New Freespirit general coarse fishing rods

[sam vimes]

I first heard about these direct from Freesprit a year or two back. It looks like there are going to be float and feeder rods in the CTX and Hi-S ranges. There are 10, 13 and 15' "Special Float" rods in the CTX range that I'm finding interesting. However, though they probably aren't "commercial" rods, as they have a few carp waggler rods in the range, I've no idea if they are beefy specimen rods or slightly more interesting match/light rods. Has anyone seen or heard anything about these rods? How about R Daywalker C? Did they have them at any of the spring/summer shows?

 

[mikench]

Are they likely to be good and worth waiting for? This is not a make I am familiar with!

 

[sam vimes]

Are they likely to be good and worth waiting for? This is not a make I am familiar with!

Jury is out until they actually appear. It's not a market that Freespirit have previously been in. Outside the carp/specialist world, Freespirit aren't well known. Similar can be said of a few other top notch brands. They aren't widely available either. They have a pretty limited number of outlets. You don't tend to see them in tackle shops unless you actively look for them.

 

[Ray Daywalker Clarke]

These rods have been out for ages, I have the Hi "S" 15ft, had it 2 years if not more.

Free Spirit make very good rods, but have a Cr*p customer service.

They will make rods to a custom build, but you will be waiting around 16 weeks to get the rod, thats if your lucky.

The Carp rods IMO are very good from the lower to the top price rods. The lower price coarse rods i am not so sure about. Still a lot of money, and i am not sure they are any better than many other rods on the market that are cheaper. Mid to Top of the range you would be better going for IMO.

Skippy has a 1.75TC Free Spirit Barbel rod, not sure what model it is, but it doesn't seem to have the back bone like a Torrix. Skippy will be able to tell you more.

 

[sam vimes]

Ray, I'm well aware of the Hi S power float rods and carp rods. I'm also aware of the various barbel and specialist rod. The rods I'm talking about are not them. There are new Hi S feeder rods and a load of CTX float and feeder rods coming in the next few months.

 

[Ray Daywalker Clarke]

Ray, I'm well aware of the Hi S power float rods and carp rods. I'm also aware of the various barbel and specialist rod. The rods I'm talking about are not them. There are new Hi S feeder rods and a load of CTX float and feeder rods coming in the next few months.

Sam,

I am not sure when they are in the shops. Will get you all the info tomorrow about the rods and when available and post on here for you.

As long as the goods get the all clear from the docks, this has been a problem for Free Spirit in the past. As i am sure you know, The blanks are made in China, and the rods built in the UK.

 

[sam vimes]

Cheers Ray,
here's what appears to be all the new stuff listed (as coming soon) in anticipation by Walkers of Trowell. The Tacklebox have a much lower number listed on their website.

 

[binka]

I'll be interested to see the float range the next time I'm in Walkers and particularly the 15' model, apart from a handful of others the rest of the range seems to be very dominated by the "carp" label.

 

[Ray Roberts]

I would like to echo what Ray said about their customer service and waiting times. I waited over six months before cancelling my order. I would never ever buy another item from them. The ordinary punter can't contact them and they are near impossible to get in touch with. When you buy a top end product there should be a certain level of after service, they couldn't even supply a replacement section.


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[tigger]

The reel seats alone would put me off the float rods, similar to the Tri-Cast rods but even worse....imo of course.

I don't quite get how they describe the 15ft rod as a big fish rod suitable for barbel, chub and big roach, making out that big roach pull back hard lol.

 

[sam vimes]

I would like to echo what Ray said about their customer service and waiting times. I waited over six months before cancelling my order. I would never ever buy another item from them. The ordinary punter can't contact them and they are near impossible to get in touch with. When you buy a top end product there should be a certain level of after service, they couldn't even supply a replacement section.

No problem, I'm well aware of the situation. I know that Freespirit don't want direct customer interaction. They expect people to deal only with their very limited dealers. It hasn't put me off their kit so far, but I have no interest in a full custom build and haven't managed to break anything yet.

The reel seats alone would put me off the float rods, similar to the Tri-Cast rods but even worse....imo of course.

Yes, I won't be especially happy with a screw up reel seat on a float rod. It's precisely why I haven't bought a Tricast or a FS Hi-S float rod. However, I know FS have done screw down seats on float rods in the past (I have one) and the photos used may just be generic stock photos.

