In reply to Post #19
I thought Kevin had retired?
I have the international rods made by Anglers workshop, 12.6ft 3.5t.c, they are fantastic rods, I've used them on every type of water imaginable, from large waters at home and in France and small waters and everything in between. I had them built in 2013 and they get used heavily as I go weekly. The rods have taken some stick during this time and only now I'm ready for a rebuild as the gloss on the whippings are starting to go misty when it rains.
I'd like to get them done by Kevin & Vanessa but as I thought they were retired I'm looking at a rebuild by cotswold.
Kevin told me when I had them built the particular blank used for the internationals is over 20 years old, so you can add another ten years onto that now. He also went onto say he's never had one back as a result of a fault in the international blank.
I have a lot of smaller rings on these rods as is mentioned on this thread and I can chuck, but I can do 150+ with these rods with minimal effort. I very rarely need to cast any further than this anyway.
Fantastic purchase
I thought Kevin had retired?
I have the international rods made by Anglers workshop, 12.6ft 3.5t.c, they are fantastic rods, I've used them on every type of water imaginable, from large waters at home and in France and small waters and everything in between. I had them built in 2013 and they get used heavily as I go weekly. The rods have taken some stick during this time and only now I'm ready for a rebuild as the gloss on the whippings are starting to go misty when it rains.
I'd like to get them done by Kevin & Vanessa but as I thought they were retired I'm looking at a rebuild by cotswold.
Kevin told me when I had them built the particular blank used for the internationals is over 20 years old, so you can add another ten years onto that now. He also went onto say he's never had one back as a result of a fault in the international blank.
I have a lot of smaller rings on these rods as is mentioned on this thread and I can chuck, but I can do 150+ with these rods with minimal effort. I very rarely need to cast any further than this anyway.
Fantastic purchase
In reply to Post #31
Well retired
Well retired
In reply to Post #32
I thought so. Well I'll be asking cotswold to put the same size eyes in the same places. The only difference to the rebuild will be if there are any lighter eyes than the ones I've got on now, nothing wrong with them but I'm not up to date on more recent guides weight to size etc
I thought so. Well I'll be asking cotswold to put the same size eyes in the same places. The only difference to the rebuild will be if there are any lighter eyes than the ones I've got on now, nothing wrong with them but I'm not up to date on more recent guides weight to size etc
I've got some of the Baby Snipers.
They are amazing rods and I think completely unique. I love playing fish on them and it's so easy to stop fish. I don't use mine for range work but hit 100+ easily with them on the field next to his workshop. One thing I noticed with them is how accurate casting with them is.
The build quality is perfect, the Italic writing is spot on too!
Listening to explain rod physics was really interesting, the guy was really knowledgeable. Part of his demo was attaching a 1lb weight to the end of an old 13ft range rod and watching the look of horror on my face as the tip crashed into the floor 😂. Next up was me pulling 8lb of pressure one handed with the Sniper blank.
Kev described Baby Snipers to me as a 2.25lb that folds but the rest of the rod is 3lb.
I thought Kev and his wife were nice people and I hope they're enjoying their retirement.
They are amazing rods and I think completely unique. I love playing fish on them and it's so easy to stop fish. I don't use mine for range work but hit 100+ easily with them on the field next to his workshop. One thing I noticed with them is how accurate casting with them is.
The build quality is perfect, the Italic writing is spot on too!
Listening to explain rod physics was really interesting, the guy was really knowledgeable. Part of his demo was attaching a 1lb weight to the end of an old 13ft range rod and watching the look of horror on my face as the tip crashed into the floor 😂. Next up was me pulling 8lb of pressure one handed with the Sniper blank.
Kev described Baby Snipers to me as a 2.25lb that folds but the rest of the rod is 3lb.
I thought Kev and his wife were nice people and I hope they're enjoying their retirement.
In reply to Post #34
Reading this I can't understand why I've not been using mine...
I'm going to give them a go this week.
Reading this I can't understand why I've not been using mine...
I'm going to give them a go this week.
