As per title, I am wanting a set of lower tc " players " rods, as most of my local fishing is short range stuff and relatively snag free.
I love my Free Spirit ES rods, but do feel a bit overgunned at times.
I am aware of rods like the 12ft 2.25 KS and Armalites, but wondering if there are any more wallet friendly alternatives out there ?
My old NW Sealey 2.25's would be perfect , if only I still had them.
I think if the Chub Smallwater rods were still around, I would be getting a set of those.
So, any suggestions would be most welcome !
There does seem a dearth of lower tc carp rods available these days.
Second hand really isn't an option either, as I live in the U.S.
I love my Free Spirit ES rods, but do feel a bit overgunned at times.
I am aware of rods like the 12ft 2.25 KS and Armalites, but wondering if there are any more wallet friendly alternatives out there ?
My old NW Sealey 2.25's would be perfect , if only I still had them.
I think if the Chub Smallwater rods were still around, I would be getting a set of those.
So, any suggestions would be most welcome !
There does seem a dearth of lower tc carp rods available these days.
Second hand really isn't an option either, as I live in the U.S.
In reply to Post #1
If you have any access to them Harrison Baby Ballistas or Acurix would be something to look at
If you have any access to them Harrison Baby Ballistas or Acurix would be something to look at
In reply to Post #1
Barbel Rods would suit your needs, I've a set of Korum 12ft 21/2tc ones I've found myself using quite a lot for Carp fishing as well.
~ I also still use a set of 12ft 2 3/4tc North Western Carbon's as my main Carp Rods
Barbel Rods would suit your needs, I've a set of Korum 12ft 21/2tc ones I've found myself using quite a lot for Carp fishing as well.
~ I also still use a set of 12ft 2 3/4tc North Western Carbon's as my main Carp Rods
I was going to say original Terry hearn 2.9s but then saw your in the USA.
In reply to Post #1
Shame your USA based.
can you get harrison rods out there?
as they do lower TC in various blanks (torrix multi carp ballista)
i personally use 2.5lb Baby Ballista's & 2.25LB mk1 powermesh (which i caught my biggest fish from a snaggy water no problems).
As others have said Barbel rods are the lower TC end now.
Shame your USA based.
can you get harrison rods out there?
as they do lower TC in various blanks (torrix multi carp ballista)
i personally use 2.5lb Baby Ballista's & 2.25LB mk1 powermesh (which i caught my biggest fish from a snaggy water no problems).
As others have said Barbel rods are the lower TC end now.
American Tackle do a 12ft 2.5lb blank in their Atrex range. I haven't seen the action though. They have tons of non carp blanks, might be work giving them a call (maybe naive to think you could speak to somebody there, but you never know).
I would,nt describe Harrison as wallet friendly as the post states but everyone on here knows i would rate them the best which is why i build on them . Depends what you want to pay but You can get lots of rods in america which will do the job and cost you a fraction of the price.
In reply to Post #1
May not be of any use but years before the 10ft rod craze began I wanted some 10 foot soft rods and spoke to Steve Harrison, at the time nobody did 10ft blanks, but he said buy the top two sections of a 15ft salmon rod, they are about 1-75tc and I still have them. If you speak with a US game blank company (game as in fish not as in a right laugh :0) they may be able to sort you out some blanks...
May not be of any use but years before the 10ft rod craze began I wanted some 10 foot soft rods and spoke to Steve Harrison, at the time nobody did 10ft blanks, but he said buy the top two sections of a 15ft salmon rod, they are about 1-75tc and I still have them. If you speak with a US game blank company (game as in fish not as in a right laugh :0) they may be able to sort you out some blanks...
In reply to Post #8
I appreciate the feedback, fellas. I can order just about anything new, usually dealing with Johnson Ross, from whom I've had nothing but good experiences.
Yeah, baby Ballistas did come to mind, but not sure I can justify the price of custom builds, or high end off the shelf, for fishing my local park lake.
Maybe Barbel rods might be the way to go.
So, any suggestions for an 11 or 12 ft Barbel rod , with through action and no high vis tip ?
I appreciate the feedback, fellas. I can order just about anything new, usually dealing with Johnson Ross, from whom I've had nothing but good experiences.
Yeah, baby Ballistas did come to mind, but not sure I can justify the price of custom builds, or high end off the shelf, for fishing my local park lake.
Maybe Barbel rods might be the way to go.
So, any suggestions for an 11 or 12 ft Barbel rod , with through action and no high vis tip ?
In reply to Post #9
Actually, Korum is a good shout. I borrowed a mate's avon style Korum on a visit and thought itvwas a cracking rod for a very reasonable price.
I'm wondering now about Darent Valley rods from T.Box, now that my memory is stirring.
Actually, Korum is a good shout. I borrowed a mate's avon style Korum on a visit and thought itvwas a cracking rod for a very reasonable price.
