I've decided 3lb tc and around that is going to be too much for the places I'm fishing.

Reality is that I won't cast more than 60 yards most of the time, with a bit of hit and hold fishing close to pads/islands/snags once in a while so they will need to absorb lunges in that kind of situation.

The two lakes where I may need to cast further and into weed, I have some Terry Hearn MKII's which will do the job just fine.

So I'm looking at dropping to a 2.5tc or (maybe) 2.75tc for my forever rods.

Acurix 2.5 or 2.75
CTX 2.5
Ballista 2.75 12ft (wish they did a 12ft 2.5)
Free Spirit Barbel rods in 2.5 or 2.75
Flex - maybe too stiff though

I've not wiggled any of these yet, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of choice down at this tc so any feedback on use or any others worth adding to the list?

Doesn't look like there are any decent builders down my way any more so will be a bit of a trek to check these out

Any others worth looking at?

Cheers

In reply to Post #1
A decent 2.25tc should be fine.

In reply to Post #1
Century Armalite mk3 2.75 . . . considering a set myself! Stock build is nice!

Failing that Torrix 2.25 is a lovely blank - these are my go-to barbel all rounders and I bought them stock build from Walkers of Trowell (RIP)

If they have to be new, look at Torrix 2.25.

If old rods might work for you then Chimera 2.5's are lovely. But very hard to find.

In reply to Post #1
They do a baby ballista in 2.5lb

In reply to Post #1
The acurix are lovely rods.

In reply to Post #3
Cheers for the replies

I'm not a fan of cork handles bud, sure they'll be lovely if you do get some though.

12 ft rods only so the ballista slims aren't for me

Thought torrix's in lower test curves would still be tippy maybe I should have another look

Chimeras did see some 2.75's on the bay, but think I want this purchase to be new once I'm decided

Did wonder about 2.25's but thought they maybe a little too light

In reply to Post #7
Thought torrix's in lower test curves would still be tippy maybe I should have another look
Nope, I have 2lb 12', lovely playing action. If it were just about playing action in slightly higher TC and casting not a issue it'd be Acurix for me or 2.75 Ballistas .

In reply to Post #8
Thanks, this won't be a casting rod.

50-60 yard overhead casts at most.

It will be to absorb lunges close in and deal with fish near to something I need to get them away from. Fish size, I'll be lucky to connect with a mid twenty let alone a thirty 👍

Jeffire on here built me a set of Torrix 2.25lb on the Harrison custom blank that the Baby Sniper rods were designed and built on by Kev Baynes (now retired). Stunning rods built how I requested and to what suited the blank to get the best from it for it's intended purpose, excellent quality and so good for playing fish on.
They cast like a 3lb+ rod, but play like the 2.25 they are - nothing but quality.

Would recommend speaking to Jeff, top man.

Maybe consider the freespirit es rods in the s range. They are a 12 foot 2 3/4 test curve but a real soft through action rod have a set myself.

In reply to Post #11
ES were on the list as well as HiS 2.5's but I've struck them off due to the cost versus Harrison and Harrison have better options for me to choose from. Same with Century.

So with your help, I think I'm down to three

Chimera no. 3 hadn't considered this before, but they could be just the job
Acurix 2.5
Torrix 2.25

Think it maybe time to talk to a builder and try to find somewhere for a wiggle.

In reply to Post #12
2.75 Ballista's would do what you want mate slim, light & bend right through.
Great old style players rod that's still around which says something.

In reply to Post #12
Use your old school Shimano's!

In reply to Post #10
. . . which is why Torrix 2.25 make such a good all round barbel rod; decent tip registration but lots of back bone (for casting weight) and a progressive bend from mid to through action dependent on the pressure required. Check with Jeffire because a barbel ringing pattern will be different from a carp variant and may affect end performance / your requirements

Q - If only casting short distances have you considered 10' rods? Pretty much all I use these days on my current waters

In reply to Post #14
The shimmy's will get used mate but they're 2lb tc rated so not sure what they may be now.

And besides I still need to find someone to repair them 😭

In reply to Post #15
Tried 10ft rods mate couldn't get on with them always felt a bit weird casting them and don't think I get the same leverage as I do over a fish with a 12ft rod

have a chat with jeffire on here he made x3 2.75lb ballistas for me recently and i won't ever part with them. they're right in the sweetspot for the kind of fishing i do, delicate enough with a fish under the tip but enough backbone to cast 25 wraps plus if required.

