In reply to Post #1
I did the exact same upgrade from the XS 12ft 3.25lb 40mm recently.
I wasnt sure that for the £££ it would cost that it would be worth doing and I spent ages in The Tackle Box looking at the Hi-S options. I got excellent advice from them and cannot thank them enough for the time they spent helping me.
The Hi-S 12ft 3.5lb 50mm is very similar in action to the XS, maybe a bit faster recovery but not much.
However, the lightness and feel is just amazing, they are so thin in comparison to the XS that you think you can whip the rod through quicker on the cast.
Im not saying the thinner rod has less weight/drag to make MUCH difference moving throught the air but thats how it seems in your mind so thats all that matters IMO, and you obviously have the extra test curve.
(the action has more of an effect on casting distance than the test curve though)
The Hi-S ive 12ft 50mm is defo faster action and will cast further but you lose some of the nice playing abilities you would get from the more progressive rods mentioned above.
However, to get the most from this rod you really need a shockleader and they are banned most places I fish.
Be honest, are you regularly casting over 25 wraps?
The answer for me was no, so I got the Hi-S 12ft 3.5lb.
They are a slightly beefed up, slightly better casting version of the XS and I am delighted with how much feel I get from them.
I did the exact same upgrade from the XS 12ft 3.25lb 40mm recently.
I wasnt sure that for the £££ it would cost that it would be worth doing and I spent ages in The Tackle Box looking at the Hi-S options. I got excellent advice from them and cannot thank them enough for the time they spent helping me.
The Hi-S 12ft 3.5lb 50mm is very similar in action to the XS, maybe a bit faster recovery but not much.
However, the lightness and feel is just amazing, they are so thin in comparison to the XS that you think you can whip the rod through quicker on the cast.
Im not saying the thinner rod has less weight/drag to make MUCH difference moving throught the air but thats how it seems in your mind so thats all that matters IMO, and you obviously have the extra test curve.
(the action has more of an effect on casting distance than the test curve though)
The Hi-S ive 12ft 50mm is defo faster action and will cast further but you lose some of the nice playing abilities you would get from the more progressive rods mentioned above.
However, to get the most from this rod you really need a shockleader and they are banned most places I fish.
Be honest, are you regularly casting over 25 wraps?
The answer for me was no, so I got the Hi-S 12ft 3.5lb.
They are a slightly beefed up, slightly better casting version of the XS and I am delighted with how much feel I get from them.
In reply to Post #14
had lots of spirit rods
loved the ES for short range stuff but at 2.75 not great for bag work, had the xs felt like a broom stick
tried the hi s 3 and 3.5 but settled on 12"6 3.25 wouldn't change for any other of the HI s it does everything from margins to 130
had lots of spirit rods
loved the ES for short range stuff but at 2.75 not great for bag work, had the xs felt like a broom stick
tried the hi s 3 and 3.5 but settled on 12"6 3.25 wouldn't change for any other of the HI s it does everything from margins to 130
In reply to Post #17
Thanks everyone. I think I'm leaning towards the 12'6 3.25 . I'd like to pick up a used set but not too many about . Failing this maybe a set of new factory build as these would probably work out cheaper than custom build , thanks
Thanks everyone. I think I'm leaning towards the 12'6 3.25 . I'd like to pick up a used set but not too many about . Failing this maybe a set of new factory build as these would probably work out cheaper than custom build , thanks
In reply to Post #18
You would be surprised at how much customs cost. There more or less the same price as factory rods for a similar build spec. I would always go custom with a set of hi s. The only downside is the wait to get them built.
You would be surprised at how much customs cost. There more or less the same price as factory rods for a similar build spec. I would always go custom with a set of hi s. The only downside is the wait to get them built.
In reply to Post #19
Both Johnson Ross and The Tackle Shop do carry stocks of custom built Hi S rods. A few years back, I got three ES with full duplon from JR's, zero wait, just walked in and out of the shop.
Probably in the minority here, but for 90% of my carp fishing, I use two different sets of rods. One rod wouldn't cut it, as I fish quite diverse waters. I also use Hi S 10ft 2 3/4 for small waters and stalking.
