I must say,I dont like 2 piece 12ft rods,I have two three piece(detachable butts),1.25lb t.c. a Normark Bob James Barbel rod with two tips and a Leslies Insight 1.25lb t.c. same format but with just one tip built on Harrison blanks,both lovely rods,but on the light side for todays barbel fishing(apart from venues like i'm fishing locally),my personal preference these days is for 11fters,of which I have three,1.75lb Torrix,1lb 6oz Avon Perfection and a 1.5lb Sulis,I prefer the former,but all three are good tools....
Harrison rods/ blanks
- Thread starter mikench
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mikench
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Now, the Sulis sounds interesting. 
markcw
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The only Harrison rods I had were bought around 30 years ago, a 12' spliced tip GTI match rod ,sliding reel fittings
And a 13' spliced tip GTI match rod,sliding reel fittings.
I was offered the prototype canal rod from Harrisons shop in Liverpool as well. That rod was very similar in design to the Drennan chrystalite,in that it had a removable butt. I think Harrisons did not market this design due to dispute or something along those lines with Drennan.
Both GTI rods handled carp to low doubles on light line and small hooks.
I have now sold them, both still being used, the 13' on the Ribble around Tickled Trout area, the 12' on commercials and canals.
And a 13' spliced tip GTI match rod,sliding reel fittings.
I was offered the prototype canal rod from Harrisons shop in Liverpool as well. That rod was very similar in design to the Drennan chrystalite,in that it had a removable butt. I think Harrisons did not market this design due to dispute or something along those lines with Drennan.
Both GTI rods handled carp to low doubles on light line and small hooks.
I have now sold them, both still being used, the 13' on the Ribble around Tickled Trout area, the 12' on commercials and canals.
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hague01
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Might I suggest you consider a), a padded rod sleeve, b) tip and toe rod protectors c),not fishing in a jungle and d) use the Preston ICS system where there is never any weight on the tip in transportation.
Only D is the sensible suggestion but seriously its a pointer I was given last year. Quite magical although now guru do the hybrids, again no weight on the tip. Having broken so many unbreakable Daiwa £45mtq tips I was keen to get away from them before I went bankrupt !
They key is the strain on the tip. I am sure there are others than the two I use, but that's the kernel with out doubt for me.
Only D is the sensible suggestion but seriously its a pointer I was given last year. Quite magical although now guru do the hybrids, again no weight on the tip. Having broken so many unbreakable Daiwa £45mtq tips I was keen to get away from them before I went bankrupt !
They key is the strain on the tip. I am sure there are others than the two I use, but that's the kernel with out doubt for me.
I believe the canal rod went into production and had a spliced tip. The version with a std tip was more powerful and known as the 11ft 6inch Explorer sadly no longer produced. This is one of the few rods I own that I wouldn't get rid of. The tip is very fine so makes a great leger rod for chub and also a lovely float rod for perch it is a true through action rod some while back I had a second tip made up to take Drennan tips. I use it for trotting for roach and chub on small streams where a longer rod is unwieldy.
mikench
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As stated previously. I would rather spend / waste 10 minutes on the bank setting up a rod than break a tip.
Ps Better make that 20 Minutes
Ps Better make that 20 Minutes
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chipbuttee
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Absolutely two of my clubs members use nothing else! its all down to personal preference.
The bad one
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If I wanted, and was in the market for more rods and had the money for them, it would be Harrisons all the way. As it is, I've got four Hs and don't see me wanting anymore before I return to the carbon they are made of.
I would like to see Harrison design a new range of float fishing rods. The GTi range probably go back to 1989 when production commenced. I have both the 13ft SU and std 15ft float rods good big fish rods but very heavy. With todays obsession with carp fishing it would seem unlikely that it hill happen though.
ian g
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I have a few Harrison rods which I love but no float rods for the reason Chevin says , unfortunately I think he's probably right re carp obsession.
Blue Fisher
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I have a Harrison 11ft Avon twin tip which I built myself and is nice to use but also nice to use is my old Terry Eustace fibreglass barbel leger. It’s similar in lots of ways!
I am rebuilding a Harrison 14ft GTI SU I know that won’t be a top league rod but it will still be a good rod. However if you want to build a rod yourself there are very few suppliers of blanks. And I don’t think any available blanks are described as a trotting rod. Guides and blanks do their own range of blanks but there are very few reviews so it is difficult to justify buying them. I considered their 1.5lb twin tip but they don’t even describe it on their website, so I paid more and brought the well reviewed 11ft Avon 1.4lb from Harrison. So there are very few alternatives to Harrison blanks. Where else can an individual builder buy a blank?