 

[tigger]

Yes, I won't be especially happy with a screw up reel seat on a float rod. It's precisely why I have bought a Tricast or a FS Hi-S float rod. However, I know FS have done screw down seats on float rods in the past (I have one) and the photos used may just be generic stock photos.

Oh right, if that's the case and you like 'em that's different.
For some reason (no idea what it is) free spirit rods just don't appeal to me.
I honestly don't think your going to find a 15ft float rod to match your acolyte. I know the acolyte isn't classed as a specimen float rod but I reckon it'll handle barbel ok in open water, infact a friend of mine has had a few on his 15ft acolyte with no issues.

 

[sam vimes]

Oh right, if that's the case and you like 'em that's different.
For some reason (no idea what it is) free spirit rods just don't appeal to me.
I honestly don't think your going to find a 15ft float rod to match your acolyte. I know the acolyte isn't classed as a specimen float rod but I reckon it'll handle barbel ok in open water, infact a friend of mine has had a few on his 15ft acolyte with no issues.

It's not me that wants a 15' Freespirit. I'm already well covered for 15 footers, including the Acolyte. If barbel are likely and I'm specifically targeting them, I have better 15' alternatives to the Acolyte already.

 

[tigger]

It's not me that wants a 15' Freespirit. I'm already well covered for 15 footers, including the Acolyte. If barbel are likely and I'm specifically targeting them, I have better 15' alternatives to the Acolyte already.

I think you've got far too many rods mg: :w .

Oh, and centrepins

 

[sam vimes]

I think you've got far too many rods mg: :w .

Don't be silly, it's not possible to have too many.

Oh, and centrepins

Two, maybe three, too many.

 

[binka]

haven't managed to break anything yet.

I think I've just twigged on as to why you left a good distance between your and my cars when we parked up the other week

 

[S-Kippy]

I'm not totally convinced by Free Spirit rods. The Hi-S range are good but pricey. I've had a go of Ray's 15 footer [oo-er !] and its as good a rod of that length as I've ever handled though I am not a fan of long float rods. I have a 12 foot Hi-S Power Float which is fantastic....and a Tench Float which I also like.

The Barbel Tamer Ray referred to I'm less happy about. Nice looker & build but lacking in power through the middle. That's the "budget" end of the FS range and the difference IMO between that end and the Hi-S is significant.

I've not seen any of these "new" rods on my travels though tbh I've not been looking very hard. If they're built to a price point I'd need convincing....if they are top of the range then I suspect there might be better rods out there for less money.

 

[Ray Daywalker Clarke]

Well this is the update I got today regarding the new range of rods.

The rods should be in the shops end of August beginning of September. The rods should have been out in July, but there have been hold ups.

The full range of rods will not be in the shops to start with, no reason given for this.

There will be a stepped up version in the 11ft and 12ft float rods, with stepped up versions in the float carp range, they didn't say what size. I can only think they don't know themselves yet

As for a price range, they will let me know tomorrow, again they must be thinking of a price for the rods. You would have thought they already knew the price if the rods are going into the shops at the end of this month.

I will give you anymore info I can tomorrow, if they give me any that is.

All I can say is, Free Spirit don't seem to have this rod range sorted out very well.

 

[mikench]

all my rods, admittedly few, have a screw down reel seat! What are the alternatives and why are they better?

I wasn't aware that there were alternatives other than the antiquated, i would have thought, steel rings which one moved up and down on the cork to secure the reel. I do have a bamboo rod circa 1965 which has this arrangement.

 

[binka]

all my rods, admittedly few, have a screw down reel seat! What are the alternatives and why are they better?

I wasn't aware that there were alternatives other than the antiquated, i would have thought, steel rings which one moved up and down on the cork to secure the reel. I do have a bamboo rod circa 1965 which has this arrangement.

I suspect people have their own personal reasons Mike but mine are aesthetics and more importantly comfort.

The screw down reel seats, with the screw down part at the very top of the handle, close down nicely and conceal the inners of the fitting and feel great to hold...





The screw up fittings are located further down the handle and look unsightly to me, they are also uncomfortable to hold as I find with my Greys GRXI spinning rod (of all things to have this type of handle on, a rod that you're holding all the time)...