Helical Barbel / Specialist Rods

The Helical Barbel / Specialist rods have been designed to cater for the modern all-round specimen hunter, equally at home on rivers and stillwaters and suited to a multitude of species. From Barbel and Chub on powerful rivers, through Tench and Bream feeder fishing on stillwaters and gravel pits, to more delicate roach work on both rivers and lakes, these rods offer the blend of finesse, backbone and versatility needed to cover a wide range of situations with confidence. There is enough power in the mid and butt sections to cope with weedy swims and to punch cage, rocket and block-end feeders to the ranges required when fishing bigger pits and lakes.

The Helical Barbel / Specialist 12’ 1.75lb (RHCL603) is the all-rounder of the pair. Supplied with two tops – an Avon and a quiver tip – it covers a wide spread of methods from one rod. The Avon top gives a lovely, through–to–middle action for traditional barbel and chub work with straight leads or feeders on the river, and is equally at home on stillwaters and gravel pits for Tench and Bream feeder fishing where you need a bit of backbone to cope with weed and cast sensible-sized feeders. The quiver tip adds extra finesse and bite registration when you’re fishing lighter leads, smaller feeders or targeting roach and mixed species. It’s the natural choice when you want a single rod that can handle everything from steady-flow chub and roach fishing to lighter barbel work and Tench/Bream sessions on stillwaters.

The Helical Barbel 12’ 2.50lb Avon (RHCL606) is the stepped-up option for heavier barbel tactics. With a stronger Avon top it has more power through the mid and butt sections, allowing you to “hit and hold” fish away from snags, control them in faster water and comfortably cast bigger feeders or heavier leads when conditions demand it. Although it’s primarily sold as a rod for Barbel and big Chub in challenging flow conditions or snaggy swims, it is also very well suited as a specimen rod for gravel pits and lakes when targeting big Bream and Tench, particularly when fishing at range or when you need that extra reserve of power to extract fish from weedy waters. It still bends smoothly into the tip, keeping hook pulls to a minimum, but gives you the authority needed on big, powerful rivers and demanding stillwaters.

Both rods feature full cork handles with DPS18 reel seats, black hoods, Acetile butt caps and collars, and black lined guides – a classic river and specimen aesthetic with the modern Helical twist. For anglers who want to fine-tune their setups further, the dedicated Helical Barbel / Specialist Quiver Tip (RHCLQT) is available as an additional tip option, giving even more flexibility when you want extra sensitivity or are tailoring the setup to specific flows and species.