In reply to Post #15
I did consider that, but I think he's hung up his rod building boots
I did consider that, but I think he's hung up his rod building boots
After spending a lot of years fishing and looking for the Holy grail I would say there is no forever rod, your next challenge will tell you what you need, but there are some good compromises. I would say a 3 1/4 test is about as good as you can get pending action and quality of the blank.
If I’m honest, I wouldnt be coupling ultegra 5500 with anything close to 100 yds plus, so if you are fishing small waters forever these would be ideal,
If I’m honest, I wouldnt be coupling ultegra 5500 with anything close to 100 yds plus, so if you are fishing small waters forever these would be ideal,
In reply to Post #17
Yep, I get that, they do go 100 yards on 10ft rods though
Ironically, Ive just been offered a ticket on a 7ish acre pond I wasn't expecting yet, so what I have will more than suffice whilst I figure it out
Yep, I get that, they do go 100 yards on 10ft rods though
Ironically, Ive just been offered a ticket on a 7ish acre pond I wasn't expecting yet, so what I have will more than suffice whilst I figure it out
In reply to Post #18
Enjoy the fishing pal, couple them with some lighter TC rods and enjoy the fight too
Enjoy the fishing pal, couple them with some lighter TC rods and enjoy the fight too
In reply to Post #5
My forever rods are built on the Nick Buss X-lite blanks, which are 2 3/4tc and made by Century. 25mm butt guides, 10 guides in total and yesterday afternoon I was putting a 2.5oz lead 100yds no bother and winching in huge rafts of weed.
My forever rods are built on the Nick Buss X-lite blanks, which are 2 3/4tc and made by Century. 25mm butt guides, 10 guides in total and yesterday afternoon I was putting a 2.5oz lead 100yds no bother and winching in huge rafts of weed.
In reply to Post #20
I've been on a smaller water for the last couple of years and been using the X-Lite's Andy.... amazing rods. As close to a 'do-everything' rod as you can get.
My new ticket is a big pit so I have to get the broomsticks out for a while. I'm gutted!
I've been on a smaller water for the last couple of years and been using the X-Lite's Andy.... amazing rods. As close to a 'do-everything' rod as you can get.
My new ticket is a big pit so I have to get the broomsticks out for a while. I'm gutted!
Keep saying it on threads like these:
ESP Vertex 12,9” 3.25 TC.
Nuff said.
ESP Vertex 12,9” 3.25 TC.
Nuff said.
In reply to Post #22
Yes thanks, I remember them.
A mate leant me his 12'6 aviators to try and boy I'm glad he did because they felt awful in the hand. I didn't even strap a reel to them, just knew I'm so over big rods.
As none of the lakes I've got tickets for being over 8 acres, I doubt I'll ever cast a single at a showing fish more than 100 yards away.
I have enjoyed retractables but I want to return to normal rods and have narrowed my choices down to a few more realistic options:
10ft Torrix either 2.75 or 3lb
10ft Free Spirit hi s 2.75 or 3lb
10ft Free spirit s 3lb
10ft century FBS 3lb
I'll be contacting a rod builder to talk things through, but wondered what user feedback anyone has on these?
Yes thanks, I remember them.
A mate leant me his 12'6 aviators to try and boy I'm glad he did because they felt awful in the hand. I didn't even strap a reel to them, just knew I'm so over big rods.
As none of the lakes I've got tickets for being over 8 acres, I doubt I'll ever cast a single at a showing fish more than 100 yards away.
I have enjoyed retractables but I want to return to normal rods and have narrowed my choices down to a few more realistic options:
10ft Torrix either 2.75 or 3lb
10ft Free Spirit hi s 2.75 or 3lb
10ft Free spirit s 3lb
10ft century FBS 3lb
I'll be contacting a rod builder to talk things through, but wondered what user feedback anyone has on these?
In reply to Post #23
I use the free spirit s range 10ft 3lb lovely rods for close to medium range work 60/70 yds with the ultegra ci4 xtc 5500 granted l’m not s big caster so you might go further a lot of my fishing is close in using fluorocarbon which suits these rods and are lovely to play fish on, l have been looking at the hi s 10ft 3lb rods myself which would give me abit more distance when needed but not sure how they would cope with the close in work with been abit stiffer.
I use the free spirit s range 10ft 3lb lovely rods for close to medium range work 60/70 yds with the ultegra ci4 xtc 5500 granted l’m not s big caster so you might go further a lot of my fishing is close in using fluorocarbon which suits these rods and are lovely to play fish on, l have been looking at the hi s 10ft 3lb rods myself which would give me abit more distance when needed but not sure how they would cope with the close in work with been abit stiffer.
In reply to Post #23
If you're dead set against 12 footers now you should definitely consider a set of baby ballistas in 3lb
If you're dead set against 12 footers now you should definitely consider a set of baby ballistas in 3lb
In reply to Post #25
BB in 2.5 are lovely things.
ive got lots of different rods all over the place which is a difference from the 2.75 that i used to use for EVERYTHING.
makes me wonder if a nice set of Harrison Ballista in 2.75 is the way to go for EVERYTHING up to 100 or 120
BB in 2.5 are lovely things.
ive got lots of different rods all over the place which is a difference from the 2.75 that i used to use for EVERYTHING.
makes me wonder if a nice set of Harrison Ballista in 2.75 is the way to go for EVERYTHING up to 100 or 120
Mark Tunley and Cotswold advertise a 10ft 2.75 ballista which I didn't know was a thing.
I've been very happy with ballistas in the past but wasn't too sure if that might be a bit too soft for dragging a 20/30lb fish through weed
I've been very happy with ballistas in the past but wasn't too sure if that might be a bit too soft for dragging a 20/30lb fish through weed
In reply to Post #25
I'm not against 12ft rods but I've got 4 sets (2.25, 2.5. 2.75 and 3.25) and since using 10ft and 6ft rods they haven't been out of the shed.
I try to convince myself I should dust them off and take them out for a day and never do - should probably sell them all
Using retractables has been good for my type of fishing, but they can be a royal pita when the telescopic bit is flopping around sliding in and out, twisting so lines aren't aligned. Little things but it drives me fecking mad, so 2 piece 10 footers will do what I want without any of the faff and only a few inches longer on pack down
I'm not against 12ft rods but I've got 4 sets (2.25, 2.5. 2.75 and 3.25) and since using 10ft and 6ft rods they haven't been out of the shed.
I try to convince myself I should dust them off and take them out for a day and never do - should probably sell them all
Using retractables has been good for my type of fishing, but they can be a royal pita when the telescopic bit is flopping around sliding in and out, twisting so lines aren't aligned. Little things but it drives me fecking mad, so 2 piece 10 footers will do what I want without any of the faff and only a few inches longer on pack down
In reply to Post #28
The baby ballistas are 11ft so in between what you have and honestly they are beautiful rods. They are worth having a look at for sure
The baby ballistas are 11ft so in between what you have and honestly they are beautiful rods. They are worth having a look at for sure
I've a set of the C2s in 10' and 3.5t/c. They are paired with the ultegra ci4s in 5500 size.
Very very happy with them. Can do 100 yards with very little effort, but equally nice to fish under the rod tip. I've been using them predominantly on a weedy little 3 acre 'pond', with fish to 30lb.
The whole setup is extremely light.
Very very happy with them. Can do 100 yards with very little effort, but equally nice to fish under the rod tip. I've been using them predominantly on a weedy little 3 acre 'pond', with fish to 30lb.
The whole setup is extremely light.