I use ss2600's for pretty much all this f my fishing and I absolutely love them. I'm sure there are smoother reels out there but the clutch is lovely, they feel like they'll last forever and the look great!
Incidentally, I pair them with some 10ft cork handled Shimano TX2's and I'm very happy with it all.

I got a set of free spirit 10ft hi s black editions recently they are lovely and so nice to fish with I could not recommend them highly enough, I also have a set of 10ft free spirit s lites (recently upgraded but kept them) which are cheaper but still a lovely set of rods but not expensive really for the quality.

I really enjoy smaller rods I can't remember the last time I used my 12fts

In reply to Post #1
switched over to scopes recently and love them. mine are 3.25 so a bit heavier than you're considering but cast great and anything but pokers. have mine paired up with emblem 25 br's which i had been considering changing but the balance coped well with a recent 40 so i guess the proofs in the pudding and ill stick with that for now

loads of decent options about though, i ended up with scopes primarily due to stumbling on a deal too good to pass up, which is always nice 😊

Has anyone used the ESP onyx quickdraw retractable rods at all? These do look the part and are obviously light. However I'm a bit sceptical about them being retractable as I've never used retractable rods.

In reply to Post #1
You also might want to have a look at the Wychwood Extricator Plus rods. I have en ten footers. Very nice rods.

In reply to Post #19
My brother has these and seem ok for the style of fishing he puts them to.

I have a set of the Wolf XK1 10fts and are lovely, used the Greys Prodigy Apex 10fts, Fox XT 10fts and Nash original Scope 10fts.....all good

I have the Tackle Box CTX SMU spod rod and it is a beast

In reply to Post #1
Have a look at the Chiltern Custom Rods Compact offerings, great little rods at a great price compared to others.