Hi all,
I recently bought a set of 12.6 3.5lb Harrison Ballista built by Trevs of Wilmslow.
Regarding the ring sizes I believe the norm with a 50mm butt ring is to have 50mm butt then 40mm 30mm 25mm 20mm with a 16mm tip ring.
My rods however have 50mm butt, 40mm , 30mm , 18mm 16mm 14mm tip ring.
Would anyone be able to give an explanation on why somebody would have them built like that?
Thanks for any replies
I recently bought a set of 12.6 3.5lb Harrison Ballista built by Trevs of Wilmslow.
Regarding the ring sizes I believe the norm with a 50mm butt ring is to have 50mm butt then 40mm 30mm 25mm 20mm with a 16mm tip ring.
My rods however have 50mm butt, 40mm , 30mm , 18mm 16mm 14mm tip ring.
Would anyone be able to give an explanation on why somebody would have them built like that?
Thanks for any replies
In reply to Post #1
Ballista rods are less stiff in the tip so maybe the smaller rings are to prevent killing the action and tip recovery.
Ballista rods are less stiff in the tip so maybe the smaller rings are to prevent killing the action and tip recovery.
In reply to Post #1
What make of guides are they ?
What make of guides are they ?
In reply to Post #3
They are Fuji rings, the butt ring and 2nd ring are double leg, the rest single leg. Tip ring is Kigan.
The tip does feel very light when holding the rod. This is the only explanation I can see as to why they would build a rod that way. My worry is that is will effect casting but I havnt noticed any difference.
They are Fuji rings, the butt ring and 2nd ring are double leg, the rest single leg. Tip ring is Kigan.
The tip does feel very light when holding the rod. This is the only explanation I can see as to why they would build a rod that way. My worry is that is will effect casting but I havnt noticed any difference.
In reply to Post #2
Yes , the tip is still very forgiving and soft
Yes , the tip is still very forgiving and soft
In reply to Post #4
Are you sure it is 18mm guide and 14 tip ? Never fitted a18mm guide in my life or a 14 tip for that matter ! In fact im pretty sure kigan dont make a 14 tip and never seen a 18mm fuji guide ? My fuji guide books go back to 1990 and i cant find a 18mm guide in any of them .
Are you sure it is 18mm guide and 14 tip ? Never fitted a18mm guide in my life or a 14 tip for that matter ! In fact im pretty sure kigan dont make a 14 tip and never seen a 18mm fuji guide ? My fuji guide books go back to 1990 and i cant find a 18mm guide in any of them .
In reply to Post #6
In that case the tip must be 12mm.
It's very hard to see the writing on the fuji rings. They are definitely smaller than the usual 16mm tip 20 and 25mm intermediates that you would expect to find on a rod with a 50mm butt ring.
In that case the tip must be 12mm.
It's very hard to see the writing on the fuji rings. They are definitely smaller than the usual 16mm tip 20 and 25mm intermediates that you would expect to find on a rod with a 50mm butt ring.
In reply to Post #7
Do you know if they have they been rebuilt ? The 12ft 6 "blank is no longer produced which is a shame.
Do you know if they have they been rebuilt ? The 12ft 6 "blank is no longer produced which is a shame.
In reply to Post #8
The guy I bought them from has said a rod builder by the name of Mark Plank ( Herne Bay , Kent) rebuilt them a couple of years ago
The guy I bought them from has said a rod builder by the name of Mark Plank ( Herne Bay , Kent) rebuilt them a couple of years ago
In reply to Post #1
Trevs used to fit a lot of fuji oxides to their rods they would hve been 50,40,30,20,16 12mm tip the 30,20 and 16 were usually single leg guides.
I wonder if someone has changed the original tip ring for an anti wrap tip guide?
Trevs used to fit a lot of fuji oxides to their rods they would hve been 50,40,30,20,16 12mm tip the 30,20 and 16 were usually single leg guides.
I wonder if someone has changed the original tip ring for an anti wrap tip guide?
In reply to Post #1
Guess it won't make a big difference in casting distance. They aren't big distance rods anyway.
15 years ago “the norm” was 30mm guides. If the rods suit you, use them.
Guess it won't make a big difference in casting distance. They aren't big distance rods anyway.
15 years ago “the norm” was 30mm guides. If the rods suit you, use them.
In reply to Post #11
It wont make a blind bit of difference , I would,nt have 50s on them but then i would,nt have 50s on any fishing rod.