In reply to Post #17
You need to borrow my 10' Aviators . . . different gravy (and I was a 12' stalwart!)

Isn't Mark Tunley down your way? Never used him but think he has a decent rep?

Ringwood Tackle and Poingdestres are both listed as Harrison dealers.

In reply to Post #20
Looks like he's Berkshire now mate and I'm in Southampton tomorrow so was gonna see what pongos had on the rack 👍

In reply to Post #21
The Free spirit 'Big River Barbel' is the same blank they use for their 'KS' carp rod.

Great rods, have a friend who uses them - had fish to mid 30's with little drama.

In reply to Post #1
with a bit of hit and hold fishing close to pads/islands/snags once in a while so they will need to absorb lunges in that kind of situation.
I have probably clocked up more YEARS snag fishing than most and as far back as the early 70s
SO PURELY OUT OF INTEREST
I learnt the perfect Snag fishing rod was one with a compound thru action
I was fishing a large estate type pond that had over 50% of massive dense lilly pads and crystal clear water these carp when hooked went like an express train straight into the pads and you lost them
rods we were using at the time were SU 1.75lb fast taper an useless at stopping them as they would reach the pads or the hook would rip out or line snap due to the limited action of the rod
the answer came from my fishing partners next door neighbour he built top quality split cane incredibly expensive Fly rods
and after Brian chatted to him he built us an 8ozs fly rod each we called them flop sticks you couldn't really cast with them

but once you managed to lob a bait in position and you got a pick up as the fish powered away you hung on and watched the tip ring go past your hand and the bottom of the rod that was now bent like a U but !!!!! it had progressively slowed the fish to a standstill and you could walk back and turn it from the pads and play and land it
QUITE AMAZING !
then over the years I have always chosen a soft through action rod for snag fishing as you want something to act like a bungee absorbing the lunges with progressive stopping power that wont cause hook pulls or lines snapping
so bottom line
I would suggest you look for rods with a soft through action if it was me

In reply to Post #23
Interesting. I've used a 4 weight fibreglass fly rod for feeling and it has been great for mid doubles.
I've always been tempted to get an 8 or 10 weight Epic fibreglass fly rod built as a carp rod for stalking but it would be a very expensive mistake if it didn't work out!

In reply to Post #23
Love it, like the old red Woolworths rods you used to be able to get, them things could bend!

But, yeah I think it is almost that type or rod arc I'm after. Had an asaki specialist years ago was amazing until I stuffed the tip in the gravel 😭

In reply to Post #25
How many 12ft 2.5lb rods you looking at I was in the tackle box in Kent today they had 2 x second hand Century Armalite Mk2 12ft 2.5lb for £85 a rod they were clean rods with 30mm butt rings

In reply to Post #26
Nice they'll be bang on for someone, I used to love the green blank in the sun, nicer than the mki's imo 👍.

Too far for me to go look at tho sadly and maybe a bit much for me especially when I add fuel in.

In reply to Post #27
Give them a ring I'm sure they can take some pictures and email them to you

In reply to Post #27
I know you only want 12ft suggestions, but the 11ft 2.5 tc Baby Ballistas would do everything you're asking for and more.
I had mine built with slightly shorter handles and eight guides, I'd say they are the ultimate smaller water rods and absolutely perfect for fishing around pads etc.

In reply to Post #27
Funnily enough, I was in the Tackle Box the other day too, and saw those Armalites and was very tempted to buy them (if I didn't already have 7 sets of carp rods, I probably would have done!) - good deal for someone, they looked as good as new to me.

I've got a pair of 12' 2.5tc Ballistas - shame they don't make them anymore as they would be perfect.

In reply to Post #30
Wow 7 sets of rods I have 3 sets and often thought do I need 3 can't I make do with one lol often thought what amount people own
The fs es has the reputation of being the best out there

In reply to Post #31
Well, to be fair, I have 'only' ever owned 8 sets of rods in 40 years of carp fishing, so I just don't sell them when I get new ones (apart from my first glass North Western rods).

And FS ES are one of them as you mention them - nice rods as all rounders, but not as nice to play fish as Ballistas.

In reply to Post #1
I have the Acurix in 2.75lb - absolutely love them. I did have Torrix's in 3.25 and I far prefer the Acurix

In reply to Post #32
Ya I also carp fished 40 years I had tricasts in 2llb tc and conaflex a step up from the 175 tc I was using lol as you know a 2.5 was a distance rod then

In reply to Post #33
What kind of distance do you get with them and have you used them on weedy lakes, how did they cope?

