Hi there, I'm after some replacement rods for my 24 year old 12ft, 2 3/4 tc Century armalite mk2's. They have gotten a bit springy so I'd like something similar but with a bit more in the bottom end . Not much more but a bit. Im thinking either Harrison Acurix or balistas or Free spirit ES in 12ft length. I fish mainly upto 100 yards and would like the option of using them with small pva bags if required. They will be paired with super baitrunners and 12lb mono.What do you guys recommend?
Cheers, Ollie.
Cheers, Ollie.
In reply to Post #1
Torrix 2.25/2.5s . . .? I have 12' 2.25s as my barbel all rounders but they'd easily second as small water rods - nice parabolic action that only bends into the but section with bigger specimens; the tip is also not silly floppy (unlike other specialist rods) - if you can get to Walkers of Trowell they normally have the entire FS / Harrison ranges across the TCs
Torrix 2.25/2.5s . . .? I have 12' 2.25s as my barbel all rounders but they'd easily second as small water rods - nice parabolic action that only bends into the but section with bigger specimens; the tip is also not silly floppy (unlike other specialist rods) - if you can get to Walkers of Trowell they normally have the entire FS / Harrison ranges across the TCs
In reply to Post #1
If you've had 24 year's from your Armalites I wouldn't look any further than Century, all models are now Autoclaves
If you've had 24 year's from your Armalites I wouldn't look any further than Century, all models are now Autoclaves
In reply to Post #3
Cheers pal, although I've had them all that time, they've probably only been used 150 days in all that time. I have a 2.5 tc free spirit xpr as a floater rod, and I love its Action alot so something similar is what I'm after. I always found the armalites a bit 'leggy', if that makes sense?
Cheers pal, although I've had them all that time, they've probably only been used 150 days in all that time. I have a 2.5 tc free spirit xpr as a floater rod, and I love its Action alot so something similar is what I'm after. I always found the armalites a bit 'leggy', if that makes sense?
In reply to Post #4
I'd call my mk1s wobbly when I had the 2 3/4s 😃 I changed them 20 plus years ago for 3 1/2 which are my pike rods , my main carp rods are NGs in 3 1/2 I've had these 18 year's still feel pretty crisp, don't know what else to recommend as I've not owned the others
I'd call my mk1s wobbly when I had the 2 3/4s 😃 I changed them 20 plus years ago for 3 1/2 which are my pike rods , my main carp rods are NGs in 3 1/2 I've had these 18 year's still feel pretty crisp, don't know what else to recommend as I've not owned the others
In reply to Post #2
Thanks chap, I heard of the torrix years ago and they have quite a reputation. I have wondered if a faster taper rod in a lower TC might be similar to my XPR 2.5. My armalites were great but they've had they're time now. Anything like my Xpr in comparison would be ideal!
Thanks chap, I heard of the torrix years ago and they have quite a reputation. I have wondered if a faster taper rod in a lower TC might be similar to my XPR 2.5. My armalites were great but they've had they're time now. Anything like my Xpr in comparison would be ideal!
In reply to Post #4
I loved my Mk.1 and Mk.2 Armalites. I did go over to SP's then NG's both in 2.75lb.
Had plenty of big fish on them.
Despite the NG's not being described as casting rods, I was putting PVA bags to 100metres with them and a straight baited rig with a 3oz lead to 120metres.
If I hadn't stupidly snapped a tip of one in the car door, I'd still be using them.
I loved my Mk.1 and Mk.2 Armalites. I did go over to SP's then NG's both in 2.75lb.
Had plenty of big fish on them.
Despite the NG's not being described as casting rods, I was putting PVA bags to 100metres with them and a straight baited rig with a 3oz lead to 120metres.
If I hadn't stupidly snapped a tip of one in the car door, I'd still be using them.
In reply to Post #1
Never had a rod at this price point so perhaps a stupid question, but why not go for Armalite mk3s?
Never had a rod at this price point so perhaps a stupid question, but why not go for Armalite mk3s?
In reply to Post #8
Hi Nick, hanks for your reply. They're very expensive and I'm leaning toward free spirit after playing an 18lb on it floater fishing. I also find my mk 2's a bit heavy at the tip.
Cheers, Ollie.
Hi Nick, hanks for your reply. They're very expensive and I'm leaning toward free spirit after playing an 18lb on it floater fishing. I also find my mk 2's a bit heavy at the tip.
Cheers, Ollie.
Harrison torrix 2.25
In reply to Post #9
Harrison accurix in 2.75tc will be perfect for what you discribe, get them custom built with 30mm butt ring and single leg intermediate's to a 12mm tip as the factory builds come with 40mm .
Harrison accurix in 2.75tc will be perfect for what you discribe, get them custom built with 30mm butt ring and single leg intermediate's to a 12mm tip as the factory builds come with 40mm .
In reply to Post #9
Thanks for kind reply, makes sense - and sometimes a change is as good as a rest and all that.
