In reply to Post #1
My wife bought me a set of 3 Shimano rods for Christmas a few years ago. They weren't a bad rod, but I found them a little heavier than some FreeSpirits that I'd previously owned but stupidly sold on when I got a bit hard up.
I caught plenty of fish on the Shimmies, but always hankered after a new set of the FreeSpirits and when I could afford them, splashed out.
I've not regretted it.
The FreeSpirits are the perfect rod for my fishing needs, and I'll never sell them again.
They are lighter, and have a much better "action".
My wife bought me a set of 3 Shimano rods for Christmas a few years ago. They weren't a bad rod, but I found them a little heavier than some FreeSpirits that I'd previously owned but stupidly sold on when I got a bit hard up.
I caught plenty of fish on the Shimmies, but always hankered after a new set of the FreeSpirits and when I could afford them, splashed out.
I've not regretted it.
The FreeSpirits are the perfect rod for my fishing needs, and I'll never sell them again.
They are lighter, and have a much better "action".
In reply to Post #10
great example , a bit heavy - but for the price really great rods, and they can do stupid distance in the right hands,well made, nice rods, for example something like these rods, and put the money saved on the top rods into the best reel to go on this rod, win win,
great example , a bit heavy - but for the price really great rods, and they can do stupid distance in the right hands,well made, nice rods, for example something like these rods, and put the money saved on the top rods into the best reel to go on this rod, win win,
In reply to Post #17
i pair mine up with daiwa tourneys.
i can do 120-130 with these no problem.
i pair mine up with daiwa tourneys.
i can do 120-130 with these no problem.
I think you get what you pay for in the lower price brackets - e.g. a £20 rod or reel won't be up to much compared to a £50 or £100 rod. After about £100 for a rod the gains become very minimal to me and personally I think between £50-100 per rod gives the best 'bang for your buck'.
I currently use custom build century C2s (>£500 a rod), prior to these I used berkley b3 rods. The centurys may cast a tad further but otherwise do the same job so you could argue they are no better despite being £400 each more expensive (the berkleys were about £100 each). On the flip side they are slimmer, lighter, more responsive and cosmetically nicer to look at while you blank.
Are they worth £400 per rod extra? Probably not. Are they 5 times as good as the rods that they cost 5 times as much as? No.
Sometimes it's nice to have nice things but you certainly don't need expensive rods to catch carp.
I currently use custom build century C2s (>£500 a rod), prior to these I used berkley b3 rods. The centurys may cast a tad further but otherwise do the same job so you could argue they are no better despite being £400 each more expensive (the berkleys were about £100 each). On the flip side they are slimmer, lighter, more responsive and cosmetically nicer to look at while you blank.
Are they worth £400 per rod extra? Probably not. Are they 5 times as good as the rods that they cost 5 times as much as? No.
Sometimes it's nice to have nice things but you certainly don't need expensive rods to catch carp.
Some really good comments. Thanks to all. Like someone said, it's a hobby and you'll end up trying different types of gear as and when you need to do.
I like the idea of lighter rods and and more action/responsiveness. Cosmetics is a nice to have too and as someone else said, helps get you through when you blank
I like the idea of lighter rods and and more action/responsiveness. Cosmetics is a nice to have too and as someone else said, helps get you through when you blank
These posts remind me of a sentence my dad told me over 30 years ago when i was just starting fishing....
The fish don't know you've got the best gear money can buy ....the only thing that will catch you more fish is the bit in the water......
The fish don't know you've got the best gear money can buy ....the only thing that will catch you more fish is the bit in the water......
In reply to Post #21
There is a basis of truth in that comment
But having the right kit to enable you to put that bait in right location ,in the first place
then extract the fish from said location ,also can have a massive bearing on the result
Sometime s any old kit won't do the job
There is a basis of truth in that comment
But having the right kit to enable you to put that bait in right location ,in the first place
then extract the fish from said location ,also can have a massive bearing on the result
Sometime s any old kit won't do the job
In reply to Post #22
I've always liked having nice gear and it was something that I worked towards when younger, saving up until I could get the latest set of Free Spirit's etc. Over the years I've had a lot of top end kit (Infinities, Torrix, Free Spirits XS etc) but in more recent times have reverted to mid-range kit.
Some of the best anglers I've ever met/ fished with have battered old kit. I am now firmly of the thought that the last 6ft is where you don't want to be making compromises – rigs, end tackle and bait. Money is definitely best spent on this rather than whats sitting on your alarms on the bank. As long as my kit can get this last 6ft where it needs to be (i.e. where the fish are) then I am happy.
