In reply to Post #15
Arent the “machines” used in rod blank production, and rod building more tools than machines?
Like when whipping on rod rings there is so sort of tool used to help with turning the blank?
Arent the “machines” used in rod blank production, and rod building more tools than machines?
Like when whipping on rod rings there is so sort of tool used to help with turning the blank?
In reply to Post #1
That is a question you will never get a difinitive answer to ! I have watched the blanks being made (harrison) that i build on and trust the blanks im supplied and what i use myself and for the rods i build they are the best .I still rate the ballista blank in 12ft 3lb the best blank there is.Its proven time and time again if you break a section you can get a replacement, . But there really is no such thing as an all round rod which is why there are so many variations.
That is a question you will never get a difinitive answer to ! I have watched the blanks being made (harrison) that i build on and trust the blanks im supplied and what i use myself and for the rods i build they are the best .I still rate the ballista blank in 12ft 3lb the best blank there is.Its proven time and time again if you break a section you can get a replacement, . But there really is no such thing as an all round rod which is why there are so many variations.
In reply to Post #16
Pretty big machines used in rod blank production with lots of tooling.
Lol
Pretty big machines used in rod blank production with lots of tooling.
Lol
In reply to Post #1
Currently on set of daiwa basia x45 3.25tc rods with cork handles.
Well balanced, casts very well and unlike some daiwa rods before plays well
I was going to go down the free spirit route when i was in the market but with a long wait list for spec i wanted and having basiair reëls went with daiwa and have no complaints
Currently on set of daiwa basia x45 3.25tc rods with cork handles.
Well balanced, casts very well and unlike some daiwa rods before plays well
I was going to go down the free spirit route when i was in the market but with a long wait list for spec i wanted and having basiair reëls went with daiwa and have no complaints
Not a huge fan of the freespirits I've owned, love my centurys, have handled a few harrisons in the shop which felt lovely blanks too.
It's all very subjective - any harrison, century or top end freespirit will be high quality and nice to use.
It's all very subjective - any harrison, century or top end freespirit will be high quality and nice to use.
In reply to Post #1
Ive never owned free spirit but that is through choice having seen a few slightly suspect looking builds (guides not perfectly straight and some odd reel seats on some cheaper ones that no reel seemed to fit)
As an all round rod, i went from century ncs in 3.5tc to harrison torrix 3.25 and have been very impressed with both. I only changed from century to harrison after about 10 years because its what i do..no other reason
Ive never owned free spirit but that is through choice having seen a few slightly suspect looking builds (guides not perfectly straight and some odd reel seats on some cheaper ones that no reel seemed to fit)
As an all round rod, i went from century ncs in 3.5tc to harrison torrix 3.25 and have been very impressed with both. I only changed from century to harrison after about 10 years because its what i do..no other reason
In reply to Post #1
For me century or Harrison. Have had more or less all of them aswell, hated free spirit, but have plenty of friends that love them. I'd go try some out, few firms offer this, or at least see them in the flesh and make a decision off your own back.
For me century or Harrison. Have had more or less all of them aswell, hated free spirit, but have plenty of friends that love them. I'd go try some out, few firms offer this, or at least see them in the flesh and make a decision off your own back.
In reply to Post #1
Harrison for me.
Harrison for me.
Harrison 
All of these companies produce good blanks. I don't think I'd ever choose a blank because it's from a specific firm.
I have had long term use from all of these and can honestly say that I have never disliked any. Harrison do a huge range that will cover every eventuality and people like the fact that they are British built. People will bad mouth free spirit for being cheaply built blanks from the Far East, but having used ES's and Hi-S quite extensively, this narrow minded opinion is ridiculous. They are lovely rods! Some of the nicest rods that I have used in recent years are Century's C2's. They are expensive, but in my opinion, worth every penny.
Like I said, all firms produce quality blanks (let's not forget ESP/drennan, Sonik and Nash etc). In this day and age, a company won't last 2 minutes if they didn't keep up with their competitors.
Back to the OP's question though. For all round uk fishing I can highly recommend Harrison Aviator Flex rods 👌
I have had long term use from all of these and can honestly say that I have never disliked any. Harrison do a huge range that will cover every eventuality and people like the fact that they are British built. People will bad mouth free spirit for being cheaply built blanks from the Far East, but having used ES's and Hi-S quite extensively, this narrow minded opinion is ridiculous. They are lovely rods! Some of the nicest rods that I have used in recent years are Century's C2's. They are expensive, but in my opinion, worth every penny.