People mention the Hi S 3.5, which is great rod and I had mine a while, but would rarely use them for margin or even mid range. OK, they'll manage it, but a less powerful rod is way better and much nicer to use. Hence, I use the ES 2 3/4 for margin to say 60-70 yards and I now have Hi S 3.5 ER's for bag work and distance fishing. To balance, I use a Castizm QD on the ES and now have Shimano 14000 cC4+ XTC's on the distance rods... horses for courses
Both Johnson Ross and The Tackle Shop do carry stocks of custom built Hi S rods. A few years back, I got three ES with full duplon from JR's, zero wait, just walked in and out of the shop.
Probably in the minority here, but for 90% of my carp fishing, I use two different sets of rods. One rod wouldn't cut it, as I fish quite diverse waters. I also use Hi S 10ft 2 3/4 for small waters and stalking.
People mention the Hi S 3.5, which is great rod and I had mine a while, but would rarely use them for margin or even mid range. OK, they'll manage it, but a less powerful rod is way better and much nicer to use. Hence, I use the ES 2 3/4 for margin to say 60-70 yards and I now have Hi S 3.5 ER's for bag work and distance fishing. To balance, I use a Castizm QD on the ES and now have Shimano 14000 cC4+ XTC's on the distance rods... horses for courses
When I invested in free spirit rods ten years ago I went the custom build route with Mark Tunley as the factory builds were shocking in those days.
In reply to Post #19
A mate of mine got 3 custom fs rods built by a well respected rod builder and saved around 100 quid per rod off the usual shop 525 price.
This rod builder has a workshop, admin staff and overheads so the shops much be making a very tidy profit.
A mate of mine got 3 custom fs rods built by a well respected rod builder and saved around 100 quid per rod off the usual shop 525 price.
This rod builder has a workshop, admin staff and overheads so the shops much be making a very tidy profit.
In reply to Post #22
That doesn't make any sense. The shop doesn't build the rod, they buy it in factory built, so it depends what price they pay the manufacturer for a finished rod. I'm also pretty sure that most shops that stock FS rods have higher overheads than a rod building workshop.
That doesn't make any sense. The shop doesn't build the rod, they buy it in factory built, so it depends what price they pay the manufacturer for a finished rod. I'm also pretty sure that most shops that stock FS rods have higher overheads than a rod building workshop.
In reply to Post #21
Yeah I was amazed how much difference there was between "factory" built rods - same specs but different batches
Some of the reel seat positions and ring spacing can be way out
As usual The Tackle Box went beyond the call of duty and sorted me out with a banging set as close to matching as humanly possible
If you are spendng this much £££ you really need to go and physically check them out imo
Yeah I was amazed how much difference there was between "factory" built rods - same specs but different batches
Some of the reel seat positions and ring spacing can be way out
As usual The Tackle Box went beyond the call of duty and sorted me out with a banging set as close to matching as humanly possible
If you are spendng this much £££ you really need to go and physically check them out imo
In reply to Post #24
I'm pretty sure the factory builds aint built in any factory. The factory makes the blanks and send them to certain rod builders. I believe Roger Hurst is their primary manufacturer in the UK at the moment. He's highly respected and I'd be amazed if he was letting shoddy work go. No idea who was doing it 10 years ago though.
I'm pretty sure the factory builds aint built in any factory. The factory makes the blanks and send them to certain rod builders. I believe Roger Hurst is their primary manufacturer in the UK at the moment. He's highly respected and I'd be amazed if he was letting shoddy work go. No idea who was doing it 10 years ago though.
It was Roger who built my mates at the good price. Work was excellent.
Ten years ago the builders were paid 18 quid per rod hence the crap quality as the builder would be doing 6 rods or so a day to make a living.
Ten years ago the builders were paid 18 quid per rod hence the crap quality as the builder would be doing 6 rods or so a day to make a living.
In reply to Post #26
Would be interesting to know what price the blanks come into the country at for a 525 quid rod.
In reply to Post #25
They did mention that in the shop. Different rod builders and batches/deliveries just come out with a very marginally different end products.
They must have gone through a dozen or more rods until they were happy they had a matching set of 3 to sell me, even swapping tip and butt sections around.
Limited supplies of everything earlier this year not helping either with less than their usual number of rods in stock to compare and select from.
But they sorted it, and I am well happy with my Hi-S.
They did mention that in the shop. Different rod builders and batches/deliveries just come out with a very marginally different end products.
They must have gone through a dozen or more rods until they were happy they had a matching set of 3 to sell me, even swapping tip and butt sections around.
Limited supplies of everything earlier this year not helping either with less than their usual number of rods in stock to compare and select from.
But they sorted it, and I am well happy with my Hi-S.