I'm toying with the idea of some new rods, and am currently using 12ft 3lb Balistas. They are lovely to play fish on but I'm after something that would be capable of a bit more distance. I'd like to stay with Harrison so what would I be looking at in a step or two towards casting in 12 or 12.6ft. Cheers guys.
In reply to Post #1
If your budget allows it the aviator flex, they are beautiful to play fish on but will chuck a lead a long way without being very stiff like an out and out casting blank
If your budget allows it the aviator flex, they are beautiful to play fish on but will chuck a lead a long way without being very stiff like an out and out casting blank
I'd say the aviator plus or plus 2's, they are great rods
In reply to Post #1
Torrix te 12ft 6" are a great all rounder, I've just got some
And the aviator plus 12'6" is a slightly beefier version, but not too pokey.
The bit of extra length smooths out the action so you still get the grunt in the butt but less poke in the tip.
Torrix te 12ft 6" are a great all rounder, I've just got some
And the aviator plus 12'6" is a slightly beefier version, but not too pokey.
The bit of extra length smooths out the action so you still get the grunt in the butt but less poke in the tip.
In reply to Post #1
Is there uch difference between the aviator in 12 and 12.6 ?
Is there uch difference between the aviator in 12 and 12.6 ?
In reply to Post #1
I'd say it depends what you mean by a step up or 2, you may find the Standard Torrix might also fit your bill.
I took my 12'6 3.5lb Ballista to the Harrison factory to compare it to Torrix, Aviator Plus & Flex but in my case I was looking for a similar playing curve but on a modern blank. I posted on this back then, was it 2017 or 18, so forgive me if I contradict something here.
I know it's been one of the most popular sellers but I just didn't like the Torrix 12' 3.25lb, too little feedback from the rod and the playing curve stiffened up too quickly (in comparison). It felt like a big jump up from my Ballista hence my comment above. In actual fact I ended up going for that blank in 13', a totally different blank feel wise imo. I went there expecting to walk out wanting a 3.5lb tc like I was used to, just shows!
The Aviator was a lovely blank, close curve wise but again a little too stiff/powerful. if I wanted more distance I may have gone for that blank. I don't remember liking the flex, or was it the plus, something just not right in feel, hard to describe, felt like the top didn't marry to the bottom, more playing action in the top compared to the aviator but the bottom felt too stiff too soon in comparison, hard to describe, almost like 2 different blanks.
As per my original comment, it depends what you mean by the step up, the TE might just be a step too far if your judging by Ballista standards.
* I'll try and track down my original post and confirm my disliked blank but as always it's subjective, though a couple of people did agree so I wasn't alone.
Edit, The search facility doesn't go that far back so I can't confirm the blank in question though looking at the Flex feedback it might be the plus...who knows, the point is one didn't feel right and unless you try before you buy....
I'd say it depends what you mean by a step up or 2, you may find the Standard Torrix might also fit your bill.
I took my 12'6 3.5lb Ballista to the Harrison factory to compare it to Torrix, Aviator Plus & Flex but in my case I was looking for a similar playing curve but on a modern blank. I posted on this back then, was it 2017 or 18, so forgive me if I contradict something here.
I know it's been one of the most popular sellers but I just didn't like the Torrix 12' 3.25lb, too little feedback from the rod and the playing curve stiffened up too quickly (in comparison). It felt like a big jump up from my Ballista hence my comment above. In actual fact I ended up going for that blank in 13', a totally different blank feel wise imo. I went there expecting to walk out wanting a 3.5lb tc like I was used to, just shows!
The Aviator was a lovely blank, close curve wise but again a little too stiff/powerful. if I wanted more distance I may have gone for that blank. I don't remember liking the flex, or was it the plus, something just not right in feel, hard to describe, felt like the top didn't marry to the bottom, more playing action in the top compared to the aviator but the bottom felt too stiff too soon in comparison, hard to describe, almost like 2 different blanks.
As per my original comment, it depends what you mean by the step up, the TE might just be a step too far if your judging by Ballista standards.
* I'll try and track down my original post and confirm my disliked blank but as always it's subjective, though a couple of people did agree so I wasn't alone.
