Avon or tip to middle action?

[binka]

Something I noticed whilst testing the new feeder rod out over the last couple of days is just how much I prefer playing Barbel on an Avon rod, rather than a general tip to middle action feeder rod which is perfectly capable of doing the job.

In particular the rod curve to pressure and line breaking strain was the tricky thing to gauge in the same detail as when I use an Avon and I know I must have been erring on the safe side whilst fishing because as soon as I got the rod at home I set it up, tied the 6lb line to one of my drive posts and gave it a good pull and whilst the rod is rated up to 10lb I still managed to get the tip to middle action looking like an all through but I don't recall seeing the curve go that far down in action.

Nope...

As much as I love the new rod and it's great for what I want it for (which wasn't Barbel fishing) my dedicated Barbel fishing will still be done on the Avons where I can feel what's going on right down in the cork.

I guess part of the answer will depend on what and just how far you're chucking but that aside, what's your preference?

 

[sam vimes]

Much depends on the method being employed, range being fished and the weight (action) of the rod. I don't like light through action rods, but have no issue with heavy through actioned rods. I just can't stand the feeling of having little real control of a better fish that occurs with light through actions. I'd rather a more progressive but less through action in my lighter rods.

 

[mikench]

Are either the Acolyte plus or the Marksman Supero float in your opinion light through action rods? I have never tried the former but have the latter! I would have described( perhaps wrongly) my Supero 11 feeder as a light through auctioned rod as I can feel any decent fish all the way through!

 

[binka]

Are either the Acolyte plus or the Marksman Supero float in your opinion light through action rods? I have never tried the former but have the latter! I would have described( perhaps wrongly) my Supero 11 feeder as a light through auctioned rod as I can feel any decent fish all the way through!

The original Marksman 13' float I would describe as a soft, progressive action Mike but I can't comment on the Accy.

I would have thought that your Supero feeder would be very similar in action to my rod but it doesn't sound like it from what you've said, I can still feel the fish all the way through but the deeper action and even curve of an Avon just isn't there.

 

[mikench]

I must be an insensitive so and so Steve!

 

[108831]

Steve,don't you use a marksman Avon,if so I believe the action is slightly different than the 'original' Avon action,I must agree however I'd rather play a barbel on an Avon type rod than a feeder rod,especially on 8lb lines or more.

 

[binka]

Steve,don't you use a marksman Avon,if so I believe the action is slightly different than the 'original' Avon action,I must agree however I'd rather play a barbel on an Avon type rod than a feeder rod,especially on 8lb lines or more.

You're right Alan I do, the Specimen Avon and two Ultralite Avons.

(I'm sure I will complete the set with the in between Specialist Avon as soon as a suitable example becomes available )

I have nothing to compare them too in terms of cane but I've heard it said several times that they're the nearest thing to a true Avon action, in a modern material, that's available.

This is one of the Ultralites, the maximum line rating is 10lb and this is with a good pull on just 6lb...

I love 'em!

 

[tigger]

I think the marksman rods are a progressive action, tippy until under pressure and then they bend right through.
Acolyte float rods (the plus's at least) have a fast action but again they bend right through when under load/pressure.

I like a fast/progressive action myself so all those rods are to my liking.
I'm not a fan of a all through action rod myself.

 

[108831]

When I play fish on my Harrison Torrix,or specialist Avon(don't think that's the correct name)I like the way when I'm having to stop a fish in weed,the rods reach the point that I'm slowing/stopping the fish,but have just a little in reserve to bounce off,this confuses the fish I believe,I have an 11ft6in Avon smuggler,which I like,a lot,but since getting the Harrison's don't use as much,wouldn't part with it because it has slightly more power than the two piece,again personal choice prevails and fish can be landed on a broomstick(a Greys Prodigy is like that to me,bloody awful and should be used for bean poles IMO).

 

[tigger]

When I play fish on my Harrison Torrix,or specialist Avon(don't think that's the correct name)I like the way when I'm having to stop a fish in weed,the rods reach the point that I'm slowing/stopping the fish,but have just a little in reserve to bounce off,this confuses the fish I believe,I have an 11ft6in Avon smuggler,which I like,a lot,but since getting the Harrison's don't use as much,wouldn't part with it because it has slightly more power than the two piece,again personal choice prevails and fish can be landed on a broomstick(a Greys Prodigy is like that to me,bloody awful and should be used for bean poles IMO).