Like I said, all firms produce quality blanks (let's not forget ESP/drennan, Sonik and Nash etc). In this day and age, a company won't last 2 minutes if they didn't keep up with their competitors.
Back to the OP's question though. For all round uk fishing I can highly recommend Harrison Aviator Flex rods 👌
In reply to Post #25
Thing is everyone's all round rod will be different depending on what they are fishing for and from ie some are chasing big fish from huge water's, others rivers, others small rarely caught from tiny ponds, rivers, canals. Add in personal preference, some like a firm progressive blank others want one that will bend till the tip ring almost touches the butt cap. The rod ideally would suit the venue you fish and the size of fish you target.
Thing is everyone's all round rod will be different depending on what they are fishing for and from ie some are chasing big fish from huge water's, others rivers, others small rarely caught from tiny ponds, rivers, canals. Add in personal preference, some like a firm progressive blank others want one that will bend till the tip ring almost touches the butt cap. The rod ideally would suit the venue you fish and the size of fish you target.
In reply to Post #26
Agreed it was just for opinions / experiences.
One thing to note that Daiwa and Shimano never got a look in.. Didn't expect shimano but thought the Infinitys or even longbows might have got a mention.
I've always like Century to be fair.. Thinking about changing to Infinitys purely for the black look.
Agreed it was just for opinions / experiences.
One thing to note that Daiwa and Shimano never got a look in.. Didn't expect shimano but thought the Infinitys or even longbows might have got a mention.
I've always like Century to be fair.. Thinking about changing to Infinitys purely for the black look.
In reply to Post #27
Infinity's are great rods from a casting point of veiw especially in the higher tc's and have a perfectly acceptable playing action with larger fish, again all about matching tackle to venue and fish size.
Infinity's are great rods from a casting point of veiw especially in the higher tc's and have a perfectly acceptable playing action with larger fish, again all about matching tackle to venue and fish size.
In reply to Post #1
Slightly left field, but I recently bought some Free Spirit Hi S 13' 2.75 Heavy Water Barbel specials. They are absolutely unreal rods. They feel soft in the tip and less than 2.75, until you load them up - I was casting 8oz of lead plus a pva bag on the Tidal Trent last weekend and the power goes right down the blank, yet the softness in the tip means they're great for bite registration and playing fish. I had Barbel to over 10lb on a swollen river and they were just fantastic to play hard fighting fish on. The extra length makes all the difference to the action.
They're so good I've sold my S Lite ‘ives and will using them for Carping too. I've owned loads of rods over the years and as an all round UK rod for big fish these are the best I've owned by a mile. I reckon they could punch a 3 or 4oz lead an awful long way in the right hands too.
Slightly left field, but I recently bought some Free Spirit Hi S 13' 2.75 Heavy Water Barbel specials. They are absolutely unreal rods. They feel soft in the tip and less than 2.75, until you load them up - I was casting 8oz of lead plus a pva bag on the Tidal Trent last weekend and the power goes right down the blank, yet the softness in the tip means they're great for bite registration and playing fish. I had Barbel to over 10lb on a swollen river and they were just fantastic to play hard fighting fish on. The extra length makes all the difference to the action.
They're so good I've sold my S Lite ‘ives and will using them for Carping too. I've owned loads of rods over the years and as an all round UK rod for big fish these are the best I've owned by a mile. I reckon they could punch a 3 or 4oz lead an awful long way in the right hands too.
In reply to Post #27
I have a set of Torrix 3.25tc and infinitys 3.25tc I have to say in terms of casting in my hands there is nothing in it. Infinitys are a lighter blank, feel better balanced as the tip is lighter. Torrix are a slimer blank feel slightly more crisp in terms of playing a fish but it's down to personal choice. A big caster might be able to get a few extra yards more with eirther. I personally like the infinitys.
I have a set of Torrix 3.25tc and infinitys 3.25tc I have to say in terms of casting in my hands there is nothing in it. Infinitys are a lighter blank, feel better balanced as the tip is lighter. Torrix are a slimer blank feel slightly more crisp in terms of playing a fish but it's down to personal choice. A big caster might be able to get a few extra yards more with eirther. I personally like the infinitys.