In reply to Post #35
I've got he 3lb Acurix had them out to 100yards and used them in heavy weed at Ashmead they coped with both very well although the 100 yards was a push and won't use them for that now.

In reply to Post #36
Thanks for that.

One thing I'm ok with is compromising on distance, It's never been my thing fishing at range unless it's a pub chuck 😂😂.

So as long as they cope with 60/70 yards then I'm golden. The weed thing is a rarity, but just good to know they can cope if I find myself in a spot.

Think I'm still really keen on 2.5 or 2.75 acurix tbh feeling like they could be Goldilocks for what I'm after

Sounds similar to my position when I was looking for a new rod.

I have the Acurix in 3lb TC.

I brought them as I wanted accuracy to improve in my short to medium range fishing. I rarely fished lakes that I needed to be hitting 100+ yards, however in recent seasons it has become more of a common thing for me, having done a couple of French trips (50+ acre lake) and fishing some larger day ticket waters here in the UK.

The rod has coped with these distances fine, albeit I probably only hit approx. 100 yards and not much further.

One thing I absolutely love with the rods is the playing action, it is fantastic, IMO, and this playing fish from 10lbs through to just under 60lbs.

It's a great all round rod, and would recommend to anyone dependant on their fishing situation of course.

In reply to Post #37
By the time you have decided the models will be obsolete . Ive bought houses quicker than this 🤣

In reply to Post #39
Ahhha all the time I haven't bought is money saved

The choice is unbelievable too, thought this was going to be a relatively simple task.

Been looking at 2.25tc 'floater' rods and found the Fox Horizon range which look very nice (for the money) from a 2.25 floater up to their X6 casting tools.

And then around again vs Century, Harrison, Free Spirit etc

But at least it's only my time I'm wasting (with help of a bunch of forum members) so no harm being done

In reply to Post #41
I bet you are a bundle of fun in a restaurant fookin kitchen would be shut before you have chosen ! The amount of time its taking points me in the direction that are you sure you need them ? Comparing a fox rod these days to century or harrison is like well you just cant . Those century rods in the tackle box are a give away . Buy them and if you dont like them you will sell them for more .

In reply to Post #42
Maybe not, but it's my money to spend .

Oh and steak, chips, onion rings and a lager for me please boss

In reply to Post #43
Sorry kitchen closed 🤣

In reply to Post #10
Sat behind these right now, and will never part with them.

In reply to Post #45
Very special blanks those.

I bought a set of 12ft 2.5 century stealth graphenes a couple of years ago and they are by far the nicest blank ive ever used. I only paid £500 for a brand new pair as well. They are so light and the action on them is superb.

In reply to Post #47
Cor that was a bit of a touch 👍

In reply to Post #48
Unfortunately I had to pay full price of £550 for a matching 3rd one though as had to buy a new one from century. Century were great mind as asked me to drop one of mine off at the factory so they could match it perfectly. There customer service is second to none and brilliant.

In reply to Post #35
I reckon 100 yards with a 2.5oz lead, not measured mind. Fine in weed, they get a bend on but no issue. My most prized items of tackle!

Very much enjoyed fishing with some 2.25tc rods this weekend, something two/three weeks ago I wouldn't have even considered.

One massive thing I noticed was how much better modern carbon is to the older stuff I've been using, crisper, lighter and always felt in total control.

2.5oz leads whirled 50 yards easily with just a baited rig and catching mid doubles on them was a real pleasure even when cranking them away from snags, they always felt in control.

Cheers for all the pointers 👍

In reply to Post #51
Which did you go for use in the end?

I picked up 3 x Fox Horizon 2.25's for what I thought was a really good price. So have two to use and one in the shed as a spare.

In reply to Post #53
floater ones ?

In reply to Post #54
No Horizon X which is a previous model and probably why they were priced so well.

In reply to Post #55
I have the fox horizon x 10ft 3lb, theure a lovely blank,pencil thin and bend really well

In reply to Post #1
Are you still looking for 12ft rods 2.5lb as the tackle box in Kent had some trade in Harrison accurix 3 x 12ft 2.50lb with abbreviated handles for £170 a rod they were in very good condition and they also had 2 x accurix 12ft 2.50lb with duplon handles for £130 each they were in very good conditions also

In reply to Post #57
Hello mate, thanks for the info - sound like good deals.

I picked up 3 x 2.25 Horizon x's for fifty quid each from Tackle Tavern so all sorted. Decent money for the price too 👍✈️