a rod.

I don’t really like most of the 12ft torrix specialists with the 2lb being my least favorite and the 2.25 being my most favorite.

I do really like all chimeras and if I was forced to only use 12ft rods then I’d probably only have chimeras.

11ft torrix in 1.75 or 2lb is my ultimate favorite barbel rod. The only time I won’t use these is when they are practically useless……. Mega flood
Click to expand...
I'm with you on that Richard, I have a Peregrine GTX(Chimera2) and thats second only to my Basia 1.75s.
 
I have a 11ft 1.75lb torrix which is a lovely rod but my all time favourite rod has always been my 12ft Drennan power barbel with twin tops 1.75lb & 2.2lb absolute great blank.
 
Jon Frisby said:
You simply cannot buy a rod without handling them first..... a test curve is just a mere indication, that's all. In less than a minute, I can tell if a rods worth a good look at and I'm sure, .ost of you can too.
Even rod builders, they have a recommendation, but you will not know it suits until you actually use it.
Personally, I have had 4 sets of rod custom built on recommendations etc and in less than a year I have moved them.on...
You would be etter asking; has anyone got an Acurrix, that I can have a look at and take that trip.
Then you will be certain or there abouts if it suits
Click to expand...
Hi Jon ,
Not many tackle shops stock all the rods to enable people to give them a bend,so sometimes it's word of mouth
On rod performance .
 
Adam Wylie said:
Hi Jon ,
Not many tackle shops stock all the rods to enable people to give them a bend,so sometimes it's word of mouth
On rod performance .
Click to expand...
Travel further.
I agree with Jon. Buying based on others opinions and test curves etc is only going to lead to buying bad.

You of all people Adam must understand that. You’ve bought and moved on more barbel rods than angling direct.
 
Richard Isaacs said:
Everyone is different and has very unique requirements or priorities from a rod.

I don’t really like most of the 12ft torrix specialists with the 2lb being my least favorite and the 2.25 being my most favorite.

I do really like all chimeras and if I was forced to only use 12ft rods then I’d probably only have chimeras.

11ft torrix in 1.75 or 2lb is my ultimate favorite barbel rod. The only time I won’t use these is when they are practically useless……. Mega flood
Click to expand...
Seems we have similar tastes in rods. My 12's are also C3's and C'2s. And currently using 11 Torrix 1.75s for smaller rivers. The latter have really grown on me with use, not sure if they are better than the 11' 1.75 GTI, time will tell.

Can't see me changing barbel rods for years to come tbh.
 
Joe Winstanley said:
Seems we have similar tastes in rods. My 12's are also C3's and C'2s. And currently using 11 Torrix 1.75s for smaller rivers. The latter have really grown on me with use, not sure if they are better than the 11' 1.75 GTI, time will tell.

Can't see me changing barbel rods for years to come tbh.
Click to expand...
I’m the same Joe. Very settled now on just 2 rods I use predominantly all season.
Torrix 1.75 and C3.
I did really like the free spirit big rivers I had them a long time but they just ran out of steam a little bit prematurely when the c3 would just keep on lobbing more
 
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