In reply to Post #12
Steve Harrison assured me that you can cast 4oz, flat out with a 2 3/4lb Ballista. There are usually some knocking around second hand.
Personally I'd pair them with some Shimano Ultegra 5500's or Daiwa Tournament 5000t's

In reply to Post #16
I love my 2 3/4lb Ballista's. I have them coupled with Okuma inc 6000's and think this set up would be ideal for the fishing the OP described. None of those 50mm butt rings though, 30mm butt, 7 side rings + tip on mine. This feels about right to me, though others may recommend more.
I've "lobbed" out bags probably weighing 4oz, but wouldn't fancy a full blooded cast with a 4oz lead. I normally use 2 or 2 1/2oz, occasionally 3oz in a big wind.
Mine are 1993 vintage, so newer ones might be slightly different.

Thanks.
I'm going to try and view the Okuma, Shimano and Daiwa in person before I decide.
I'll keep my eye out for a set of 3 Harrison rods on FB marketplace in 2.75 or 3lb.

In reply to Post #1
There is a set of Whychwood SPD on Ebay - the seller is a forum member also. JamieWest

Full Cork, 12' 2.5lb. Lovely slim blank. Not a truethrough action but the action starts low enough in the butt to make playing fish fun.

LINKY POO™ https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/127338842892?_skw=wychwood+spd&itmmeta=01K94CGDZ33QH4NTJ471M6KGSY&hash=item1da5fc8b0c:g:zVYAAeSwsCJosVMP&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA8FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1eopqcZEG98KhvNdkcICufs5MjtjDnB0MoiQCM9y8umyyz7Zwmmg2JCxn0EmGC9Me7hhKobn9PpDnHRf7LyslvcPjViFraLka7lbELBlPqRjMWhQyuU8JVk8sjxJx14Byk%2Bupcp4vXGziJDYdgQZ%2BGwaSRkkA6Jbn2d06DBFVIqkeCHfaTsY7IFp%2BM%2FnahX4PlvKTI9Wc%2Fq%2FQfN1%2B1yKalkFTMl3SuTkB5bF8%2B9q%2BNly6wHx%2F6lZLOADgac3aqePYZQVl05AmfaBJ3kbMvmZmL%2FWBGwun1z3mnRH8ekCDcowQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-zfwYzJZg

Other options that fit your brief that I have used or built would be:

Century NG in 2.25 / 2.5 / 2.75lb - the older version - not the NG+

Baby Ballista 11' 3lb

Wychwood SPD 12' 2.75lb

My personal choice would be the Accurix in 3lb. I too perfer a through actioned rod, and have several sets, but I always go back to the Accurix because it can cover so many eventualities. A fairly "modern" blank with all the advantages of where blank design has come to but with a nod to that lovely old school action.

Reels - nothing massive... Daiwa 5000T size is perfect.

In reply to Post #15
I wouldn't be afraid of 3.25 TC rods if you're looking for all rounders - not all TCs are equal and it def depends on the blank itself as to how it performs etc. If you're never going to cast that far and always use a boat for range fishing then maybe stick with lower TCs / consider 10' rods but if you prefer 12'+ and want to attach small solid bags / give it a straight lead thump to the horizon occasionally then IMO 3.25 might be a better option from a versatility / future proofing perspective . . .

Thanks for all the help.

Just to keep my options open if nothing used comes up that I like the look of I'm going to decide on a new option within my budget that'll I go for as a back up.

I'll go up to about £150 per rod (ideally get something in the sale / reduced with a higher RRP).

I've seen a few 3lb 12 foot models around that sort of money or less that I've listed below. Just personal preference but I'd ideally like rods with a 40mm butt ring, also considering full cork as well.

Any advice on these rods and recommendations for anything better would be a great help.

- Shimano TX2
- Free Spirit Helical
- Free Spirit CTX
- Greys GT2

In reply to Post #21
Free spirit helical is purely low quality I have the 10ft 3.00 lb guides are fragile and have seen many with broken tips/guides (Helical in 12ft is also only with 50mm but ring) , Tx-2 and Ctx are just stiff rods, no experience with Greys

Of these 4 then I would rather go for the Sonik Vader X RS but as I mentioned before check out the New FS E-class gold 45 1k, soon all Lb's will also come with cork handle.

In reply to Post #21
£150 per.rod? How come you were talking about things like aviator flex? You've got no chance of anything like those for that budget. You'll get a set of used ballista or maybe torrix for that. Either will be far better than anything you'll get new for that budget

In reply to Post #22
Thanks I'll check the Sonik rods out.

In reply to Post #23
If I found the right set of Harrison rods, something I could keep long term I'd spend the extra probably up to £250 a rod but if I'm buying new I'm likely to want to change them in a couple of years for something better so wouldn't want to pay out / lose too much on them.

In reply to Post #24
Best new rods (for fish playing) i had i my hands up to £150 was the Nash x series, next step up Daiwa Cast"izm which I don't find much worse than the ES

I have also fished with the Torrix 12ft 2.75 lb for 2 days, I would never choose this one vs the Daiwa Cast'izm/ES

In reply to Post #25
LINKY POO™ https://ebay.us/m/tl7FWe
Have a look at those, they come with a set of Shimano longcasts baitrunner which you could sell for £300 easily, getting you a set of ballista for under 400

Didn't notice the spod rod too, bonus

In reply to Post #27
In case it's of interest, to make your link clickable, highlight the link then click on the 2 arrows next to weblink, left hand side of convo box, bottom of message tools, when you edit/post

In reply to Post #28
Ah ok.
I was wondering how come everyone's links said linky poo now haha

In reply to Post #29