I NEED a new rod

[S-Kippy]

Buying (or being tempted to buy) a new rod(s) rather reminds me of when I gave up smoking many years ago.

My head tells me that I need one (Cigarette or rod) and it is vital that I get it, but refrain and abstain and the yearning disappears and you reflect at a later date that you never needed the damned thing in the first place.

Unfortunately, like smoking, the temptation regularly raises its head!!

Im afraid its not like that for me at all. It takes me an age to decide that I need a new whatever but once that line is crossed it will happen...its only a question of what and when. I NEED a new rod...or a pair of new rods. End of !

Or rather NOT....because new shiny rods deserve new shiny reels. I am beyond help !

 

[S-Kippy]

Well...I spent this afternoon in a veritable Alladdins Cave of a tackle shop which had every rod I wanted to try. With the help of a very nice,very knowledgeable and very patient shop manager I eventually found exactly what [I think] I was looking for.

It seemed lonely all on its own so I bought it a friend too.mg: Mrs S is currently watching the 7 way Election Yawnfest on TV so I've just smuggled them into the corner where they have become instantly invisible to everyone but me.

12' Harrison Specialist 1.5lb.

 

[nicepix]

Well...I spent this afternoon in a veritable Alladdins Cave of a tackle shop which had every rod I wanted to try. With the help of a very nice,very knowledgeable and very patient shop manager I eventually found exactly what [I think] I was looking for.

It seemed lonely all on its own so I bought it a friend too.mg: Mrs S is currently watching the 7 way Election Yawnfest on TV so I've just smuggled them into the corner where they have become instantly invisible to everyone but me.

12' Harrison Specialist 1.5lb.

Oooooooh!! I was soooo close

Looks like you've talked yourself into a Harrisons 1.6lb tc Avon rod Skippy.

<edit> Oh no you haven't. I forgot you were a tight git. :w

I take it back about being a tight git. Crafty, yes. sneaky, definitely. But tight? Not this time :w

 

[S-Kippy]

I'm not done yet because I bought two different rods not a pair !

My logic is that however nice a rod might feel in the shop the only way to be certain is to use it. The plan is therefore to give them both a good work out until I'm certain which is "the one" and then get another to make the pair. The other is a Free Spirit which is a bit pokier at 1.75 tc and not quite as through actioned as the Harrison.....probably a bit better if I'm barbelling when there is a bit more water on. The Harrison I think will be more of an "all rounder" with a number of applications as its not so pokey and that's really the sort of rod I was after,as opposed to an out and out barbel rod. I can think of a number of situations where this rod ought to serve rather well.

I've almost convinced myself already that I want another one.

I have to say that having read so many reviews and articles etc saying what a brilliant rod the Harrison Torrix blank made that I was very disappointed with it. Ordinary I thought....I much preferred the Specialist and it was a good bit cheaper too ! Probably better on big rivers but I don't fish those sort of waters.

TBH I could have spent a fortune this afternoon. I shouldn't be allowed in tackle shops unsupervised !

 

[barbelboi]

Nice one Skip..

 

[S-Kippy]

Nice one Skip..

I'm guessing this is the same blank as the one yourr rods re built on Jerry.. You were right....its a cracker !

 

[greenie62]

...I've almost convinced myself already that I want another one....
TBH I could have spent a fortune this afternoon. I shouldn't be allowed in tackle shops unsupervised !

You're on a slippery slope, Skippy! mg:
Blow the tackle shops - you need to be supervised at all times!
Tight Lines!

 

[Alan Tyler]

God help Skippy if he ever gets the "Vintage" bug!

I'm OK with my creaking Milbros, but he'll be Hardy all the way... Just don't!

 

[flightliner]

Skip, check out the Sonik sk3s at 1.75 tc, could be what you need.

 

[greenie62]

Skip, check out the Sonik sk3s at 1.75 tc, could be what you need.

Flight,
I'm surprised at you! Don't encourage him - he needs help!mg:

 

[sam vimes]

I rarely need a new rod. However, I probably do need a new house for all the rods I don't "need" but buy anyway.

P.S. Skip, which Freespirit rod did you opt for? I haven't seen anything other than it being 12' 1.75lb.

 

[S-Kippy]

Skip, check out the Sonik sk3s at 1.75 tc, could be what you need.

I did....but nobodies got one and I think they'd be too similar to what I already have. I wanted something different.

---------- Post added at 14:31 ---------- Previous post was at 14:29 ----------

God help Skippy if he ever gets the "Vintage" bug!

I'm OK with my creaking Milbros, but he'll be Hardy all the way... Just don't!

Too late......but B James not Hardy. When I'm not using the Wizard of course

---------- Post added at 14:38 ---------- Previous post was at 14:31 ----------

I rarely need a new rod. However, I probably do need a new house for all the rods I don't "need" but buy anyway.

P.S. Skip, which Freespirit rod did you opt for? I haven't seen anything other than it being 12' 1.75lb.

The new CTX Tamer. Ridiculously good value and a very nice rod too albeit much more a barbel rod than an all rounder. Sadly they don't do it in a 12 ft 1.5lb tc. Two tops and a very nice build. Amazingly slim blank. TBH I'm not too excited by the cross weave blank but I'm not such a tart that I'll walk away from a good rod because of its cosmetics.

 

[sam vimes]

The new Tamer. Ridiculously good value and a very nice rod too albeit much more a barbel rod than an all rounder. Sadly they don't do it in a 12 ft 1.5lb tc. Two tops and a very nice build. Amazingly slim blank. TBH I'm not too excited by the cross weave blank but LM not such a tart that I'll walk away from a good rod because of cosmetics.

The CTX Specialist rods will be thin on the ground at the moment. You probably have one of the first batch. The first I saw of them was at the show last weekend. A mate was put off the CTXs by the rather shiny finish, he boders on phobic. It reminded me of the cross weave finishes that were common on many of the mid to high end rods in the 90s. I much preferred the finish of the E and S Class rods.

 

[nicepix]

I did....but nobodies got one and I think they'd be too similar to what I already have. I wanted something different.

---------- Post added at 14:31 ---------- Previous post was at 14:29 ----------



Too late......but B James not Hardy. When I'm not using the Wizard of course

---------- Post added at 14:38 ---------- Previous post was at 14:31 ----------



The new CTX Tamer. Ridiculously good value and a very nice rod too albeit much more a barbel rod than an all rounder. Sadly they don't do it in a 12 ft 1.5lb tc. Two tops and a very nice build. Amazingly slim blank. TBH I'm not too excited by the cross weave blank but I'm not such a tart that I'll walk away from a good rod because of its cosmetics.

Its a shame that you have to wait until mid-June to try them out on the rivers. Have you thought about booking a day out with Bob James? :wh

 

[S-Kippy]

The CTX Specialist rods will be thin on the ground at the moment. You probably have one of the first batch. The first I saw of them was at the show last weekend. A mate was put off the CTXs by the rather shiny finish, he boders on phobic. It reminded me of the cross weave finishes that were common on many of the mid to high end rods in the 90s. I much preferred the finish of the E and S Class rods.

Yeah...I'm not fussed by the cross weave,theres a hint of the Silstar/Daiwa circa 1980 ish about it but I'll get over it. All cats are black in the dark.

---------- Post added at 16:20 ---------- Previous post was at 16:16 ----------

Its a shame that you have to wait until mid-June to try them out on the rivers. Have you thought about booking a day out with Bob James? :wh

Ha ha......yes, a days guided shad fishing with Honest Bob. Licence optional.