Barbel Rods

Hi Guys

I'm torn between the following rods all 12 foot and all 1.75lb tc

TFG Signature
Nash Barbel Elite
Fox Barbel Duo XS

I know the TFG Rod comes with a lifetime warranty and I've purposefully left out the Greys Prodigy's - although I could be persuaded.

I'm after the rods for Barbel and also they need to be able to land carp.

All comments appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Andy im not a salesmen for TFG,
but i have the signature in 1.5lb and love it, top buy, well worth the money!
i did a review of it on here somewhere...

http://www.fishingmagic.com/review/reviewProductReviews.asp?rpn=11525&prod=TF-Gear-Matt-Hayes-Signature---Specialist&rcn=77&rgn=9&v=1&sp=#2220

Also if your going to get one ive found the website im going to buy my second one of...

http://www.tacklebargains.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Feeder___Quiver_Rods_12.html

bargin of a price i paid ?80 i think!

o ive had carp on it to 11lb now and it coped well, i reckon i could land bigger. so youd be safe with the 1.75lb

Andy, i have both the fox duo and the TFG river and Pit 1.5tc [slightly better quality than the signature].Both of these rods perform admirably,and you shouldn`t have any problems with either.Its down to personal choice at the end of the day.Always try and buy the best quality you can afford at the time.

I would go for the Greys Prodigy mate. had mine for a couple of seasons now and have landedd carp to 16Ib no problems. If you dont need the quiver section then i would go for the 1.25Ib & 1.75Ib or the Specimen 1.5Ib & 2Ib also have these was useing the 1.25 on the teme last year no problems with what are meant to be the hardest fighting barbel going

Andy,have a look on Climax Tackle web site,they`ve got Nash Barbel Elite`s at ?40.00 and Barbel X Lite`s at ?90.00.( The Elite`s retail at ?80.00 and the X Lite`s at ?175.00 ) I`ve never used either but i`m sure some of guys on here can give you some info.

I use the Fox, Kevlar Barbel rods. Love em, I think you can pick them up cheap now because i think they classed as an old model now!

Quality rods, and they look superb too

Jas.

http://p092.ezboard.com/bbarbelfishingaintmyworld

tempted by this one....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FOX-KEVLEX-XT...oryZ1495QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

But personally boracic at present, not lacking in rods and can't justify it to the other 'arf, not on any basis. Lovely bit of kit tho.

It is Local pick up only, but that is only just down the road from me in Horsham. Would happily collect it and hold it / post it on in a tube for any forum member interested in it (and willing to reimburse postage of course !).

There's another one going just up the road from me in Sutton:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRAND-NEW-FOX...oryZ1495QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

What is it, Surrey anglers all giving up on Barbel or what ???!!!???

If you get the chance of picking up a Fox Kelvar,and you can afford it,go for it,they are super rods,i really loved mine,its just a pity the wife reversed over it and snapped it in 2 places!!!..a sore point with me!!!

Yes I have the Fox Kevlar's, 3 in fact,absolutely superb and landed carp to 14lb on the Tidal Trent, no problem. If you can get them and afford them then you will not be dissapointed.

Thanks for your responses. I think the Prodigy Specimens are probably the ones, assuming all the rods you guys have mentioned will throw out a 1.5oz lead and small PVA bag abot 40 - 50 yards without snapping.

Dont forget the Berkley F1 with three tips at 1,5lb tc 1.75lb.tc and 2.00lb tc being using mine with the method feeder when loaded must be at least over 5 ounces and landed a nice 14lb common on it tonight plus used with six ounce feeder no problems

Hi Andy,

If it weren't for my experience this week I would have whole heartedly recomnmend the Prodigy. However, whilst I love my Grey's Prodigy Barbel in terms of performance, I was rather shocked by the poor afterservice I encountered from Grey's this week.

When getting ready for the river season I noted that the tip ring of my Prodigy Barbel was bent. I tried to straighten it but it was too far gone and a replacement was required.

