Chris holley RP2 11" 1.75 TC

dzpotter · Oct 2, 2012

Hi,

Am on the verge of buying a Chris Holley RP2 11" 1.75 TC rover rod based on the Harrison Torrix.

Does anyone use one of these rods for Barbel/Chib fishing and if so what are you views. I will most likely buy it anyway but just wondered if anyone has one.

I fish the Kennet on the Wasing estate.

It is a lovely looking rod:

Roving Products. Custom, hand made, barbel and float rods.

Regards

Dan

aebitim · Oct 2, 2012

My 11ft Harrison gave me a great deal of trouble to start with. I bought it as a factory build from Davis Tackle. It drove me to distraction, continually fighting itself and losing me countless fish. I was extremely peed of with it so shortened the handle and re arranged the rings, adding an extra one, and destruction tested it on commercial carp until I got it right. It is now a great small river rod with plenty of feel and a bottomless action. The Infinity is better however,even though its reel seat is sh1.

dzpotter · Oct 3, 2012

That's interesting as it's pretty much the first time i have heard anyone with a bad thing to say about Harrisons.

barbelboi · Oct 3, 2012

It’s not got the traditional through action that you would expect from a barbel rod, it has a more responsive tip with loads of power in the butt - good for casting heavy leads or feeders longer distances, but not so friendly playing fish. For smaller rivers (not in flood) I prefer my Harrison Specialists and Chimeras.

Jerry

kfish · Jan 19, 2013

^^ hello i am looking for a new small river rod,that also doubles up as a margin float rod for smallish carp and i like the look of the holley rod 1.5lb.Have you fished with one?
i fish the Dane in Cheshire and so im looking for a small river avon,thanks.
Could anyone explain the difference between actions on torrex and chimera blanks.
I have been looking at a builders site/Dave lumb and he has a couple,one at 1lb6oz 11ft,"Built on the harrisons classic avon blank" One at 1lb4oz 11ft on a chimera blank,I have been using an old J wilson avon 1 1/4lb for longer than i can remember and wish to find something similar to that.

aebitim · Jan 20, 2013

kfish said:
^^ hello i am looking for a new small river rod,that also doubles up as a margin float rod for smallish carp and i like the look of the holley rod 1.5lb.Have you fished with one?
i fish the Dane in Cheshire and so im looking for a small river avon,thanks.

I expect that a custom built one would be fine, Both the harrisons I bought as factory build were flawed. Have modified and sold the 1.75 and am persevering with the 1.5 as its a 4 piece and just about the only one on the market. Tin hat on ready to duck.

barbelboi · Jan 20, 2013

aebitim said:
I expect that a custom built one would be fine, Both the harrisons I bought as factory build were flawed. Have modified and sold the 1.75 and am persevering with the 1.5 as its a 4 piece and just about the only one on the market. Tin hat on ready to duck.

As I've posted many times previously, Harrison make over 100 different blanks - and not every one will suit everyone = do your research before committing yourself.
Jerry

---------- Post added at 20:20 ---------- Previous post was at 20:14 ----------

kfish said:
^^
Could anyone explain the difference between actions on torrex and chimera blanks.

PS Read my earlier post

mg:

'It’s not got the traditional through action that you would expect from a barbel rod, it has a more responsive tip with loads of power in the butt - good for casting heavy leads or feeders longer distances, but not so friendly playing fish. For smaller rivers (not in flood) I prefer my Harrison Specialists and Chimeras.'

Jerry

aebitim · Jan 20, 2013

Jerry, I think owning and fishing with the rod that was posted about probably qualifies as research and entitles me to have an opinion, we have already done the not wanting for anything else bit and the 100 blanks.

barbelboi · Jan 20, 2013

aebitim said:
Jerry, I think owning and fishing with the rod that was posted about probably qualifies as research and entitles me to have an opinion, we have already done the not wanting for anything else bit and the 100 blanks.

Fair enough - your choice, but as you stated you bought two H's that you weren't happy with - I certainly wouldn't part with that sort of money without knowing what I was buying once.
Jerry

aebitim · Jan 21, 2013

Both rods fitted the bill in the showroom, I tried the 1.75 on the Royalty before buying, it was not until a while later that I found its shortcomings and sorted it. If I had not bought the infinity (unexpected tax rebate) I would have kept it. The 1.5 was bought a few months later for carrying on a motorcycle and again, after a while, the factory build was not to my taste, so I am changing it. The blanks are very nice (the tip section of the fourpiece has a spectacular set in it) and the amount of feedback from a trundled bait is better than anything else I have used.
The only custom built Hs I have used have been my own. I am sure a more competant rod builder would make a very nice rod from them and in hindsight I should have used one.
My main reason for posting about my experience is so that others can get the best out of the blank, not to slag harrison, apart from the factory ring spacing and the stupidly long handle of course.

Berty · Jan 21, 2013

aebitim said:
Both rods fitted the bill in the showroom, I tried the 1.75 on the Royalty before buying, it was not until a while later that I found its shortcomings and sorted it. If I had not bought the infinity (unexpected tax rebate) I would have kept it. The 1.5 was bought a few months later for carrying on a motorcycle and again, after a while, the factory build was not to my taste, so I am changing it. The blanks are very nice (the tip section of the fourpiece has a spectacular set in it) and the amount of feedback from a trundled bait is better than anything else I have used.
The only custom built Hs I have used have been my own. I am sure a more competant rod builder would make a very nice rod from them and in hindsight I should have used one.
My main reason for posting about my experience is so that others can get the best out of the blank, not to slag harrison, apart from the factory ring spacing and the stupidly long handle of course.

I like shorter handles too.....but having stripped a few rods to shorten them have found it can throw the balance out if trying to keep the full length of the rod.....counter balance may be needed, or reduction of the butt......nothing is ever straight foreward,

kfish · Jan 21, 2013

barbelboi said:
As I've posted many times previously, Harrison make over 100 different blanks - and not every one will suit everyone = do your research before committing yourself.
Jerry

---------- Post added at 20:20 ---------- Previous post was at 20:14 ----------

PS Read my earlier post mg:

'It’s not got the traditional through action that you would expect from a barbel rod, it has a more responsive tip with loads of power in the butt - good for casting heavy leads or feeders longer distances, but not so friendly playing fish. For smaller rivers (not in flood) I prefer my Harrison Specialists and Chimeras.'

Jerry

Thanks,What is the difference between the specialists and the chimeras?

barbelboi · Jan 21, 2013

The 12’ Specialist is IMO a through action rod with a tip soft enough to see sensitive bites but the power to handle large barbel or chub. There are many types of Chimera, if you go on the Harrison site I’m sure they will have details – I believe they’re a development from the Specialist but with a touch more power . The one I use has a progressive, yet compound taper leading to a large reserve of power in the butt section. It has a slightly faster tapered tip section which helps for rapid striking.
Jerry

Chris holley RP2 11" 1.75 TC

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