 Vintage vs modern rods in 3.5lbs...
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4,340 views
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In reply to Post #24
Agree.
Interesting though, a couple of years ago I bought a couple of Korum big river barbel rods when they came out, around £50 each and had the sea guide rings fitted, Daiwa we're putting these on all their top end match rods!
For me cheaper rods have a higher resin content than a quality carbon blank and you can feel it 
And the thread, historical 3 1/2 test, I would not call 3 1/2 test pokers historical myself 
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In reply to Post #30
A very slow one
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In reply to Post #29
Slow boat from China
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In reply to Post #20
Free spirit confirmed the first few models of Hi Q's will be here later this year when i asked them on facebook earlier.
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In reply to Post #1
I have some Chub Outkast 50 plus 12ft 3.5lb rods and they are great for chucking bags.
Beefy enough to chuck a large solid with a 3.75 oz lead on 18lb mainline, will bend right through when playing big carp when needed around snags.
Not too pokey so they feel dead in the hand. Not exactly crisp like a proper casting rod, but a very worthy bag rod.
I'd be more than happy to stick with them if I didnt need to whang a bit further.
I upgraded them for some Harrison Torrix 12ft 3.5lb rods.
These feel a bit more powerful and I can chuck a big a bit further with the same gear.
I have also just got some Harrison Aviator 13ft 3.5lb rods that should cover chucking bags and whanging leads
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In reply to Post #26
Loved the original diaflash rods
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In reply to Post #1
Theres a lot of nostalgia with rods. I know as i own Morphs, Ballista's, Diaflashes etc and also own sets of HI S (which no doubt there are better rods as these are getting on).
Most soften over use. What was an LR rod in the day seems like a med range rod now.
Think back to when a morph was bought out--were guys saying 'nah mate my old tri casts are better'?
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I got my 12ft 2 3/4 NGs built by Mark Tunley in 2006 with Fuji SICs (30mm butt rings) they have been brilliant since I got them and really stood the test of time.
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In reply to Post #23
No its not the amount of guides its the quality of fittings which makes a cheap rod cheap.unfortunately some high priced rods have very cheap fittings and guides.
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In reply to Post #21
you probably mean not enough guides on a rod? Would be interesting to hear your opinion on that. And also which "vintage" rods you rate highly for bag fishing.
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In reply to Post #21
Thanks for confirming ðŸ‘
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In reply to Post #16
It was the seymo resin used for whippings and varnishing blanks that went yellow not the resins used in blank construction . Some actually still does turn yellow !
Blanks on the whole are very good these days its the way the fittings and blanks are put together thats the general problem.
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In reply to Post #19
Heard the same but was also told the launch has been shelved as they felt the market would be very small due to the price being considerably more than the Hi's rods.
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In reply to Post #17
I was told they were bringing a new range of rods out that will be better than the hi-s. Apparently called the Hi-Q. I asked someone from the freespirit stable and they asked how I knew and looked surprised so maybe some truth in it unless both was pulling my leg. That was a couple of years ago now…….not heard anything since?
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Just retired my torrix after 15yrs of good service and in the midst of getting a set of aviators 12-6 built for the next 15-20 yrs hopefully won't regret the change
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In reply to Post #9
I've always wondered why Freespirit hasn't moved on from the hi-s range. I still use some of their ES rods that I've had for over 20 years, that I enjoy using they still feel pretty much the same to me as the day I bought them. Was Freespirit that ahead of the rest back then and now they've caught up perhaps.
As both Century and Harrison have introduced new top end rod ranges in this 20-25 year period.
I agree that cheaper rods £80-150ish have got a lot better and there is far more choice available, budget dependent.
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In reply to Post #1
If I remember rightly the resin used in rods deteriorated due to UV but it changed around the late 90's early 0's to a more stable type, I'm sure Jeffire can confirm, iirc the older stuff went yellow over time.
I was using my 20 year old Ballistas, 12'6 3.5lb until around 2020 when I treated myself to a new set of rods, but I looked for a action that was as close as possible to my old rods. I wouldn't have thought twice about continuing to use my old rods, I still like them that much.
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In reply to Post #14
Gone back to using Hearn 2lb 10's - loving that they bend properly! Might not be able to hit extreme ranges, but 99% of my fishing isn't at range anyway.
