Hi all
Saw these mentioned on another thread, never heard of them before but upon first researching they seem something special.

Any info or reviews guys on the baby or big snipers?

In reply to Post #1
Don't know the rods, but Kevin is a top top rod builder, he's been building rods for donkeys.

F

In reply to Post #1
The baby snipers interest me, which are a 2.25 torrix built a bit differently. Lots of informative posts from razorback about them if you search

My 2.5 chimeras took a dose of inspiration from them and were definitely more versatile than the standard build rods.

In reply to Post #1
I had a set of baby snipers built about 18mths ago.

The rod physics lesson he gives before you place an order is an eye opener! He has a tub of various weights, scales etc that he uses to demonstrate what his rods do. He is a very intelligent man and he and his wife come across and very nice people. He builds for performance not fashion so don't ask for 50's 😂

Over the last 20yrs I've owned countless sets of rods from Century, Harrison, Daiwa and Freespirit. These are my favourite, I would never get rid of them. You rarely if ever see them for sale secondhand.
I watched him cast the baby snipers a long way on the field next to his workshop but I've not tried them at distance.
Where they seem to be in a league of their own is playing power and accuracy. Since using them I've found it easier to extract fish from weed (they can exert massive pressure) and the lead seems to go where I'm looking! Not sure why, maybe I find it easier with a very light rod.
They are pretty unique and not like anything else I've seen on the bank. Not for everyone but I'm really pleased with mine.
I've had a few sets of rods built or rebuilt by a couple of different builders and his work is better.

I think the big snipers are built on 12-6 TE blanks but are more powerful because the way he builds them.

In reply to Post #4
How does he make a blank more powerful

In reply to Post #5
More and smaller rings keeping the line closer to the blank.

In reply to Post #4
Any got any pictures of the Sniper rods? I have always been interested to see what they look like

In reply to Post #5
I think the question is how does he make a more powerful rod from the same blank
If you've ever used a rod with a missing ring it's easy to see how spacing affects the curve of the rod, if you've ever used the same rod with different rings you can also see the difference the weight makes, swapping fuji k series for minima for instance would make a rod feel and perform very differently

I'm also interested to see some pics, and does he give the full range of handle options? I'll be looking at cork handle and some unique reel seats

Thanks Duggs and Dave, fascinating to read and hear. Both versions sound right up my street 👌

In reply to Post #8
Not sure about handle options but I had mine done with Cork.

In reply to Post #3
2.25tc my TC of choice atm

needs more blanks on these TC imo

In reply to Post #11
Harrison do the following so more than you think
12ft torrix 2.25
12ft multi carp 2.25
12 ft chimera no 3 2.25
12ft ballista 2lb is powerful enough

In reply to Post #12
9ft 1.75 is a configuration there isn't enough of.

In reply to Post #13
Harrison do a 9 foot 1.75 t.c for me very similar to the v.h.f blank they supply the german market.

In reply to Post #13
Not much demand for floodwater roach rods

In reply to Post #14
Is there a difference in action between the 2.25 and 2.5 torrix blanks? I'm wondering if the 2.25 is tuned for big river barbel fishing and the 2.5 more for light lead carp fishing

In reply to Post #1
Top rod builder. I have rods he made for going back to the late 80's. However I have heard that he is due to retire shortly.

In reply to Post #16
I use the 2.25 for barbel on the ribble , most "big river barbel rods "lock up unlike the torrix,I would use both the 2.25 and 2.5 for carp .To answer your question there is a difference but to me its not huge.

In reply to Post #17
The end of this year i believe.

In reply to Post #12
most of the places i fish are ideal for the lower TC's.
current choice being some 11ft mk1 powermesh.
but these are not going to last forever so might need to find an alternative soon :/

not easy to find such rods on the shelf anymore to have a bend as as they are likely going to be custom built quite costly.

In reply to Post #19
Jesus
I have just dropped Kevin an email hoping that I could get an order in before this happens, if it comes to it I will have to get a set of the Babies and big boys 😄

In reply to Post #15


Sound interesting Jeff. So i take it they're fast-ish in action as the vhf is a spinning blank isn't it?

In reply to Post #20
The 2.25 tc multi carp are a often overlooked blank/rod,these are absolutely superb .

I championed the original 7 ring baby snipers ad nauseum on here (apologies..) as a true allrounder in that they can handle a lot of loads and still exert a lot of power. Build was 30mm to 10mm tip eye 8mm running guides iirc.

Bream Boy (Rich) on here dropped me a razorback off at home and having had a go of them promptly sold his 3.25tc torrix as the baby snipers were out doing them in every department.

Fast forward 10 or so years

I had them rebuilt this year as a lifetime build with silver coloured unpainted guides (on Kevs recommendation) to a 10ring set and they are completely different animals now. 25mm butt's and 8mm tip eye with 6mm running guides iirc (might be wrong on the spec) which weigh less than the 7 ring set at under 8oz fully built.


Based on using both 10 and 7 ring set.

Do they cast as far as the 7 ring set...not quite imho but not far off with heavy line. Light line yes probably further..

Do they handle bigger lead range - most definitely put 6oz on them no problem

Are they more powerful at extracting fish - absolutely.

Are they good for level line casting - brilliant as the small distance between the high number of eyes / load carrying parts of the blank is small so there are no massive 'jumps' in power during loading so are very line (and bad technique) user friendly.