FYI you made me curious about price so took a look and Angling Direct has Armalite mk3s on discount at the moment down to £350.
Thanks for kind reply, makes sense - and sometimes a change is as good as a rest and all that.
FYI you made me curious about price so took a look and Angling Direct has Armalite mk3s on discount at the moment down to £350.
In reply to Post #6
The Torrix 12' 2.25 are a bit of an anomaly blank - they're certainly not fast taper but can handle 5oz feeder lobbing and morph into a more through action when given the full beans. The 12' 1.75 / 2lb have much faster tips although these are all specialist rods and have different ringing patterns (30mm butt / 10 plus tip rather than 6 etc) Not sure how the 2.25 would perform with a trad carp rod ringing pattern - sure there's rod builders on here who know the answer!
The Torrix 12' 2.25 are a bit of an anomaly blank - they're certainly not fast taper but can handle 5oz feeder lobbing and morph into a more through action when given the full beans. The 12' 1.75 / 2lb have much faster tips although these are all specialist rods and have different ringing patterns (30mm butt / 10 plus tip rather than 6 etc) Not sure how the 2.25 would perform with a trad carp rod ringing pattern - sure there's rod builders on here who know the answer!
In reply to Post #13
My torrix 2.25tc have 25mm butt with eight intermediate and accurix 30mm butt and eight intermediate.
My torrix 2.25tc have 25mm butt with eight intermediate and accurix 30mm butt and eight intermediate.
Thanks guys, It comes down to either the 2.5 Torrix, 2.75 acurix or the 2.75 Free spirit ES. I think the 2.75 acurix may be too through action though, but its hard to tell without the rods in my hand! Unfortunately I live no where near any of the big shops that stock these rods but I'm ultimately trying to find something like my free spirit xpr. That action is exactly what I want but I can't find any information about them online at all! I could call the tackle box and ask them I suppose. Any of you familiar with that rod?
Cheers!
Cheers!
In reply to Post #15
Had es's a long time ago and prefer the accurix as it is stiffer in the butt with a softer tip similar to the fat boy slim from century.
Had es's a long time ago and prefer the accurix as it is stiffer in the butt with a softer tip similar to the fat boy slim from century.
In reply to Post #15
Ring Walkers of Trowell - they will point you in the right direction!
Ring Walkers of Trowell - they will point you in the right direction!
Might be worth a call to Mark Tunley. I hope he won't mind me saying he's probably been around long enough to be familiar with your rods and he builds FS and Harrison so may be able to offer some advice.
From my experience of handling the Torrix and Acurix at Harrison albeit Higher tcs, the Torrix is a completely different beast to the Acurix, much faster, I'd be dropping down tc wise on the Torrix to try and get a similar feel to the Acurix if that's the way you want to go. I tried to compare 3.5lb 12'6 Ballista ERs to all the modern Harrison blanks at that time, I was happiest with the 3.25lb 13' Torrix.
Alluding to what Belch mentioned, I can't remember the tc at the mo but I do have a set of Torrix built by M.Tunley in the lower tc. I mentioned that I'd like to use them as a river Barble/light Carp rod and he said to get the best out of that blank not to ring it like a Carp rod, but to have 2 rings on the butt, think they start at 30mm, and more up top. I dont have the ringing/tc details to hand at the mo, sorry for the vagueness but I hope you get the idea.
EDIT, they're 2lb with a 25mm 7 guide set
From my experience of handling the Torrix and Acurix at Harrison albeit Higher tcs, the Torrix is a completely different beast to the Acurix, much faster, I'd be dropping down tc wise on the Torrix to try and get a similar feel to the Acurix if that's the way you want to go. I tried to compare 3.5lb 12'6 Ballista ERs to all the modern Harrison blanks at that time, I was happiest with the 3.25lb 13' Torrix.
Alluding to what Belch mentioned, I can't remember the tc at the mo but I do have a set of Torrix built by M.Tunley in the lower tc. I mentioned that I'd like to use them as a river Barble/light Carp rod and he said to get the best out of that blank not to ring it like a Carp rod, but to have 2 rings on the butt, think they start at 30mm, and more up top. I dont have the ringing/tc details to hand at the mo, sorry for the vagueness but I hope you get the idea.
EDIT, they're 2lb with a 25mm 7 guide set
Thanks again guys, yeah I think I'll call a few people and see what they say. I'm interested in the torrix in a lower test curve, 2.5 say as I want something a bit faster than a through action players rod. I bought a chub small water 2.25 tc 11 footer a while back but it was completely gutless- so much so a small carp had no trouble in burying itself in a bush on several occasions before I finally managed to extract it! There's a vid on the chube where a guy is on a boat playing a carp on a 12ft 2.75 torrix and I really like the look of it's action but, as mentioned, I think dropping down a grade in tc might be more suitable for what I want.
Are there any places that stock those in Norfolk or Suffolk?
Cheers.
Are there any places that stock those in Norfolk or Suffolk?
Cheers.
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