I was there in the workshop once and he was in the middle of rebuilding some century rods, he had stripped one down and had the big guides off the century rod in a little tub, he laughed when he showed me as he put this little tub on the weighing scales, I can't remember now how heavy the eyes were now but it was a good few ounces 
he explained to me that these heavy guides on the blank are already pulling the blank forward and how your losing the blank's capability before you even start, thats before you have even got a rig/lead on ect, the rod is already arcing over and the blank twists on the cast, I loved listening to Kev in the workshop it was more like a science lesson and Vanessa always made a good cup of tea 
he explained to me that these heavy guides on the blank are already pulling the blank forward and how your losing the blank's capability before you even start, thats before you have even got a rig/lead on ect, the rod is already arcing over and the blank twists on the cast, I loved listening to Kev in the workshop it was more like a science lesson and Vanessa always made a good cup of tea
Just to add, I bought a pair of mint dymag rods second hand, I took them up to Kev as I didn't like the bigger guides after using the snipers for years, he rebuilt them for me as I wanted them in between a my baby and big snipers, proper custom job and the end result we were both really pleased with, mint rods
In reply to Post #36
Yep, I had the same science lesson off him about the guides weight affecting the performance of the blank. He then proved it as he so often does. He got me to hold a blank with no guides on. Held the very top of the blank as I bent it. It felt relatively stiff for a 2lb TC blank. He then slid one single guide on the tip and told me to bend it again. The blank went soft and I was gobsmacked.I asked him how this was so and he just said " It's magic." 😆
Always found his 'lessons' fascinating and could listen to him for hours as I sometimes did . Was always funny though looking over his shoulder to see his Mrs rolling her eyes. 😆
Yep, I had the same science lesson off him about the guides weight affecting the performance of the blank. He then proved it as he so often does. He got me to hold a blank with no guides on. Held the very top of the blank as I bent it. It felt relatively stiff for a 2lb TC blank. He then slid one single guide on the tip and told me to bend it again. The blank went soft and I was gobsmacked.I asked him how this was so and he just said " It's magic." 😆
Always found his 'lessons' fascinating and could listen to him for hours as I sometimes did . Was always funny though looking over his shoulder to see his Mrs rolling her eyes. 😆
In reply to Post #38
Had him do some lure rods for me -sportex blanks in the old shop with the counter in Hanley. Never got away in under 2-3hrs!
Had him do some lure rods for me -sportex blanks in the old shop with the counter in Hanley. Never got away in under 2-3hrs!
In reply to Post #39
I once popped in his Hanley shop for some odds n sods, parked up outside and told the wife (then girlfriend) that I'd be 5 minutes. And 4 hours later.........
I once popped in his Hanley shop for some odds n sods, parked up outside and told the wife (then girlfriend) that I'd be 5 minutes. And 4 hours later.........
If he Science works ( and I'm not suggesting it doesnt) why aren't any other rod builders / suppliers picking up on this and offering a similar service?
I would assume they would not be that appealing to most people, Ross that look different to “the norm” and aren't a heavier TC. It is also likely down to not everyone knowing the finer sciences of the knowledge to enable this type of hybrid build.
I blew the dust off my Snipers and caught a couple with them the other day, fantastic rods. No idea why I stopped using them..?
In reply to Post #41
recent years the lower TC rods are seen as barbel rods etc and lower TC rods while you can still get them you have to source them from a more premium brand.
Heavy TC been promoted as being the best all round option if you fish alot of different waters so on smaller ones you "dont pull as hard" aka Danny F korda
recent years the lower TC rods are seen as barbel rods etc and lower TC rods while you can still get them you have to source them from a more premium brand.
Heavy TC been promoted as being the best all round option if you fish alot of different waters so on smaller ones you "dont pull as hard" aka Danny F korda
For anyone that is interested, I've been in contact with Jeff Rawstone rods and given him the EXACT measurements of my Kev Baynes baby snipers including measurements between each guides and fixtures and fittings, I thought it a shame with Kev's retirement that some lads who wanted a set of snipers missed out, jeff has sent me some pictures of the 1st set he's just built and from the photos they look fantastic, for anyone that is interested get in contact with Jeff for more details, cheers