Free Spirit Hi S Special Power Feeder Rod Abbreviated Handle
Free Spirit take the development of any new rods very seriously and always try to offer something extra special to our customers. To say the guys at Free Spirit are excited about the new range of Free Spirit Hi-‘S’ Power Feeders would be an understatement.
As with all Free Spirit products, they seek to develop these to be the best they can offer and then they are good for many years’ service. To ensure this was the case with the Power Feeders we had some of the very best feeder anglers involved in the development and testing of this range.
These rods had to be capable of casting but also have a subtle build-up of power to load gradually so method feeders, in particular, did not explode on the cast. With the Hi-‘S’ low resin carbons it was easy to make a rod light yet responsive and powerful but we had to work hard to ensure there were no flat spots or harsh areas that would spoil the required action. One of the keys to this was using long hollow quiver tips made from the same material as the rest of the blank which ensured the transition of power through the quiver tip to top section was smooth and even. Quiver tip guide sizes are larger at size 5 or size 6 depending on the rating of the tip and this allows shock leader knots to pass through with less resistance and also helps prevent clogging of the quiver tip with surface debris. The big advantage of this is that long distances can be achieved with much smaller feeders – especially important in winter when fish push out from the bank but you don’t want to put much bait on the feeder and risk overfeeding.
Free Spirit are currently developing a range of lighter glass quiver tips especially suited for the Power Feeder Specials for targeting roach and other smaller silvers and anticipate these will be available shortly.
Section lengths are equal and we offer two piece versions in 11’, 12’ and 13’ since the actions of these are slightly more progressive than the three piece rods due to having longer sections and one joint less. The diameter of the blank can also be reduced making the rod have a slimmer taper. For those needing shorter transport lengths, we produce these in 3 piece in lengths of 13’ and 14’. Guides are Kigan Anti-Frap with large size 30 butt guide and larger intermediates – all helping with the use of heavier lines and particularly shock leaders in common use for this style of fishing. The reel seat on the standard build is a Fuji TVSM17 which gives a very positive feel through the blank and also fits the larger reels in common use on big reservoirs. All models are offered in more traditional full cork handles or the abbreviated build, with the option of custom built handles too.
There are effectively two ranges of rods in the Power Feeders:
Special: Designed for carp, bream and roach with a forgiving action – casting weight up to 120g
Distance: Designed for extreme ranges on reservoirs and lochs and big European rivers where additional power is needed - casting weight to 160g.
”The Hi-‘S’ is my choice for long-range feeder fishing at all the big waters I fish whether I’m targeting bream at somewhere like Ferry Meadows or carp at Boddington there’s a rod in the range to suit.
From my first waggle with the Hi-‘S’ range of Power Feeders I knew they were the rods for me. I love the powerful progressive action that aids casting a long way whilst also managing to be forgiving enough to avoid hook pulls. The hollow carbon tips are a big bonus for me as they definitely help reduce crack offs when casting long distances, a great addition especially when using braided lines.”
Rob Wootton
MODEL RATINGS
Free Spirit Hi-'S' Power Feeder Special 360 (12’)
Line Rating: 0.18 - 0.30 / 4lb - 12lb
Casting Weight: 20g - 120g
Free Spirit Hi-'S' Power Feeder Special 390 (13’)
Line Rating: 0.18 - 0.30 / 4lb - 12lb
Casting Weight: 20g - 120g
Free Spirit Hi-'S' Power Feeder Special 420 (14’)
Line Rating: 0.18 - 0.30 / 4lb - 12lb
Casting Weight: 20g - 120g
This shows which tips the rods come supplied with.
Hi-‘S’ Power Feeder 12’ Special 2½, 3
Hi-‘S’ Power Feeder 13’ Special 2½, 3
Hi-‘S’ Power Feeder 14’ Special 2½, 3
All tips supplied are Hollow Carbon