These rods pull no more than 2.25TC under the tips but behave like a 3.5tc at range in the lake on a straight 'pul'

I sent Noj some photos of them when they were built. Feel free to stick them up if ya want mate..


The big snipers are different again and can be built from a pin sharp almost 'unusable to most people' rod to quite a user friendly rod capable of 170+

My set of them are a hybrid of the 2 in that they have a nice soft lead in ( designed for me and when I can apply the most power with bad elbow and wrist joints) and then loads right the way through the cast.
Again these are buttons over 8.5oz fully built so incredibly light and fast.

Hope that helps the OP

In reply to Post #21
Don't email....phone. He rarely answers emails from experience. Anytime after 15:30 on a weekday.

In reply to Post #22
They have a crisp through action .

In reply to Post #25
Thanks mate, I will call him tomorrow to follow up. I am not a tackle tart as such, liking a more understated Matt and plain black type finish, shrink butt handles are a favourite but not an essential.

In reply to Post #23
I preferred the 2.5 chimera to the multi carp with fixed spools, the multi carp makes the best centrepin rods though.

*A large dose of personal preference is included with this post*

I'm leaning towards the 2.5 torrix at the minute

In reply to Post #28
The chimera were superb the 2.5 made great pike rods too

In reply to Post #29
The cerberas aren't too shabby for pike, I never tried the chimeras for them tbh. Had a few accidental pike on an oddball light interceptor rod coupled with a youngs superlight pin

In reply to Post #30

In reply to Post #24
this post/thread needs pictures


shame i cant get hands on a multicarp blank to see what they are like compared to what i have

In reply to Post #32
They do look a bit unorthodox the way the guides reduce in size so quickly. They're not rods for form over function types I'd say.

The multi carps are great rods, very light and would stop a train. For light leads or float fishing I love mine, but casting accuracy disappears with bigger weights. I got mine for floater fishing mainly but it's been my centrepin rod exclusively since I bought the 2.5 chimeras, to the point I might actually whip the extra rod ring I have taped on. Im not sure if there's a ballista/tryptich bridging the gap between the torrix and multicarp

In reply to Post #1
If you google Fuji new guide concept, you should find an article from Rod maker magazine volume 10 # 4 which explains Kevs' thinking

In reply to Post #24
I remember you telling me how far Kev was flinging 6oz leads on his knees in his field with those ringsets on snipers. Plenty wouldn't believe it though Jase

In reply to Post #35
Hey up Gaz hope ya well mate!!😎

No they wouldn't mate. To be fair I didn't believe it either..

...at first..

Iirc there was a thread on NM years ago and someone pooh poohed claims of a 2lb Sportex being cast 150yds. I believe he did it sitting on a lafuma day chair and a few quid went to charity in bets off the back of it.

In reply to Post #36
Yeah I'm well Jase, hope you and yours are mate🤝.
Remember it well, tickets were sold

In reply to Post #36
What line was he using for that chuck

Was always an interesting read when you and tel20 debated distance rods, I always wondered why kevs theories never translated to tournament casting though.

In reply to Post #38
He would have probably been using 0.28mm line on a Cormoran reel with loads of knots in the line knowing Kev. 🤣

Kev builds fishing rods that happen to be very user friendly for 99% of people. Thing is though most people will trade off a hell of a lot of good attributes in a rod for the sake of an extra 5 - 10yds on out and out maximum distance for the 1 - 5 % chance then might ever need it.

If Terry says that 50s are better for long range casting then who am I to question that.

What never gets debated (or swept under the carpet) is the fact that the rods built with smaller rings and lots of them are far better for fishing for the reasons I have stated on here numerous times. Applied power, lightness, accuracy (certainly for most anyway with not perfect techniques) etc.

The same is in reverse for casting rods in that they outgun fishing rods in one department only...🤷‍♂️

In reply to Post #39
I always wondered how they'd cope with a heavy flouro line, which was the deciding factor when I got my first customs to go with 50mm minima, but I never had a problem with any type of line on my chimeras with any of my reels and they've got/had 30s

I don't doubt that distance with the right rod and line, I can do about 110 with an interceptor Mr with that sort of mainline, and that's sold as a feeder rod

In reply to Post #40
I used to use flouro in 0.33mm for years and they needed a good lead to get it through the first ring. Once you had overcome the initial drag the rod would put 3 - 3.5oz leads over 100yds with that on. Bear in mind that was with big spooled baisairs attached and I am sure Tel even mentioned that the smaller spools defo suit the smaller guides across the range but even more so with thicker line.
The old Baby big pits for example seem to marry very well as do standard emblems.

Does anyone know that Kev Baines has definitely retired?

In reply to Post #42
I believe he has yes

In reply to Post #42
I believe he has too. Ring him or email him is the best bet, his website still works.

In reply to Post #44
If you ring him make sure you've got nothing planned for the next 2 hours.......

In reply to Post #33
under arming 1.5oz wieghts with little mesh bags can big a little awkward to get distance sometimes
likely me be a bit rubbish lol

Kev has definitely retired (unfortunately) I own x3 baby snipers built for me in 2007 and x3 big snipers just before, the big snipers were more suited for the big mere fishing I was doing at the time so I can only remember using the baby snipers one or twice but both fantastic rods, kev and Vanessa were both lovely people, my only regret is not buying another landing net off him before he retired Best rods I've ever used by a country mile

In reply to Post #47
Let me know if you ever look to sell 👍

In reply to Post #48
Pm sent