Harrison rods/ blanks

[mikench]

I’m just curious about these rods. Are they any good and better than say the equivalent Drennan, Shimano and Daiwa?

I’m not talking about carp rods but avons , float rods and barbel rods. Certain blanks have an excellent reputation, Normark, Hardy,Preston Asaki, shimano diaflash to name but four. Specialist rod builders use Harrison blanks but I suspect blanks from the main manufactures are just not available.

How do they compare ? They still produce them so there is a demand. Prices asked on eBay are usually high but are those prices warranted?

 

[tigger]

I have four harrison rods, two 1.25 and two 1.75 chimeras. They would class the 1.25's and 1.75's as avon rods/barbel rods. Harrisons also said the 1.25's are suitable for float fishing.
The rods are 12 foot in length but the 1.25's are a couple of inches shorter.
I did look at the torrix rods at the time (in harrsions warehouse/works) and just prefered the chimeras. The torriix were less than a tenner more expensive than the chimeras so I didn't buy the chimeras because they were cheaper, I just prefered them. I actually prefered the factory built rods to the rods rod builders were making. Also, for a rod builder to build a copy of the factory rods a rod builder would have charged a lot more money !
I 've seen and handled a few of their float rods but for me personally I wasn't impressed with them. However, there are anglers who swear by them.

 

[sam vimes]

I have a lot of time for rods based on Harrison blanks. However, that doesn't stretch as far as their float rods. The float blanks are still quality, but they are stuck in a time warp, especially in terms of weight. There's been no real development of them for around twenty years. I was told a good ten years ago that they were due for an update. As yet, that hasn't happened. I would suspect that relatively low sales mean that Harrison largely concentrate their efforts on the more lucrative carp and specialist ranges.

If you want a custom float rod, their blanks border on being the only show in town. If you want a quality rod that's not as light as it could be, much like many top end Daiwa float rods, try a Harrison blank from a good rod builder.

I've had a Harrison based float rod. Its high weight, coupled with a high residual value, meant that I actually sold it. A rare occurrence for me. I'll not be trying another Harrison float rod until they update the blanks.

 

[mikench]

I think the factory now just supplies the blanks and gives a list of rod builders. Interesting to watch the blanks being made though.

 

[tigger]

I think the factory now just supplies the blanks and gives a list of rod builders. Interesting to watch the blanks being made though.

Just give them a ring if unsure. You can speak to Steve Harrison himself or his manager name of Tiss. That's assuming Tiss is still here of course.
There is a rod builder not too far from me who builds on Harrison blanks and he has a website.....Dave Lumb. If you just put his name in google his site will pop up.

 

[108831]

Harrison rods for specimen style fishing are the 'dogs' as far as I'm concerned,i have four rods built on Harrison blanks,certainly not float rods,unless your margin fishing for decent fish,I love my Avon Perfection 1lb 6oz t.c. and my Torrix 1.75lb t.c.,sheer quality when it comes to fish playing and my Hardy Marksman smuggler doesn't come close in that department,though good,personal preference rules though...

 

[tigger]

Harrison rods for specimen style fishing are the 'dogs' as far as I'm concerned,i have four rods built on Harrison blanks,certainly not float rods,unless your margin fishing for decent fish,I love my Avon Perfection 1lb 6oz t.c. and my Torrix 1.75lb t.c.,sheer quality when it comes to fish playing and my Hardy Marksman smuggler doesn't come close in that department,though good,personal preference rules though...

Alan, I think if you tried the 11ft hardy avon, either the smuggler or tye two piece you would leave the harrisons at home.
The 11ft supero might be overgunned for the small slow waters your fishing just now.

 

[TimFB]

I have a couple of Harrison Avon’s 1.4 test and love them. They have old fashioned thru actions and are beautiful fishing rods. I also have an 11ft barbel rod at what I was told was 1.75 test...but not sure of the model as I bought it second hand and only a Harrison decal was on it before I rebuilt it. That is a much more powerful tool and closer to 2lb test imho .... and it may be that it was originally 12ft as it has a spliced tip may well be a repair job. It still fishes well and altho more powerful still has a progressive thru action. Hope that helps.