It wont make a blind bit of difference , I would,nt have 50s on them but then i would,nt have 50s on any fishing rod.
In reply to Post #10
I think this is exactly what has happend. The guide size you have described is exactly what is on these blanks. The tip ring appears tk be a Kigan anti frap tip ring.
Thankyou for your responses. They are lovely rods and do not intend to change the guide size, was just curious as j hadn't seen it before.
I think this is exactly what has happend. The guide size you have described is exactly what is on these blanks. The tip ring appears tk be a Kigan anti frap tip ring.
Thankyou for your responses. They are lovely rods and do not intend to change the guide size, was just curious as j hadn't seen it before.
In reply to Post #13
I used to go in the original trevs shop a lot and did know them very well back before it was taken over, i cant remember the exact year possibly late 90's 50mm guides were just coming on the scene and people were putting them on their custom rods believing they gained extra distance as when we changed from 30's to 40's we did gain distance i know i put 50's on my first infinities.
from memory the only fuji guide available at the time in 50mm was the oxide and countless rods were built with them from trevs it almost became the standard build i even think the "sic lites" that become more popular came later.
I used to go in the original trevs shop a lot and did know them very well back before it was taken over, i cant remember the exact year possibly late 90's 50mm guides were just coming on the scene and people were putting them on their custom rods believing they gained extra distance as when we changed from 30's to 40's we did gain distance i know i put 50's on my first infinities.
from memory the only fuji guide available at the time in 50mm was the oxide and countless rods were built with them from trevs it almost became the standard build i even think the "sic lites" that become more popular came later.
In reply to Post #12
Due to the fuji dpns reel seat coming loose I am considering rebuilding these rods with 40mm butt ring and full duplon handles (rather than the shrink).
Any recommendations on how to best to build these blanks up?
Due to the fuji dpns reel seat coming loose I am considering rebuilding these rods with 40mm butt ring and full duplon handles (rather than the shrink).
Any recommendations on how to best to build these blanks up?
In reply to Post #10
Only just seen this thread. I have the same rods, early 0's and I'm fairly certain they're either 40 or 30mm butt ring, defo not 50. I also have Trevs 12 spod/marker Ballistas, again defo not 50s. If your rods have 50's they were either requested which is unlikely as it wasn't on trend, or someone has replaced them. Shop stock Ballistas at the time were not 50mm butt.
I've had the rods from new and had the rings re whipped by Colin Leatherbarrow in Stretford probably around 6 years ago. They've been in storage for 5 since I treated myself to some 13' Torrix 3.25lb as that was the closest to the curve of my old rods on my visit to Harrisons, hence my uncertainty re which size.
Only just seen this thread. I have the same rods, early 0's and I'm fairly certain they're either 40 or 30mm butt ring, defo not 50. I also have Trevs 12 spod/marker Ballistas, again defo not 50s. If your rods have 50's they were either requested which is unlikely as it wasn't on trend, or someone has replaced them. Shop stock Ballistas at the time were not 50mm butt.
I've had the rods from new and had the rings re whipped by Colin Leatherbarrow in Stretford probably around 6 years ago. They've been in storage for 5 since I treated myself to some 13' Torrix 3.25lb as that was the closest to the curve of my old rods on my visit to Harrisons, hence my uncertainty re which size.
In reply to Post #16
Yes I am fairly sure they have been re built with 50s. But I am considering changing them back to the original guide sizes with a 40mm butt. How do your rods fair with a 40mm butt?
Yes I am fairly sure they have been re built with 50s. But I am considering changing them back to the original guide sizes with a 40mm butt. How do your rods fair with a 40mm butt?
In reply to Post #17
I'm going to find the receipt for mine, think I'm way out there, must be mid 90"s come to think of it, hazy memory. In the early years I used them for what was then distance casting, or what they were capable of, and never had any problems. I had my new rods built with 40s too, I'm not fan of 50's but if that's someone's preference, fair play 👍
I'm going to find the receipt for mine, think I'm way out there, must be mid 90"s come to think of it, hazy memory. In the early years I used them for what was then distance casting, or what they were capable of, and never had any problems. I had my new rods built with 40s too, I'm not fan of 50's but if that's someone's preference, fair play 👍
In reply to Post #18
I've never had a problem with 40s and especially if intermediate guides are single leg I find it keeps the weight down
I've never had a problem with 40s and especially if intermediate guides are single leg I find it keeps the weight down
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