I'm down to a short list of the above for my forever rods all between 2.75 and 3.25.
I don't want a tippy rod and happy to compromise a bit on distance for playing action, unlikely to ever go past 120 yards.
My order based on wiggling them in tackle shops (I think) is:
e.s.
Aviator flex
C2
Adv1
Hi s 3lb
x.s
Any feedback on your fishing experiences with any of them them? Throwing leads out and playing fish and how they feel in the hand?
Doesn't have to be one versus the other
Cheers
I don't want a tippy rod and happy to compromise a bit on distance for playing action, unlikely to ever go past 120 yards.
My order based on wiggling them in tackle shops (I think) is:
e.s.
Aviator flex
C2
Adv1
Hi s 3lb
x.s
Any feedback on your fishing experiences with any of them them? Throwing leads out and playing fish and how they feel in the hand?
Doesn't have to be one versus the other
Cheers
In reply to Post #1
Hi S but 3.5lb for me.
Does most things and not under gunned if need to push with a bag/bigger lead.
Hi S but 3.5lb for me.
Does most things and not under gunned if need to push with a bag/bigger lead.
In reply to Post #1
The flex are an incredible rod. Perfect for what you want. They cast nicely and are really nice to play fish on.If you are going down the factory built rather than custom route it's worth noting that free spirit are notoriously bad at QC
The flex are an incredible rod. Perfect for what you want. They cast nicely and are really nice to play fish on.If you are going down the factory built rather than custom route it's worth noting that free spirit are notoriously bad at QC
In reply to Post #1
Flex are perfect. A lovely action for playing fish but will still chuck a decent distance.
Flex are perfect. A lovely action for playing fish but will still chuck a decent distance.
It's funny, I've nearly bought flex's 2 or 3 times whilst I've been looking, but always held off in case there was something that felt/was better
In reply to Post #5
Worst kind of customer 😁 Flex are beautiful user rods.
Worst kind of customer 😁 Flex are beautiful user rods.
Flex for me,love Harrison blanks
In reply to Post #5
Easy answer to your wondering. There isn't. Honestly get a set, you won't regret it. Mine will never be going anywhere
Easy answer to your wondering. There isn't. Honestly get a set, you won't regret it. Mine will never be going anywhere
In reply to Post #6
Ahha, I've intentionally kept away from your sort (rod builders) whilst doing this so you don't use your magic on me and I end up with a hole bunch a rods I don't need 😂😝
Ahha, I've intentionally kept away from your sort (rod builders) whilst doing this so you don't use your magic on me and I end up with a hole bunch a rods I don't need 😂😝
In reply to Post #9
Nah not me 🤣 I end up telling people what i wont do more than what i will !
Nah not me 🤣 I end up telling people what i wont do more than what i will !
I've used the C2 (mk1) in 2.75lb t/c for a few years. Find them lovely rods to use, light in the hand, nice action but think you'd struggle to hit the distance you require in this t/c. I top out at about 100yards with a baited rig (although I'm sure they can do a bit more).
Another vote for the flex , cant fault them , hopefully will be putting a bend in them next week 🎣
Had a similar dilemma. Ended up with 3 x Flex's from John Hennessy and love them.
In reply to Post #12
Flex is a lovely rod as is the adv1 although i find the century offering a little firmer in the tip . I had hi s 3.5, es, xs and ts many years ago and the es were fine and a lovely rod for most applications but the xs and ts i kept blowing tips up on. The hi s were nice but the build i chose wasn't particularly well suited to the blank and i had constant fraps so i sold them on. The terry hearn classics could be worth a look too as they're lovely rods
Flex is a lovely rod as is the adv1 although i find the century offering a little firmer in the tip . I had hi s 3.5, es, xs and ts many years ago and the es were fine and a lovely rod for most applications but the xs and ts i kept blowing tips up on. The hi s were nice but the build i chose wasn't particularly well suited to the blank and i had constant fraps so i sold them on. The terry hearn classics could be worth a look too as they're lovely rods
In reply to Post #14
I've been using a set of mkii Terry hearns again recently, and had some new in the old days. They are lovely rods but do feel a bit heavy versus today's carbon. New stocks of the latest 12'9 version seem to be in short supply so haven't been able to give them a wiggle.