 

[108831]

I have the smuggler 11'6" great rod not up to stopping big berties like the Harrisons, had a good few on it mind,but its action is too pokey to hold onto a pulling barbel,the through action of the Harrison knocks the stuffing out of them however...

 

[tigger]

I have the smuggler 11'6" great rod not up to stopping big berties like the Harrisons, had a good few on it mind,but its action is too pokey to hold onto a pulling barbel,the through action of the Harrison knocks the stuffing out of them however...

Not sure what you mean Alan, do you mean you find your hardy rod lacking in power or too powerful?

 

[Molehill]

I built a lot of Harrison's fly rods for anglers and coarse rods mainly for myself. As a rod builder the big advantage was when a breakage occurs a new section can usually be sourced and built up for the customer - however "out of date" the model may be.

I can't compare their coarse rods with others because I own very few off the peg, mass produced rods, but I find harrisons have it spot on for UK specimen fishing. There is something for everyone, I still love my GTI barbel rod, class never ages.

Regards their float rods I agree with others, dated, still fine rods but there are far better out there from the big names. I don't think custom build float rods are a strong selling point so probably not worth the effort of updating. Think I recall their GTI stepped-up range did well in the USA for trotting for steelhead - could be wrong.

For UK specific fishing, for a rod that lasts then Harrisons take some beating.

 

[David Rogers 3]

I have one rod built on a Harrison's blank by Kevin Baines - a 12', 1.5lb t.c. 'Specialist'. I got it originally for chub and barbel fishing on the Dove, but these days it gets more use as a float rod for carp. It's probably the best rod I own and is equally suitable for legering or 'heavy' float fishing with a 6 or 8lb line.

 

[108831]

Not sure what you mean Alan, do you mean you find your hardy rod lacking in power or too powerful?

No,neither really Ian,the action of the Hardy is progressive,the Harrison's are all through action,I can hold on to the fish,not giving an inch,if needed,the rod acts a bit like pole elastic on the Harrison's,confusing the fish perhaps,the Hardy I think has more power,but it applies it fiercely,certainly capable of straightening hooks like Drennan S/S's,in fact that rod made me move to stronger hooks for barbel,as I say,the Hardy is a great rod,the barbel I have had on all venues would be stopped easier with the action on the Harrison's,but,if you are casting four to six ounce leads then maybe a more progressive action is required,but the Hardy wouldn't suit that either...as I say i've had good doubles on both,I know my preference...

 

[tigger]

No,neither really Ian,the action of the Hardy is progressive,the Harrison's are all through action,I can hold on to the fish,not giving an inch,if needed,the rod acts a bit like pole elastic on the Harrison's,confusing the fish perhaps,the Hardy I think has more power,but it applies it fiercely,certainly capable of straightening hooks like Drennan S/S's,in fact that rod made me move to stronger hooks for barbel,as I say,the Hardy is a great rod,the barbel I have had on all venues would be stopped easier with the action on the Harrison's,but,if you are casting four to six ounce leads then maybe a more progressive action is required,but the Hardy wouldn't suit that either...as I say i've had good doubles on both,I know my preference...

Just shows how we all differ in our preferences Alan. I like the harrisons but I prefer the hardys by a country mile.
The 11ft hardy avons are a lighter action than the 11ft 6inchers and I think the supero six piece 11ft 6incher is a stiffer action than the two piece version. I put that down to it being multi section.

 

[Aknib]

Can't comment on the Harrisons as I've never used one in anger, I've waggled a few in the shop but the 11' 6" Specimen Avon Hardy that I often use is without doubt the best rod I've ever held for what I use it for, I can hold 12 - 13lb Barbel with every confidence I won't get a hook pull... I daren't think how many good doubles I've had on it over the years in hit 'n hold swims with good flow and I can only recall a couple of hook pulls which will always happen once in a while.

I don't consider I'm giving it a workout until the cork is creaking beneath my elbow, I never considered it a 'stopper' when I first bought and used it but that familiarity and confidence to push it further as time progressed would certainly mean I consider it as one now and that's been in some fierce Trent swims with equally strong flow including heavy Winter flood water.

