Cotswold Rods

[InteraX]

Hi guys.

Has anyone on here had any experience in using Cotswold Rods?

Thanks.

[framey]

7 hours ago, InteraX said:

Hi guys.

Has anyone on here had any experience in using Cotswold Rods?

Thanks.

No personal experience

but Apparently 

the rods are fantastic, if and when you finally get the rods.

customer service, speed of service, communication on the other hand leaves a lot to be desired.

if it was me, I would be looking elsewhere.

[kevtaylor]

`

8 hours ago, framey said:

No personal experience

but Apparently 

the rods are fantastic, if and when you finally get the rods.

customer service, speed of service, communication on the other hand leaves a lot to be desired.

if it was me, I would be looking elsewhere.

Sounds just like the Chris Orme experience

[framey]

42 minutes ago, kevtaylor said:

`

Sounds just like the Chris Orme experience

I know someone who had rods built by him they said similar but the rods were great when he got them.

 

Edited Wednesday at 16:21 by framey

[kevtaylor]

5 hours ago, framey said:

I know someone who had rods built by him they said similar but the rods were great when he got them.

 

Yes I got some after my mate did, rods are lovely but you have to expect a decent wait.  Got blanked after when I asked him to do me a matching landing net handle.

I'm having these re-built at The Tackle Box, changing reel seats, new rings, the lacquer has gone so the whipping is clouding up overnight.

A lot of love for the Torrix TE Specials so they're getting a makeover. ❤️

[Carpbell3]

Custom rods custom waiting time the way companies are running these days I wouldn't be surprised if they were buying the blanks and parts after receiving each order, I doubt they keep much stock getting lumbered with 500 reel seats that don't sell often would have the accounts department in a dizzy fit.

They could hold a stock of made up rods for those that want it instant.

[salokcinnodrog]

2 hours ago, Carpbell3 said:

Custom rods custom waiting time the way companies are running these days I wouldn't be surprised if they were buying the blanks and parts after receiving each order, I doubt they keep much stock getting lumbered with 500 reel seats that don't sell often would have the accounts department in a dizzy fit.

They could hold a stock of made up rods for those that want it instant.

Back in the early 2000's a mate* and I used to build rods, mostly fly and sea rods, although some of the blanks we got for bass were good for carp fishing. We'd order what we needed blank wise for 6 or 7 rods at a time, really only keeping guides and thread in stock. 

I know a few people who build now only keep a maximum of 12 blanks in stock as it does take a fair while to build a rod nicely and with 'non-fashionable' anglers avoiding the overgunned tackle brand rods, it is almost specific builds. Sure I can do the guides in a day, but it is the lacquer, hi-build over the threads and the varnish that take the time.

*Allen did used to have an account on here.

[elmoputney]

8 hours ago, salokcinnodrog said:

Back in the early 2000's a mate* and I used to build rods, mostly fly and sea rods, although some of the blanks we got for bass were good for carp fishing. We'd order what we needed blank wise for 6 or 7 rods at a time, really only keeping guides and thread in stock. 

I know a few people who build now only keep a maximum of 12 blanks in stock as it does take a fair while to build a rod nicely and with 'non-fashionable' anglers avoiding the overgunned tackle brand rods, it is almost specific builds. Sure I can do the guides in a day, but it is the lacquer, hi-build over the threads and the varnish that take the time.

*Allen did used to have an account on here.

What are non fashionable anglers? 

[salokcinnodrog]

1 hour ago, elmoputney said:

What are non fashionable anglers? 

People who don't follow the (short length) extreme high 3.5oz test curve rods to cast 100metres set by tackle brands. A 12ft 2.75lb rod is capable of that distance, and more, but because fashion is dictating higher test curves are getting harder to get hold of.

With 2.75lb Century NG's I was putting baits at around 125metres, and up to 90metres with 30boilie stringers or PVA bags, and with SP's even further.

Even with my RH 2.75lb Enduro rods I am currently using, 100metres is no problem with 15lb line and a 3oz lead.

 

[Carpbell3]

10 hours ago, salokcinnodrog said:

People who don't follow the (short length) extreme high 3.5oz test curve rods to cast 100metres set by tackle brands. A 12ft 2.75lb rod is capable of that distance, and more, but because fashion is dictating higher test curves are getting harder to get hold of.

With 2.75lb Century NG's I was putting baits at around 125metres, and up to 90metres with 30boilie stringers or PVA bags, and with SP's even further.

Even with my RH 2.75lb Enduro rods I am currently using, 100metres is no problem with 15lb line and a 3oz lead.

 

Think they have all but stopped selling a 2.5tc I'd say the higher tc rods are more bought for casting pva sticks and bags the 2.5 is not strong enough for anything other than the lead.

Last time I can recall using a 2.5 rod was a used hyperloop tip snapped on the first cast 2 oz lead and a small pva bag, got 3lb to rods after that.

[yonny]

11 hours ago, salokcinnodrog said:

With 2.75lb Century NG's I was putting baits at around 125metres, and up to 90metres with 30boilie stringers or PVA bags, and with SP's even further.