The ones I have will go in the forever cupboard and get used if I need to (try and) get up to 150+ on a lake or if I want to be nostalgic.
I've been using a set of mkii Terry hearns again recently, and had some new in the old days. They are lovely rods but do feel a bit heavy versus today's carbon. New stocks of the latest 12'9 version seem to be in short supply so haven't been able to give them a wiggle.
The ones I have will go in the forever cupboard and get used if I need to (try and) get up to 150+ on a lake or if I want to be nostalgic.
In reply to Post #15
Totally agree, i still have my mk2 hearns and although a bit battered nowdays they are still a brilliant rod although as you say a little heavy compared to newer blanks that said i prefer a thicker walled blank which the mk2s had purely for robustness
Totally agree, i still have my mk2 hearns and although a bit battered nowdays they are still a brilliant rod although as you say a little heavy compared to newer blanks that said i prefer a thicker walled blank which the mk2s had purely for robustness
Can only comment on the free spirit es rods, I bought a set when I was fishing rivers over here in the US where most of my fishing was 10 yards out but then I started fishing bigger lakes and reseviors where I felt like I couldn't get to spots with the es so I bought a set of hi's Ive er. The es are fantastic rods but I felt limited with them and putting 3oz leads on a trying to get out further just felt abusive to them and in winter I like to use solid bags same problem to me it felt like you was overloading them. On the flip side margin fishing with them is great fun they bend through to the butt.
Honestly i think if I bought the hi's Ive er first I would only have one set of rods not two they do everything I need. The tip is soft and they are fun to play fish on with way more power in butt for casting and helping turn fish from snags or if you pick up weed during a fight. My advice would be if you only plan on having one set of rods know the es are great rods but will limit you I would advise getting a set of rods that is more versatile.
Honestly i think if I bought the hi's Ive er first I would only have one set of rods not two they do everything I need. The tip is soft and they are fun to play fish on with way more power in butt for casting and helping turn fish from snags or if you pick up weed during a fight. My advice would be if you only plan on having one set of rods know the es are great rods but will limit you I would advise getting a set of rods that is more versatile.
In reply to Post #17
Whereabouts in the U.S. are you fishing ? I'm an ex pat, living near New Orleans and also have a set of ES, which cover 95-% of my fishing, brilliant rods !
For my very occasional forays into the world of distance fishing, I bought a set of Free Spirit CTX 13ft 3.5 SU's, which are great rods for the money.
Fishing at a stand still fir me though, as it's far too hot to be sitting out on the banks.
Probably won't kick off again until October, maybe even November.
Whereabouts in the U.S. are you fishing ? I'm an ex pat, living near New Orleans and also have a set of ES, which cover 95-% of my fishing, brilliant rods !
For my very occasional forays into the world of distance fishing, I bought a set of Free Spirit CTX 13ft 3.5 SU's, which are great rods for the money.
Fishing at a stand still fir me though, as it's far too hot to be sitting out on the banks.
Probably won't kick off again until October, maybe even November.
In reply to Post #18
I live in New hampshire but all my carp fishing is in Massachusetts as I'm right on the border. Yeah it's been hot and dry the last few weeks i just got back from a overnight because it so hot to fish in the days. We have the big merrimack river near me it's wide but tidal and with a current that's why I normally only fish 10 yards out any further the flow is too strong this why I bought the es. Now I've been fishing ponds and reseviors 50-600 acres hence why I bought a set of rods better for distance work.
I live in New hampshire but all my carp fishing is in Massachusetts as I'm right on the border. Yeah it's been hot and dry the last few weeks i just got back from a overnight because it so hot to fish in the days. We have the big merrimack river near me it's wide but tidal and with a current that's why I normally only fish 10 yards out any further the flow is too strong this why I bought the es. Now I've been fishing ponds and reseviors 50-600 acres hence why I bought a set of rods better for distance work.
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