In reply to Post #30
In reply to Post #31
Century X Lite 12ft 2.75lb, really nice playing rods but with enough backbone to stop a bus if needed.
Century X Lite 12ft 2.75lb, really nice playing rods but with enough backbone to stop a bus if needed.
My profile picture is of an English fifty caught next to a tree that a storm had brought
I freelined a bait down on a margin ledge it was quite literally under my rod tip
the rod I used was a Century NG 2.75lb it was wonderful like a bungy cushioning and then stopping the fish from going into the tree and all without ripping the hook out
as that would of happened if I were daft enough to be using silly stiff 3.5lb rods
EDIT out of interest my PB is 68lb a French fish also using the 2.75lb Century NGs and a big winter cat !! that should not have been in the lake lol poxy things
I freelined a bait down on a margin ledge it was quite literally under my rod tip
the rod I used was a Century NG 2.75lb it was wonderful like a bungy cushioning and then stopping the fish from going into the tree and all without ripping the hook out
as that would of happened if I were daft enough to be using silly stiff 3.5lb rods
EDIT out of interest my PB is 68lb a French fish also using the 2.75lb Century NGs and a big winter cat !! that should not have been in the lake lol poxy things
In reply to Post #31
Watch out for Capt. Ahab
Watch out for Capt. Ahab
In reply to Post #1
Find yourself some Baby Ballista 2.5lb, they'll be perfect for your needs
Find yourself some Baby Ballista 2.5lb, they'll be perfect for your needs
Mk1 armalites
In reply to Post #1
Have you considered free spirit ES mate these are a lovely players rods and just keep on bending and never had a hook pull using these, brilliant rods
Have you considered free spirit ES mate these are a lovely players rods and just keep on bending and never had a hook pull using these, brilliant rods
In reply to Post #1
Free Spirit ES, 12ft 2 3/4. END OF... had mine years, do margins to mid range brilliantly, very forgiving and great for zig fishing with the 2ft extensions. I can't say I have never had a hook pull using them, as frankly to say that is stretching the truth. But, they are very good under the rod tip and certainly reduce the propensity for hook pulls. For everything but distance fishing, they are IMHO the best rod on the market. I have Castizm QD's on mine, which balance them beautifully. Had mine built by Vic Gibson with full duplon , so look good too... can't recommend them highly enough and paired with my 12ft hi sive ER's, that's everything covered. i'd also recommend the 10ft hi s 2 3/4, I have three of those which I use on smaller waters and margin work - very similar to the ES but in a shorter package.
Free Spirit ES, 12ft 2 3/4. END OF... had mine years, do margins to mid range brilliantly, very forgiving and great for zig fishing with the 2ft extensions. I can't say I have never had a hook pull using them, as frankly to say that is stretching the truth. But, they are very good under the rod tip and certainly reduce the propensity for hook pulls. For everything but distance fishing, they are IMHO the best rod on the market. I have Castizm QD's on mine, which balance them beautifully. Had mine built by Vic Gibson with full duplon , so look good too... can't recommend them highly enough and paired with my 12ft hi sive ER's, that's everything covered. i'd also recommend the 10ft hi s 2 3/4, I have three of those which I use on smaller waters and margin work - very similar to the ES but in a shorter package.
In reply to Post #38
Are the es a better playing rod than the 2.5 hi s? I went to buy some of them years back and ended up getting chimeras, I found the hi s had a pretty crap playing action tbh
Are the es a better playing rod than the 2.5 hi s? I went to buy some of them years back and ended up getting chimeras, I found the hi s had a pretty crap playing action tbh
In reply to Post #39
Take a look at the S range (not s- lite)
Good info about the Fs rods:
Free spirit
Take a look at the S range (not s- lite)
Good info about the Fs rods:
Free spirit
Had ES for last 9 years.
Great rods, used them upto 80 yards, fish to low 40's.
Would not use anything else unless fishing at long range.
Mark Tunney built mine.
Great rods, used them upto 80 yards, fish to low 40's.
Would not use anything else unless fishing at long range.
Mark Tunney built mine.
In reply to Post #1
Well, after much deliberation I've decided I'll probably get a Harrison Multi carp made up sometime in the new year when I have the funds, as I just haven't seen anything on ebay that really took my fancy or was in my price range. I've never had a custom, so it'll be a bit special.
A turn up for the books was that my E Class Gold bank creeper pond rods were actually 10ft and 2.5lb tc, so would be an option, but... I've not experienced anything over 20lb on them and my gut feeling tells me I want 12ft for a bit more control, so...
I've dug out one of my old 2001 Fox Rangemaster MK1's at 2.5lb. Tried and tested to very mellow 39lb-er, in the past. I only ever lost a few on these, and can only remember a hookpull or two at longer range.
I tested it recently at a different lake and had a very feisty 27lb common from close range. It's got much more of a progressive action than I remembered, with 7 guides of 30mm to 12mm. The rod's got some ******** as this was one of the fiercest angriest fish I've ever had. It was really really pissed off and as fast as a much smaller fish. Hopefully, the big old lady I'm going for will be a bit more mellow and should be slow and steady, from what I've heard from other capters, if I'm lucky enough to make contact that is. It's a big shallow lake with no snags. I think I'm making the right decison until I can get the new rod.
All this planning and it'll probably be bream all Winter.
Thanks for all the generous info. I've always learnt a lot on this forum.
All the best!
Well, after much deliberation I've decided I'll probably get a Harrison Multi carp made up sometime in the new year when I have the funds, as I just haven't seen anything on ebay that really took my fancy or was in my price range. I've never had a custom, so it'll be a bit special.
A turn up for the books was that my E Class Gold bank creeper pond rods were actually 10ft and 2.5lb tc, so would be an option, but... I've not experienced anything over 20lb on them and my gut feeling tells me I want 12ft for a bit more control, so...
I've dug out one of my old 2001 Fox Rangemaster MK1's at 2.5lb. Tried and tested to very mellow 39lb-er, in the past. I only ever lost a few on these, and can only remember a hookpull or two at longer range.
I tested it recently at a different lake and had a very feisty 27lb common from close range. It's got much more of a progressive action than I remembered, with 7 guides of 30mm to 12mm. The rod's got some ******** as this was one of the fiercest angriest fish I've ever had. It was really really pissed off and as fast as a much smaller fish. Hopefully, the big old lady I'm going for will be a bit more mellow and should be slow and steady, from what I've heard from other capters, if I'm lucky enough to make contact that is. It's a big shallow lake with no snags. I think I'm making the right decison until I can get the new rod.
All this planning and it'll probably be bream all Winter.
Thanks for all the generous info. I've always learnt a lot on this forum.
All the best!
In reply to Post #42
For me, it is the best rod for that situation. Mine has a centrepin on most of the time and has landed 50+lb cats in tricky spots, hardly giving line once you get the initial run under control.
Older designed blanks seem better for that sort of fishing, even modern "players rods" seem to lean towards crispness when casting over having the ability to keep absorbing sudden lunges, even when you don't think it can bend any more. Just for that reason you might find your old fox better than a lot of modern rods.
For me, it is the best rod for that situation. Mine has a centrepin on most of the time and has landed 50+lb cats in tricky spots, hardly giving line once you get the initial run under control.
Older designed blanks seem better for that sort of fishing, even modern "players rods" seem to lean towards crispness when casting over having the ability to keep absorbing sudden lunges, even when you don't think it can bend any more. Just for that reason you might find your old fox better than a lot of modern rods.
This message has been suppressed by a moderator.
In reply to Post #44
You like collecting nice rods 
You like collecting nice rods