125m is nearly 140 yards. I would suggest that if you're hitting that comfortably with a 2.75 then you are a way above average caster. You need to bear in mind that not everyone can cast that far. It doesn't make them some kind of fashion victim. I myself fish distance a lot but I'm not scared to admit I'm not as good a caster as I'd like. At 140's I'd be looking to use my 3.75's. I wouldn't even use my 3.25's, let alone 2.75's. It's about using the right tools for the job.

11 hours ago, salokcinnodrog said:

People who don't follow the (short length) extreme high 3.5oz test curve rods to cast 100metres set by tackle brands. A 12ft 2.75lb rod is capable of that distance, and more, but because fashion is dictating higher test curves are getting harder to get hold of.

While I agree on the short rod thing, I don't buy the high TC comments. It makes sense that the 90% of anglers who can only afford or only want one set of rods get a set that can do anything and a set that can do anything has a high TC. Regardless of that, all the of the great blank manufacturers (Harrison, Free Spirit, Century) offer low TC blanks for those that want them. Of course it might be more time consuming getting a set built but what's the point in ordering custom rods and having them built with off-the-shelf components that every man in a shed has in stock.

1 hour ago, Carpbell3 said:

Think they have all but stopped selling a 2.5tc

Not true mate. You have these to start with:

Harrison Torrix 12' 2.5
Harrison Accurix 12' 2.5
Harrison / Mark Tunley Dark Carbon 12' 2.5
Century Armalite mk3 12' 2.25
Century Stealth 12' 2.5
Freesprit Hi-S 12' 2.5
Freesprit CTX 12' 2.5
Freesprit E Class 12' 2.5

On 22/05/2025 at 06:19, Carpbell3 said:

Custom rods custom waiting time the way companies are running these days I wouldn't be surprised if they were buying the blanks and parts after receiving each order, I doubt they keep much stock getting lumbered with 500 reel seats that don't sell often would have the accounts department in a dizzy fit.

Of course they're buying in the parts after receiving the order. Most of your custom rod builders are a bloke with a fancy shed and they certainly don't have an accounts department. Even Roger Hurst (the UK manufacturer for Free Spirit standard/factory builds) works out of a shed with a couple of young lasses helping out. For sure he'll have standard Free Spirit components in stock but if you want standard components why would you be getting a custom rod instead of a factory build?

On 20/05/2025 at 23:56, InteraX said:

Has anyone on here had any experience in using Cotswold Rods?

As mentioned by everyone else.... great quality, poor service. I had a pal that ended up cancelling his order it was that bad. Tbf most of the custom builders are in the same boat.... overloaded with orders, not enough resources. That's no excuse for poor communication though.

I sent a set in to a very reputable builder for re-build a couple of year ago.... it took nearly a year to get them back (!) but they were great when I finally got them.

[Carpbell3]

31 minutes ago, yonny said:

125m is nearly 140 yards. I would suggest that if you're hitting that comfortably with a 2.75 then you are a way above average caster. You need to bear in mind that not everyone can cast that far. It doesn't make them some kind of fashion victim. I myself fish distance a lot but I'm not scared to admit I'm not as good a caster as I'd like. At 140's I'd be looking to use my 3.75's. I wouldn't even use my 3.25's, let alone 2.75's. It's about using the right tools for the job.

While I agree on the short rod thing, I don't buy the high TC comments. It makes sense that the 90% of anglers who can only afford or only want one set of rods get a set that can do anything and a set that can do anything has a high TC. Regardless of that, all the of the great blank manufacturers (Harrison, Free Spirit, Century) offer low TC blanks for those that want them. Of course it might be more time consuming getting a set built but what's the point in ordering custom rods and having them built with off-the-shelf components that every man in a shed has in stock.

Not true mate. You have these to start with:

Harrison Torrix 12' 2.5
Harrison Accurix 12' 2.5
Harrison / Mark Tunley Dark Carbon 12' 2.5
Century Armalite mk3 12' 2.25
Century Stealth 12' 2.5
Freesprit Hi-S 12' 2.5
Freesprit CTX 12' 2.5
Freesprit E Class 12' 2.5

Of course they're buying in the parts after receiving the order. Most of your custom rod builders are a bloke with a fancy shed and they certainly don't have an accounts department. Even Roger Hurst (the UK manufacturer for Free Spirit standard/factory builds) works out of a shed with a couple of young lasses helping out. For sure he'll have standard Free Spirit components in stock but if you want standard components why would you be getting a custom rod instead of a factory build?

As mentioned by everyone else.... great quality, poor service. I had a pal that ended up cancelling his order it was that bad. Tbf most of the custom builders are in the same boat.... overloaded with orders, not enough resources. That's no excuse for poor communication though.

I sent a set in to a very reputable builder for re-build a couple of year ago.... it took nearly a year to get them back (!) but they were great when I finally got them.

Best to expect to use them the following year at the latest after order would be a good industry standard for rod builders.

I know when Malc Rooker used to build rods it was more about the blank as it was difficult to find rods for large European waters 13 foot high test curve was his main market, reel seats and whipping would of been good for then but not the same choices as today.