Fuñny you should say that about the greys prodigy, I remember the original ones with the chequer board finnish and they had a nice progressive action. I saw some one winding in barbel with a later "mat black looking version" a couple of months ago and I was surprised at how only the top section appeared to bend even when putting pressure on fish of about 7lb. I knew the chap using it and I told him how the rod had the action of a poker and he replied that he knew but liked them as they where good for casting heavier feeders.

 

[sam vimes]

Fuñny you should say that about the greys prodigy, I remember the original ones with the chequer board finnish and they had a nice progressive action. I saw some one winding in barbel with a later "mat black looking version" a couple of months ago and I was surprised at how only the top section appeared to bend even when putting pressure on fish of about 7lb. I knew the chap using it and I told him how the rod had the action of a poker and he replied that he knew but liked them as they where good for casting heavier feeders.

I was thinking similar. People used to complain that the original Prodigy (and X-Flite) Barbel were under-rated because they were so through actioned. People didn't believe the test curve ratings when they compared the rods to similarly rated barbel rods with faster actions. Greys made the later models faster actioned to address the criticism. It's also the reason that some anglers still search out the original models.

 

[seth49]

I have two of the original Greys prodigy barbel rods, I wouldn’t part with them, don’t do much barbel fishing nowadays, but I use them as feeder rods with the tip carrier fitted and one of the three tips, and with the Avon top there good for floater fishing for carp. They have a loverly through action, and I like the feel of them when playing fish, they cast a long way too.

 

[barbelboi]

Definitely a decent Avon - I upgraded my old Chimera 1.25s some 11 years ago for a pair of 'H' Avon Specialists at 1.5, coupled with a pair of late 90's 5000 AeroGTEs which are always first choice for the rivers I fish (unless in flood conditions). I'm also not a fan of the earlier Prodigys but kept a 3 piece 1.75 in the boot during my working days for a 'spur of the moment' opportunist stop. I still have the rod but not used for years (the quiver section has never been used) - very 'stiff' and feels more like a 2lb job.

 

[tigger]

Definitely a decent Avon - I upgraded my old Chimera 1.25s some 11 years ago for a pair of 'H' Avon Specialists at 1.5, coupled with a pair of late 90's 5000 AeroGTEs which are always first choice for the rivers I fish (unless in flood conditions). I'm also not a fan of the earlier Prodigys but kept a 3 piece 1.75 in the boot during my working days for a 'spur of the moment' opportunist stop. I still have the rod but not used for years (the quiver section has never been used) - very 'stiff' and feels more like a 2lb job.

You bin on't sherry again bb :w :w.........we've been saying the older prodigys are better than the latter offerings :wh mg:.

 

[barbelboi]

ou bin on't sherry again bb .........we've been saying the older prodigys are better than the latter offerings .

Doesn't mean I agree...

I can't offer an opinion on that Ian as I've only had that one (as per the reason in the post) and much prefer my Harrys. FYI It's probably about 10 years old and got Greys Prodigy Barbel 1.75 on the bag and I don't like the action. :w

 

[seth49]

Mine are the 1.5 test curve ones, also in three piece.

 

[108831]

Several years ago now I had a look at a couple of prodigy's in Brown's of L.Buzzard,I was shocked that the 1.5lb was only slightly softer than the 1.75lb versio ,which was very stiff,that said if the rivers you fish Seth have strongish flows(which looking where you are is likely)these rods are probably ideal.

 

[tigger]

Doesn't mean I agree...

I can't offer an opinion on that Ian as I've only had that one (as per the reason in the post) and much prefer my Harrys. FYI It's probably about 10 years old and got Greys Prodigy Barbel 1.75 on the bag and I don't like the action. :w

If its 10yr old then i'tll be an old one and one of the better versions. There was talk that those older blanks where harrisons, hang on :w:w:w....arrrrŕh .

 

[108831]

Mark Todd an ex-member of FM told me quite a while ago that there was a massive difference between individual prodigy blanks,he had two 1.5lb rods and one was totally different to the other.

 

[seth49]

Yes there’s plenty of flow on the ribble when it’s in good flow, now my good friend Andy Robbins from Blackburn sadly passed away in February 2008, and I had both rods then, and I’ve just had a look and they have the chequered effect on the blank.
So they must be the early ones, I originally bought one for worming and shrimping for salmon, and very good it was too, plenty of salmon up to sixteen and a quarter pounds with it.
When I started fishing for barbel with Andy I bought the second one, plenty of barbel up to a best of eleven pounds and three ounces.
I think if I could only have one rod it would be one of these.