Interestingly if another14ft GTI SU came up cheaply, and with so much criticism of their weight there should soon be a few, I would buy another just to play with!
I am rebuilding a Harrison 14ft GTI SU I know that won’t be a top league rod but it will still be a good rod. However if you want to build a rod yourself there are very few suppliers of blanks. And I don’t think any available blanks are described as a trotting rod. Guides and blanks do their own range of blanks but there are very few reviews so it is difficult to justify buying them. I considered their 1.5lb twin tip but they don’t even describe it on their website, so I paid more and brought the well reviewed 11ft Avon 1.4lb from Harrison. So there are very few alternatives to Harrison blanks. Where else can an individual builder buy a blank?
Interestingly if another14ft GTI SU came up cheaply, and with so much criticism of their weight there should soon be a few, I would buy another just to play with!
Alan Whitty
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Well with Normark coming back so I hear, top quality float rods will be back on the menu....
mikench
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Do tell Alan.
Excuse me jumping in. Some insider stuff from Normark fb thread
So where to start...its clear that something might be happening on the Normark rods front...I can say that some of the very popular 2000 series rods have been in extensive development for over 4 years...and the results are very, very good indeed...however no decision has been finalised when, or even if they will be released... the dozen or so anglers, plus some well respected dealers and a very well known rod builder who have been privileged to have seen them or have fished with them have all been very impressed and indeed even acknowledged they are an improvement on the excellent 2000's....so it's surprising to see that one person here wasn't very taken...and not even sure has seen them?? also other comments about Chinese carbon and previous fuji rings costing more than a new rod to build could not be further from the truth and frankly are just ridiculous and uninformed....one factor affecting our decision is what would one pay for such a rod that has similar characteristics to the originals, the lovely Normark curve, fuji guides and reel seat etc... all produced in a specific factory that do not make rods for any other brand for the UK market and using the best quality Japanese carbon. Developed and designed and tested extensively in the UK - trust me these are pretty special...but you will have to wait and see if these are launched in to the market when in the current day and age people seem to want cheap....the Normark brand stands for quality, always has and if they come to market, it 100 per cent still will.... feel free to discuss.
Harrison's Barbel and Avon rods are as sweet-actioned, robust and perfectly designed as you'll find. All my rods stronger than general float and feeder rods are Harrison. It's a shame Dr Harrison is not too interested in float rods, but maybe, given their success in their niches (such as carp anglers who buy rods in multiples) and the saturated float rod market, it's understandable.
I like your idea of refurbishing your GTI. Liking the rod and what it can do is imo more important than chasing small weight savings. My old Shimano Diaflash and Daiwa rods aren't far off as light as anything current and have stood the test of time. But despite being the archetypal 11 stone weakling I've never found a couple of ounces either way a big deal. Last time I fished a session trotting a big float down the middle of a deep river I used an old Carbonactive 15' and only put it down if I needed two hands for something. It never occurred to me to be unhappy it wasn't a bit lighter; its balance and quick but elastic action are what I appreciate.
Alan Whitty
Well-known member
Many comments have been made earlier in this thread about how some prefer Hardy's in particular, very good rods, but it's what you want in playing action that should persuade you, if you are casting 6ozs across the Trent there are lots of good beachcasters out there...
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@Clive
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The market for top quality float rods is diminishing all the time though. It isn't a growing market.
I have the 13ft GTI SU and would imagine the 14ft version is very similar. Mine was built 15years or so it was built with oversized rings for a stop knot to easily pass through when fishing the slider. The waters i fish for tench also contain carp and this rod has handled 20lb rogue carp with ease. It is heavy but that is not an issue as it is primarily used for still water fishing. The GTI SU was designed as a big fish rod Big Chub Tench Barbel and is pretty much bomb proof.
I agree i remember checking out the Hardy Marksman range when Leslies stocked them. I thought the action of the float rods was not impressive IMO very stiff and unresponsive snooker curs had more action.Many comments have been made earlier in this thread about how some prefer Hardy's in particular, very good rods, but it's what you want in playing action that should persuade you, if you are casting 6ozs across the Trent there are lots of good beachcasters out there...