I can remember when I got some 13ft 3lb Amourphous (was fishing big pits back then) when they first came out and people thought they were only good for cod fishing. Would probably be sold as stalking rods now….
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In reply to Post #12
Absolutely fine, as good as the day they left the factoryðŸ‘
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My Amorphous AKN12H's 2 3/4 and Infinities 3.5..... Still going strong and a pleasure to use....Will see me to my dying days....
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In reply to Post #5
How are the reel seats faring ?
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My ESP Tectrix 2.75lb and Snipers (Mk1) 3lb must be approaching 20years old now and I wouldnt change them (especially the Tectrix) for anything else on the market.
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In reply to Post #8
I completely agree here. Lower to mid end rods are really really good.
Maybe the main difference in earlier high end rods is the higher resin content in the blank compared to nowadays.
Yet still if this makes a massive difference for fishing is the question.
So what would you rate highly in earlier high end rods for PVA bag casting and fishing?
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As mentioned below the hi s is a flagship rod and thats nearly 20 years old and costs over £600 in the higher test curves so things havent really moved on imo.
My all time favourite rod the shimmy antares specialist is over 30 years old.
I dont think reels have moved on either. They seem to get worse.
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I don't think they've moved on in 20 years. At the lower Price point things have improved massively but top end rods no, lighter rings and better guides maybe but not the carbon in general. I could be wrong of course. You'd have to go further back than 20 years. The hi-s was released over 20 years ago.
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I still use my 12ft 3.5lb original prodigys and love them, fantastic rod imo
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In reply to Post #5
I was just going to say the same thing, the vertex rods have stood the test of time for me.
I have them in 3lb 12 foot and 3.25 and 3.5 in 12ft 9inch. I've looked at modern ranges but none have the same action as the vertex.
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Still using 20 plus year old ESP Vertex 3.25 and 3.75 in 12'9" long.
Had lots of rods but always gone back to these. They just feel right and are a nice looking rod so lots of boxes ticked.
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| | | Belch | | Posts: 4620 |  | | MODERATOR | |
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In reply to Post #1
Rod blanks have def moved on IMO, especially in the higher TC offerings . .most 90s rods can easily be outperformed by a £100 purchase these days. I took an age before 'upgrading' from 2x sets of Greys F1 Mk 2's (3lb / 3.5lb) that were built on Century blanks and cost me a relative fortune at the time. . .they were more than capable of most things (other than distance casting) but playing big fish (with a through action) was their forte. Todays rods are different gravy and especially at the premium pricepoints - much lighter and generally faster in terms of action (to enable better casting) but equally good and more versatile playing actions with blanks that bend across a broader spectrum and as required (rather than straight to full beans if that makes sense) . . .
Still own and use a pair of original 90's Greys Powerplay 2.5lb, purely for floater fishing. Have had them pimped with full cork handles and they bend to the butt - perfect for using mainline braid for added surface fishing fun. Was thinking of 'upgrading' with a pair of Mk3 Armalites 2.25 but to be honest can't justify it for any reason other than vanity . . .  
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In reply to Post #1
I got my NGs for my 40th I'm 61 very soon to me they still feel as crisp as when I got them and in that time I've seen so many rods be the next best thing and mates buy them and sold them ! Luckily for me I class myself as a hobby rod rebuilder and I did mine around 8 years ago because of the white whipping scenario when it rained, I still also use my Mk1 Armalites in 3 1/2tc too for my pike fishing these will be over 30 years old now purchased as blanks as the built rods were too expensive way back then
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Century fs rods 13ft 13.5ft is a hard rod to beat in fairness.
Rods of today is all about marketing and how many units can be sold in a saturated industry.
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Hello all,
I wonder how you would rate "vintage" 3.5lbs rods eg like Century NG or others versus modern 3.5lbs rods eg the likes of South Coast, Nash F20 or F40, the Kordas, Free Spirit rods etc..
Has there been a drastic improvement in performance or pleasure for fishing in general due to the use of more modern materials?
Or do these older rods from the 90ies still hold their ground eg for casting bags?
So you still use rods that are 20+ years old or have you made the switch?
Thank you and let's hope the winter is over soon!
Best regards
Marcus
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