I'm wondering now about Darent Valley rods from T.Box, now that my memory is stirring.
In reply to Post #10
Tackle Box Darent Valley 11ft 9ins 2.25lb Specialist Rod.
It's a cheap Rod at £65 and the cosmetics match the price, but its a darn good Fishing rod with a good through action.
I own one myself and I compared it with the higher Free Spirit offerings, and I bought this Rod because it was more through action, relatively speaking:-
It's not like Avon style, but as good a thru action\progressive Barbel Rod I've found out there these days.
Most out there are too tippy. They're not casting rods damnit!
TackleBox Darent Valley 2.25 11ft 9 in
Only thing I would say is the quality control on that range. I've seen a few that ain't straight
Ask them to check it if you decided to risk it.
Tackle Box Darent Valley 11ft 9ins 2.25lb Specialist Rod.
It's a cheap Rod at £65 and the cosmetics match the price, but its a darn good Fishing rod with a good through action.
I own one myself and I compared it with the higher Free Spirit offerings, and I bought this Rod because it was more through action, relatively speaking:-
It's not like Avon style, but as good a thru action\progressive Barbel Rod I've found out there these days.
Most out there are too tippy. They're not casting rods damnit!
TackleBox Darent Valley 2.25 11ft 9 in
Only thing I would say is the quality control on that range. I've seen a few that ain't straight
Ask them to check it if you decided to risk it.
In reply to Post #9
The Korum Big Water Rods would suit your needs perfectly, they all do have high vis Tips thou.
But to be honest - after using them quite a bit now, I wish my normal Carp Rods had high vis Tips too.
It's amazing how many of those little knocks you notice with the white Tips, you would never notice them in low light conditions with plain carbon tips.
~ AD have been wiped out of them, but there's a few on eBay for around £50 each.
The Korum Big Water Rods would suit your needs perfectly, they all do have high vis Tips thou.
But to be honest - after using them quite a bit now, I wish my normal Carp Rods had high vis Tips too.
It's amazing how many of those little knocks you notice with the white Tips, you would never notice them in low light conditions with plain carbon tips.
~ AD have been wiped out of them, but there's a few on eBay for around £50 each.
Not what your asking and you may already have done, but in case not, have you tried asking the likes of Luke Nichols over there? Some on here may not know him, but he's from the youtube channel Outdoor Boys, Catfish and Carp and can also be found here@Cats and Carp
He may well know of stockists of U.K named rods over there.
I don't know what price you're looking at but Johnson Ross had/have Accurix on offer, I was watching them, 2.5lb £258. The Fox Specialist Horizon Twin Tip around £110 is a nice rod. I've no experience of Korum but they have a good reputation.
Outdoor boys channel click here
Catfish and Carp click here
He may well know of stockists of U.K named rods over there.
I don't know what price you're looking at but Johnson Ross had/have Accurix on offer, I was watching them, 2.5lb £258. The Fox Specialist Horizon Twin Tip around £110 is a nice rod. I've no experience of Korum but they have a good reputation.
Outdoor boys channel click here
Catfish and Carp click here
In reply to Post #12
But to be honest - after using them quite a bit now, I wish my normal Carp Rods had high vis Tips too.
Have you tried Mighty Bright Tape Keith? Even comes in black which illuminates under torch light and you'd be hard pushed to notice it if varnished onto the rod, easy enough to do.
But to be honest - after using them quite a bit now, I wish my normal Carp Rods had high vis Tips too.
Have you tried Mighty Bright Tape Keith? Even comes in black which illuminates under torch light and you'd be hard pushed to notice it if varnished onto the rod, easy enough to do.
In reply to Post #11
I use this rod for floater fishing. Agree, nice action on the blank. Handle and seat feel naff but reflected in the low price.
I use this rod for floater fishing. Agree, nice action on the blank. Handle and seat feel naff but reflected in the low price.
God, feel like a bloody stalker 
Have you considered a Stalking rod? I've had the Greys 9' 2.75lb for years, it's got a lovely through action and as you're fishing close range the length doesn't really matter. Can pick them up for around £80
Don't really see the need for the tag 'stalking' anymore with the modern trend to shorter rods.
Have you considered a Stalking rod? I've had the Greys 9' 2.75lb for years, it's got a lovely through action and as you're fishing close range the length doesn't really matter. Can pick them up for around £80
Don't really see the need for the tag 'stalking' anymore with the modern trend to shorter rods.
I use 3 x 3lb 12' Greys pike rods for dead baiting. Designed for casting soft baits a long distance. They have a "Through Action" and and brilliant for playing fish, they bend to the butt and very forgiving as a fish dives deep under the tip and you would not think they are 3lb Test curves as they are that "whippy".
You just hold on and let the rod do all the work, when the fish dives deep, no need to give line usually, the rod bends double and when the fish eases off, the rod just straightens slowly and brings the fish to the surface without any input from yourself. You can hold the fish like that under the rod top till it tires from trying to dive deep and just net it.
