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Touch legering and rolling baits

Just picked up the new Drennan Specimen 1.5lb, same weight as my Shakespeare Solitude 1.25, coming in at 197g, nicely balanced too so will be nice to hold it for long sessions. All my other rods can now be sold.

I'll probably pick up the new 11ft quiver to eventually and those 2 rods will cover nearly most of my fishing I'm doing on the W.Avon. I could have gone for the FS River tamer but I also like to support my local shop which is ran by a good friend so I shopped there in the end.
I am actually rather disappointed with the drennan specimen rod and the quiver. Not the rod, they are good, but the drennan’s marketing, I somehow feel they just split the old dual tip rods into two different rod.

But yeah, if you could, support the local shop is a great thing to do.
 
Torrix 11ft 1.75 and 4000 fixed spool reel loaded to the brim. Can't see the point in persisting with a 'pin if you find it difficult to cast.
I to went for a recent 11ft 1.75lb Torrix, I've seen it said on here many times over the years how many of you preferred this rod for that style of fishing.
 
Thank you everyone for the advice and input

For the time being I have a Avon rod that I can use but moving forward then investing in a more powerful rod that's not heavier is something I can look into

Regards the method and the use of a pin, I just need to make a change, my barbel result last season was extremely poor by fishing far banks with leads and feeders, if I keep fishing this way I'm going to get the same results. So this season it will be closer in, less time in swims, covering more water to find these fish.
For what it's worth, 90% of my barbel fishing took place close in👍
 
I use much the same rods listed here. Reel wise I'm happy using a 4000 Shimano stradic or similar...

Worth practicing on the Trent to start with - it gets your confidence up.
 
I use a River Tamer for this type of fishing. The only thing I would say, is the handle is too long. Years ago, I had a Harrison 1lb 6oz made up with a 20" handle (so it didn't overhang my elbow) which was perfect.....wish I hadn't sold it now 🙄
Make sure the rod you choose for rolling meat has a fastish tip so you can pick up line quickly on the strike.
Good luck.

Steve
 
My recently acquired Rolling Gear (yet to be used for that purpose) which I christened with a couple of Barbel at the start of the season.
I hope to have a go at rolling next season.
 

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My recently acquired Rolling Gear (yet to be used for that purpose) which I christened with a couple of Barbel at the start of the season.
I hope to have a go at rolling next season.
The rod is based on a 1.6 TC Harrison Avon blank to my understanding? The reel is built by the sadly now deceased Dave Beale who was a very good angler and accomplished engineer, producing centerpins from his home workshop close to the lower Dorset Stour.
this example has a very good side cast mechanism which I believe to be a forerunner of the Walton Pin.
 
Looks a nice reel, and just from the view, the reel seat mech looks very similar to what we were building at Youngs in the Rolling Pin. Probably my favourite of all the reels we built out of Redditch.
 
I started touch legering last year with an old York tackle float/quiver rod which cost about £25. It bends like crazy and keeps bending the bigger the fish but I had about ten barbel on it up to 9lb and didn’t have any problems, didn’t lose any fish despite fishing quite a snaggy river. The anti reverse on my reel was broken too so I had to back wind with all the fish I caught.
Have since bought an older Harrison Avon through the forum which seems ideal , the only time I felt like I needed a bit more backbone with the quiver was with a 4lb barbel which went mental in fast water, but it shows you don’t necessarily need heavy, expensive gear on smaller rivers.
 
I started touch legering last year with an old York tackle float/quiver rod which cost about £25. It bends like crazy and keeps bending the bigger the fish but I had about ten barbel on it up to 9lb and didn’t have any problems, didn’t lose any fish despite fishing quite a snaggy river. The anti reverse on my reel was broken too so I had to back wind with all the fish I caught.
Have since bought an older Harrison Avon through the forum which seems ideal , the only time I felt like I needed a bit more backbone with the quiver was with a 4lb barbel which went mental in fast water, but it shows you don’t necessarily need heavy, expensive gear on smaller rivers.
That last point is quite true, but ordinarily if I was out targeting barbel you'd want to use gear to back yourself up, & to get the fight finished as quickly as possible & recovering in the net.

I've had a 12lb barbel on a flooded river using a quiver tip of 2.0oz & 4lb main line whilst feeder fishing for Chub & Dace in slack water, and when I hooked it, I had no other choice but to allow it to plod about, as bullying it would of seen it tear of into mid river & lost.
So yes it's amazing what you can do on lighter gear, & a bit of skill but it wasn't my intended quarry. 😊
 
I knew you guys would mention those Harrison's 😂

At the moment funds don't allow one. I have been looking at the 1.5lb FS River tamer and have a Shakespeare Solitude 1.25lb which is on the lighter side to hold.

What are the John Ross ready built Torrix like?

I've seen Thomas Turner suggest their 1lb Avon for Barbel, now that does seem light.
A Torrix blank I imagine, so very good.
 
Hi Mark, I'm currently using and have done since last season.
1.25 chimera Avon and a river specialist with 100yards of 30lb braid, some might think the rod a little light for barbel up to 15.
But have had no issues, just lean in and enjoy the scrap.
Hi Jim.
Is that 100yds of 30lb braid straight to the hook, no mono mate?
Only asking as I'm going to try this method this season. Will be looking at buying a new Ray Walton pin before the new season starts.
Got plenty of rods to try with, but wouldn't mind using my 3 piece Harrison Triptych for this method.
 
Great rod for 95% of my barbelling Jim. Not sure if 30lb braid would be to my liking though. As for being able to land 15lb + barbel, mine have dealt with fish up to 16lb 4oz in strong flows no problem.
What would the norm be on breaking strain of braid for rolling method then?

I use to love Spiderwire for my hooklinks, but not sure which brand is suitable for this sort of method?
 
Hi Julian mostly straight through, but if in open water I will use a flouro hooklink.
You need to wind your braid on under taught pressure, this prevents bedding in. I'm lucky, I've got 80yds of garden and tie it to a tree then walk it on under pressure.
 
Hi Julian mostly straight through, but if in open water I will use a flouro hooklink.
You need to wind your braid on under taught pressure, this prevents bedding in. I'm lucky, I've got 80yds of garden and tie it to a tree then walk it on under pressure.
Thanks for the tip!
I like the idea of the Flurocarbon hooklink, would you use a swivel to attach that & a bit of putty over the swivel to protect knots?

I can tie the albright knot, which has a neat finish to it. 😊
 
Mark. The Johnson Ross Torrix's are nice but they come with a very short piece of cork infront of the reel seat. Best thing I can do is send you a picture of one of mine. Personally this isn't the best for centrepin fishing but it's a cheaper option than a custom build.
I've had my Torrix builds done with a 2" front cork flare. I liked that feature from my old Trefor West rods.
 
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