I actually find it a very forgiving rod despite the seemingly infinite amount of progressive power deep down.

My only worry is that it will one day give up the ghost in protest to the sheer amount of stick I've given it over the years but it keeps on going and coming back for more.

I'm not suggesting for one minute that, beyond personal preference, it's any better or worse than a Harrison but I'd be hard pushed to even try and imagine a better rod for the same situation and if the Harrison is then i'll take my hat off to it.

Edited to add:

I've had some daft sized Barbel from equally daft swims on the 1lb t/c Ultralights too and the playing actions just keep going to no boundary, the one Hardy Avon I don't have is the standard 11' Specialist but given I have two of the Ultralight Smugglers I'm thinking of selling one to fund the one I haven't got when a minter comes up, I might even see a bit of change too

 

[108831]

It's not hook pulls that are an issue,it is that through action rods absorb the lunges of hard lunging barbel imo,if you fish weed filled rivers(not slow necessarily),fish mustn't be allowed to get their heads down,many rivers I fish you just could not land a fish on a float rod,because of weed,only in winter do you have half a chance and do not kid yourselves that smaller river barbel are easier to get out than bigger rivers,they are nearer to any problems that might arise,the river i'm catching on down here each fish is scraping both banks looking for a way out of your net,luckily they are not big as that would be a problem...

 

[tigger]

Funny enough, I also catch a few barbel on some smaller rivers not quite as small as the one you fish Alan, but small non the less, and full of snags.
Sorry if I sou d as though i'm picking holes in what you say Alan, but, I honestly find catching barbel in smaller rivers much easier. I mean they just seem to run a short way in one direction, then turn and go in the other direction several times, then they just try holding bottom until they run out of steam, and that's using my float rods.
I much prefer to catch all sizes of barbel on the float and with a dedicated float rod, even in hit and hold conditions.

 

[108831]

I agree,catching them on the float is the most enjoyable,many rivers just are not clear enough of weed to do it,however if you have snags,it just isn't possible to hit and hold on a match rod on 6lb line(even if it's really 8)purely on the basis the rod is not man enough,i've caught barbel on the Trent,Severn and Thames,getting barbel out of those was eminently easier than on the Ouse and Ivel was,they all fight,yes...on the small river it is a matter of shallow water(3ft or less)and moderate sized barbel expecting to be hooked tanking off beyond the confines of the swim,through narrow funnels in Norfolk reeds into unknown unseen perils,to be honest I fish a slightly lighter hooklength,which makes it more hairy,but more fun imo,the best fish swimming in this stretch are the roach and dace,of specimen size,these fish are line aware,so when float fishing lighter lines are a must,therefore losses of barbel are inevitable unfortunately,especially in summer when crazy fit barbel could easily disappear around the corner into god knows what lol....

 

[108831]

Our choices tackle wise are our own,if I had to fish 2lb plus t.c. rods for barbel I wouldn't fish for them,if that meant I couldnt fish certain venues,so be it,flood water fishing doesn't interest me and if I went I would pick nearside spots,as I've said before fishing a 5/8oz weight is sea fishing to me,not to say it isn't a good time to fish for barbel,my fishing is to my terms of what I find enjoyable,i've no idea what a 2lb t.c. Harrison is like,purely because I wouldn't use one,period...plus I consider myself fortunate enough to be able to afford the rods mentioned.

 

[tigger]

Alan, I must have good float rods .
I often hit and hold barbel with them combined with 6lb line. Some of the fish are over 10lbs. I had this one in a hit and hold situation a few weeks ago, first barbel on my new reel .The float rod was bent into a serious hoop. The rod is a daiwa tournament Dave Harrell RS PF 13 footer.
The swim was about 3ft deep at most, fast water, and the fish was trying to get under a half sunken tree lying near the opposite bank and it tried it's utmost to get back under that tree. I 've never had the 6lb line snap under the pressure the fish put on it, but if it touches a rock then it just cracks off. The river is a solid mass of rocks so to prevent that happening I play them with the rod help up for the majority of the fight.
Here's the fish 11lb 9 ounces.....