Love him or hate him, Greg Ellis recently posted the setup that he caught the Burghfield Common on...rod and reel for about £160 I think. Says it all.
I've always liked having nice gear and it was something that I worked towards when younger, saving up until I could get the latest set of Free Spirit's etc. Over the years I've had a lot of top end kit (Infinities, Torrix, Free Spirits XS etc) but in more recent times have reverted to mid-range kit.
Some of the best anglers I've ever met/ fished with have battered old kit. I am now firmly of the thought that the last 6ft is where you don't want to be making compromises – rigs, end tackle and bait. Money is definitely best spent on this rather than whats sitting on your alarms on the bank. As long as my kit can get this last 6ft where it needs to be (i.e. where the fish are) then I am happy.
Love him or hate him, Greg Ellis recently posted the setup that he caught the Burghfield Common on...rod and reel for about £160 I think. Says it all.
Most of todays blanks are decent quality and improving all the time, the fittings are better than they used to be on cheaper rods. I only use and build on harrison blanks as they are tried and tested and i have 100% faith in them and on the rare occasion something does go wrong i know i can get spare sections immediately.
Reels are the things that i find are not progressing in quality , some of the new models from both daiwa and shimano i would,nt touch with a barge pole .
Reels are the things that i find are not progressing in quality , some of the new models from both daiwa and shimano i would,nt touch with a barge pole .
In reply to Post #24
but some budget reels like okuma and penn both of these i have , are great and very strong
but some budget reels like okuma and penn both of these i have , are great and very strong
In reply to Post #25
Totally agree 👍
Totally agree 👍
In reply to Post #25
I've got the Affinity 7000's and they're great. Glad I didn't spend the extra and get the c14+ models.
I've got the Affinity 7000's and they're great. Glad I didn't spend the extra and get the c14+ models.
In reply to Post #1
You don't necessarily get better performance from high end kit but the finish/presentation may be better on the high end kit.
I've got free spirit's but choose to use shimano tx2 intensity rods (£75-80 ea) as they out perform the fs rods and have a great action imo. 35+ wraps easily achieved.
In this case would spending 5 times the money give even 20% better performance? .... I very much doubt it.
As mentioned elsewhere. Money is usually better spent on bait, the cheapest bait simply isn't as good as quality as more expensive bait.
You don't necessarily get better performance from high end kit but the finish/presentation may be better on the high end kit.
I've got free spirit's but choose to use shimano tx2 intensity rods (£75-80 ea) as they out perform the fs rods and have a great action imo. 35+ wraps easily achieved.
In this case would spending 5 times the money give even 20% better performance? .... I very much doubt it.
As mentioned elsewhere. Money is usually better spent on bait, the cheapest bait simply isn't as good as quality as more expensive bait.
In reply to Post #28
Using braid to cast 35 rod lengths?
Using braid to cast 35 rod lengths?
I had a set of FreeSpirit Hi S rods in 3.5 TC, 12' 6” and 50mm ringing.
I didn't exactly dislike them but I was a bit disappointed with the general ‘feel' of them. I was always afraid of a hook pull under the tip as it was too stiff in my opinion. I was especially nervous with some large French carp giving it full fight mode under the tip. I felt I was relying too much on the line and reel clutch and there was no cushioning by the rod tip on head banging and lunges. Probably due to the fast action for casting but not as nice as a more through actioned rod.
I sold them and reverted to my ESP Vertex's and felt a good deal happier. Not a cheap rod years ago but can be picked up for a song these days. It is also a rod which gets lots of mentions in “”best rod you have owned” or ‘rods you regretted selling' etc etc so there must be something about them
I didn't exactly dislike them but I was a bit disappointed with the general ‘feel' of them. I was always afraid of a hook pull under the tip as it was too stiff in my opinion. I was especially nervous with some large French carp giving it full fight mode under the tip. I felt I was relying too much on the line and reel clutch and there was no cushioning by the rod tip on head banging and lunges. Probably due to the fast action for casting but not as nice as a more through actioned rod.
I sold them and reverted to my ESP Vertex's and felt a good deal happier. Not a cheap rod years ago but can be picked up for a song these days. It is also a rod which gets lots of mentions in “”best rod you have owned” or ‘rods you regretted selling' etc etc so there must be something about them