Other anglers comment on how good they look when I play a fish unlike their fast tapers which seem to be the run of the mill these days. Another bonus, the action is that soft, its very rare to get a hook pull which makes them ideal for fishing close in.
I bought two for deadbaiting, liked them that much after just one session and decided to buy a third for carping which replaced my new set of 3lb TC carp rods that I had bought the week before and only used twice and hated them as they was fast taper and like fishing with a telegraph pole and about only the top 2' bent when playing a fish, horrible action.
Another bonus I forgot about, they look like "proper " carp rods from the 60's I used to use up to the 80's, about 12 eyes and a 25 or 30 mm butt eye if I recall and the line follows the curvature of the rod when it bends and you do not get that "jagging" feeling you get with rods with only about 5 eyes. And another bonus with the ringing, it does not make them tip heavy like the fast taper "beach casters" so you can hold them for a long time as they are easy to balance with a small bit of lead in the butt if your reels too light.
But, looking at the Greys catalog, they don't make them anymore and what they do is a completely different design with 5 rod eyes. But there could be similar makes from other manufacturers.
You just hold on and let the rod do all the work, when the fish dives deep, no need to give line usually, the rod bends double and when the fish eases off, the rod just straightens slowly and brings the fish to the surface without any input from yourself. You can hold the fish like that under the rod top till it tires from trying to dive deep and just net it.
Other anglers comment on how good they look when I play a fish unlike their fast tapers which seem to be the run of the mill these days. Another bonus, the action is that soft, its very rare to get a hook pull which makes them ideal for fishing close in.
I bought two for deadbaiting, liked them that much after just one session and decided to buy a third for carping which replaced my new set of 3lb TC carp rods that I had bought the week before and only used twice and hated them as they was fast taper and like fishing with a telegraph pole and about only the top 2' bent when playing a fish, horrible action.
Another bonus I forgot about, they look like "proper " carp rods from the 60's I used to use up to the 80's, about 12 eyes and a 25 or 30 mm butt eye if I recall and the line follows the curvature of the rod when it bends and you do not get that "jagging" feeling you get with rods with only about 5 eyes. And another bonus with the ringing, it does not make them tip heavy like the fast taper "beach casters" so you can hold them for a long time as they are easy to balance with a small bit of lead in the butt if your reels too light.
But, looking at the Greys catalog, they don't make them anymore and what they do is a completely different design with 5 rod eyes. But there could be similar makes from other manufacturers.
In reply to Post #17
I know the Rod you're talking about, and I nearly bought one for close to mid range with heavier leads \ pva bags.
Picked one up - lovely action.
I know the Rod you're talking about, and I nearly bought one for close to mid range with heavier leads \ pva bags.
Picked one up - lovely action.
In reply to Post #1
Beware Korum Barbel rods as they are well understated in terms of tc IMO - 2lb is more like 2.5lb etc; saying that other than the real seat which is a bit lacklustre they are fantastic VFM
Shimano presumably have good distribution in the US - how about their Purist BX1 in 2.25lb ?
Beware Korum Barbel rods as they are well understated in terms of tc IMO - 2lb is more like 2.5lb etc; saying that other than the real seat which is a bit lacklustre they are fantastic VFM
Shimano presumably have good distribution in the US - how about their Purist BX1 in 2.25lb ?
In reply to Post #19
I will check into that Shimano, but I'm pretty sure their North American Division want nothing to do with Euro style ( Carp ) tackle.
Beginning to think I might save up some pennies and have either some 2.5 Baby Ballistas , or 12ft Multicarp 2.25's made up.
Baby B's can be had via Johnson Ross custom builds ie. Vic Gibson, but I don't think he builds on the Multicarp blanks.
Still got a couple of mates who know Tony Parker quite well, so I might have them sound him out re: Harrison Multicarp.
Thanks again for all the responses.
The more I think about it, the more I realise that the rods would be used for most of my lical fishing, so I really ought to treat myself to something a bit special.
I can always tell the Missus they were about sixty Sovs a piece.......
I will check into that Shimano, but I'm pretty sure their North American Division want nothing to do with Euro style ( Carp ) tackle.
Beginning to think I might save up some pennies and have either some 2.5 Baby Ballistas , or 12ft Multicarp 2.25's made up.
Baby B's can be had via Johnson Ross custom builds ie. Vic Gibson, but I don't think he builds on the Multicarp blanks.
Still got a couple of mates who know Tony Parker quite well, so I might have them sound him out re: Harrison Multicarp.
Thanks again for all the responses.
The more I think about it, the more I realise that the rods would be used for most of my lical fishing, so I really ought to treat myself to something a bit special.
I can always tell the Missus they were about sixty Sovs a piece.......
Reading ALL pages