Edit, The search facility doesn't go that far back so I can't confirm the blank in question though looking at the Flex feedback it might be the plus...who knows, the point is one didn't feel right and unless you try before you buy....
In reply to Post #5
Having owned both the 12ft and 12ft 6 I can confirm that the difference is very significant. I found the 12ft version slightly too stiff for all round fishing ie big pits and smaller waters. I changed to the 12ft 6 and was amazed at how different it was. I use mine on 1 acre puddles to big 90 acre pits and they handle both extremely well. I find they seem more forgiving in the tip section but then have the power in the butt to hit very good distances if needed. In my opinion the best all round rod on the market.
Having owned both the 12ft and 12ft 6 I can confirm that the difference is very significant. I found the 12ft version slightly too stiff for all round fishing ie big pits and smaller waters. I changed to the 12ft 6 and was amazed at how different it was. I use mine on 1 acre puddles to big 90 acre pits and they handle both extremely well. I find they seem more forgiving in the tip section but then have the power in the butt to hit very good distances if needed. In my opinion the best all round rod on the market.
In reply to Post #5
I swopped my 12' Aviator Plus for 13' Aviator Plus . . . whilst the 12' were nice enough to look at / play fish on, they were a pig to cast . . .13's are different animals altogether (as are the 10' Aviators which are my current fav rods)
I swopped my 12' Aviator Plus for 13' Aviator Plus . . . whilst the 12' were nice enough to look at / play fish on, they were a pig to cast . . .13's are different animals altogether (as are the 10' Aviators which are my current fav rods)
I've got 12ft torrix in 3.5lb tc. Alot better feel than the 3.25 blank. I can get a medium pva bag out to 35 wraps and can take a rig further, but can also flick out a 2oz lead 5 wraps.
In reply to Post #8
Re the 12' Aviator if memory serves me right it was the timing of the cast that was the difficult thing, a very small window to get it right, maybe that was your feedback ?
Re the 12' Aviator if memory serves me right it was the timing of the cast that was the difficult thing, a very small window to get it right, maybe that was your feedback ?
In reply to Post #10
Yep - casting for me (being an average caster) with the 12' was v inconsistent and timing had to be bang on to get any range; could cast further with 12' Shimano TX2 3.25 which are a fraction of the price . . .13' Aviators feel totally different and I can cast further and more consistently with them - like the user reports on the 12'6" the tip is softer which I'm assuming helps on the cast
Yep - casting for me (being an average caster) with the 12' was v inconsistent and timing had to be bang on to get any range; could cast further with 12' Shimano TX2 3.25 which are a fraction of the price . . .13' Aviators feel totally different and I can cast further and more consistently with them - like the user reports on the 12'6" the tip is softer which I'm assuming helps on the cast
In reply to Post #11
Thanks for confirming, the old grey matter is still working
The chap at Harrisons told me the only thing with going 13' Torrix was perhaps a little less accuracy casting, I was happy with that trade off and tbh I've not noticed it, then again with mostly using method feeders finesse isn't really required
Thanks for confirming, the old grey matter is still working
The chap at Harrisons told me the only thing with going 13' Torrix was perhaps a little less accuracy casting, I was happy with that trade off and tbh I've not noticed it, then again with mostly using method feeders finesse isn't really required
Or if you're going for real distance I find the 13ft Trebuchet Lights a surprisingly good rod and nice enough fish playing action.
In reply to Post #9
140 is a serious chuck with a bag. Are you using cheat mode, a shockie, or thin braid?
140 is a serious chuck with a bag. Are you using cheat mode, a shockie, or thin braid?
In reply to Post #11
The 12,6 Torrix TE's came about when terry worked with Harrison, they added the extra length to make them less pokey when playing fish close in but to still maintain the backbone for distance work. Explained to me by my Rod builder (Tony Kay) who built them for Harrsion, and also Terry himself on a tutorial.
The 12,6 Torrix TE's came about when terry worked with Harrison, they added the extra length to make them less pokey when playing fish close in but to still maintain the backbone for distance work. Explained to me by my Rod builder (Tony Kay) who built them for Harrsion, and also Terry himself on a tutorial.