I looked locally for a new tip ring but no joy - no-one knew the ring model or size. No problem, I thought, contact Grey's as they're bound to know. The girl on the 'phone was friendly but said they didn't have that information but would check with the carp boys and call me back. She did - they didn't know. I pushed further and she said she'd ask her boss. She called again and relayed his suggestion that I get a micrometer and measure the internal and external ring diameters and get back to them!

I didn't think this was particularly good service but, after they quite forcefully pointed out that the guarantee on the rod wouldn't be honoured if it wasn't registered (which it was), they offered to honour the rods "guarantee" and if I wanted to cut into into four pieces and send it back with ?20 then they would send me a new top section with tip ring!!!

I thought this ludicrous and pushed back again. This time she offered to put me through to her manager. Within 10 seconds I realised he couldn't give a damn and told him so. However, when I asked for the MD's details along with his own his attitude changed a little and, after looking into my query, he called back with the micrometer readings.

Meanwhile I searched the internet and spoke to Patrick at Hopkins & Holloway. He was really helpful and said that if I sent the ring to them they would try and match it and get a new one with me by this Friday. I sent it, they matched it, it arrived yesterday. Cost? ?2.60 INCLUDING recorded delivery.

Hopkins & Holloway - well done!!!

Grey's - shame on you for a shocking attitude to customer service.

The learning point: think carefully about the after sales issue when buying a rod, particularly if it's an expensive one. Understand exactly what the terms and conditions of any guarantee are. Think carefully about the importance to you of good after sales service and whether or not you are willing to "go it alone".

Patrick of Hopkins & Holloway, may I once again say thanks.

Jonathan.

ASorry to hear that Jonathan. My own experiance with them last year was diffrent. I broke the tip on my specimen on opening day before i had even cast line. I rang them and had one 2 days later.

Andy if you have'nt spent your cash yet I strongly advise you to look at the Nash Elite at Climax Tackle I've just got two and at ?40.00 witch is half price I think thay are great. thay have a very slim blank almost the same thickness as the Nash X-lite. But I do know thay don't have many left.

Hi Java - I bought the Prodigy Specimens. I tried the nash ones in the shop as someone has mentioned them on here and felt Grey's where better - I think the warranty did it. Yes I know they are more but I got the specimens at ?80 each from Ted Carters.

Trouble is can't use them at the moment as I have a serious leg infection from a 2 week old bite when fishing last

There are only two barbel rods to consider.

For big rivers such as the Trent where you have to chuck heavy leads, or for fishing in snags with lines up to 15lbs bs, get the Harrison Chemira barbel rods.

For the rest - the Harrison Fishing Magic Concepts are more than adequate.

Both are modern classics

i haave two greys prodigy the rod itself is good but i chose to replace the topeyes as the ceramic centre came loose on one and came totally lost in the other. i do believe they have had problems with the top eye. however. what would bothere me if someone asked me to post ?20 to replace a top eye for a rod that has a lifetime warrenty. not only that to cut the top section into 4 pieces and send it back .what would happen if they said its not covered when they received it . send you a useless piece of rod back . in which case you would have to buy a new rod ?100 plus . if its under warrenty they pay and they get the rod in one section.. these liftime warrenties need to be looked at. good sales gimmick. .

Ron, I've recently acquired two of the 1lb 12oz Chimeras, and they are probably the best rods I own. I'd like to have a dabble with the concept, I was going to buy one when they were first conceived but never got round to it, are they still available?

Bob,i think Leslies of Luton still sell them?

Jonathan's point is worth remembering. Hopkins and Holloway, as makers of Seymo rings and importers/agents for Fuji (either of which are fitted to all half-decent rods) are always worth calling first. They're a family-run firm and I've found them unfailingly helpful. Service is quick and prices v. reasonable. As I make all my own rods, I'm a big H&H fan. They do a really handy device - a small piece of alu' with a series of holes drilled in it, marked with diameters. You just find the one which fits snugly round the rod tip and there's your ring diameter.