Cotswold Rods

Hello and welcome to the Cotswold Rods latest news page!

We will keep you regularly updated with many things, from our personal fishing diaries, what’s going on in the custom fishing rod world, through to special offers and events.

By following our blog you will gain an insight into the motivation behind our company, what products we can offer and also how our new products are developed and tested.

Rigorous testing and development for the new range is still underway but almost complete.

This range of rods will be the best available at the price point – BAR NONE!!

We have decided to only sell these direct, to keep the costs down for the end user.

The result for the customer is a rod with flawless design, superb build quality and optimum performance.

We are a premier rod building company, and whether you are spending £100, £200 or £300, we have the products to offer you the best value for your budget.

Choosing the components for your custom rods can be a minefield if you are not sure exactly whats available, or what you require.

To make it easier for our customers, we are in the process of cataloging many of our more popular options.

We are also going to offer Cotswold Rods ‘special builds’ on each of our blanks.
Our builds will be functional, look good and be hardwearing, everything you need.

Just a quick update!

It been a manic few months here at Cotswold. This winter has been SERIOUSLY busy and a great sign of things to come.

Hers a couple of snippets of news for you about forthcoming products…….

A slightly different new blank to be added to our own range, to sit between the R1 and XX range, action wise.

Made to functional standard rather than price, these will be slightly more expensive at around £300, but will offer superior performance.

Also in the prototype stage is a new landing net system. Based on a 6ft pole, it will offer ultimate ease of use.

As soon as time allows to update, I will post some in depth information.

Earlier in the year, well known big fish angler Jason Hayward bought a set of rods from us.

Knowing he has an eye for detail, we were keen to know how he was getting on with them.
Im glad to say he was impressed!

Jason wrote…

”I have been using the rods for some 4 weeks now, as I didn’t fish in August.
They initially felt very very different to the Century FS rods that I was
using, like of course they would. However, I am pleased to inform you that
I’ve now taken a good number of fish on them, from right under my feet, to
about 90 yards, which the rods handle with ease considering I’m using 16lb
fluorocarbon. I’m pleased to tell you I’m over the moon with the way they
cast, play and handle fish and look!
Thank you!

Then maybe have a look at our simple youtube video showcasing a few builds.
It easy to pause and view builds.

It is with great pleasure we can now offer our Halcyon rod range ready for sale in our online shop.

You can now order and pay online with Paypal or via card.
Delivery will be within 5 working days!

The Halcyon Range

Models available – 12ft 2.75lb, 12ft 3.25lb and 13ft 3.5lb Euro Special.

Ultimate performance – ultimate value

The Halcyon range has been designed to offer market leading performance never before seen at this price point.
Using our extensive knowledge of todays carp rod market, we have designed a fantastic rod range suitable for almost all UK and European carp fishing situations.
We have designed the range to include only the blanks that are really demanded by todays anglers.

The blanks are built for exclusively for us by the experts at Harrison Advanced Rods in Liverpool, using the finest quality carbon fibre materials available. Harrison needs no introduction as the finest fishing rod blank manufacturer in the world today, and this range is testimony to their expertise.

Using our ultimate build knowledge, we have built the range to offer the ultimate mix form, function and performance. The Halcyon range uses only the finest quality components, including Fuji reel seats, Kigan 3D ringing and of course, Cotswold build quality.

The Halcyons possess a dynamic semi fast action, making them soft in the tip but crisp, accurate and responsive in the cast. By using a mix of superb materials, the progression of power through the rod enables full control and involvement at all times.
The whole range possesses an incredible power to weight ratio, due to their unique action.

The 2.75 model is light, responsive and deadly accurate. Great fun to use, and can cope with big fish with ease. Due to their crisp action, they cast very well with most popular lead sizes and retain a lovely playing action.

The 3.25 model is designed for the big fish angler, wanting the ultimate all round rod. This rod will cast leads up to 4oz with ease, hitting distance when needed, also equally at home in marginal hit and hold situations. Light in weight, easy to use and holding plenty of power in reserve, this rod gives the angler ultimate confidence. Probably the ultimate all rounder for the UK angler.

The 13ft 3.5lb model is the heavyweight end of the range. Designed for the angler fishing the larger venue, their semi fast action enables long casting and great line pick up at long range. Although very powerful, they still retain Halcyon feel in the hand and a great progressive fish playing action.

We are offering these rods as a Cotswold standard build, something we have not done before.
We have decided to do this to keep the costs down for our customers, providing ultimate value for money. Using our knowledge of performance components, we have built the Halcyon range to the highest specification.
Our standard build consists of Fuji DPS reel seats, Kigan 3D ringing, full length slim line duplon handle, stainless steel fittings and exquisite silver thread detailing, make these arguably the best looking standard build rods on the market.

Custom builds are also available, but will be extra.

Full cork handles + £20 per rod

Full Shrink + £15 per rod

Abbreviated shrink +£5 per rod

Our new and super exclusive rod range – The Halcyon – is being released very soon (hopefully March 1st)

These rods have been a long time in development, and will offer the best value for money of any rod on the market.
We have used our expertise and knowledge to produce a rod with top performance with a retail price (for standard build) of sub £200!

I will update with full details and pictures over the next few days.

We are currently updating our website with new features, please be patient if it is taking a while to load whilst we perform updates.

Many thanks
Tom

Hello all,

Although I have never been one for really recording all my captures, Tom has asked me to keep a small diary of my fishing days and ways for the Cotswold Rods website.

Although I am a practical minded kind of chap, academia has never been my strongest point. But with a little persuasion from Tom, I have agreed, for better or worse, for the first time to add my catches and blanks to internet history!

Firstly I’d like to introduce myself. My names Colin Court, I’m a 45 year old grandfather, and a ground working contractor by trade. Like most keen fishermen, I work full time and snatch my fishing whenever I can.
I live on the beautiful Sussex coast, just outside of Brighton and I like to fish for anything and everything. I am lucky in that where I live, I have a plethora of venues locally, so whatever the season may be, there are feeding fish to be found.
If I were pushed to label myself as a specific type of angler, I guess I would label myself a specialist angler. I like to fish for different species seasonally, in the traditional season for each one.
In the summer, generally I’ll fish for carp, tench and bream in the Sussex meres and estate lakes. Occasionally, I’ll chase mullet from the local Sussex River Ouse. However, when the leaves turn golden and start to fall in the autumn, then I like to turn my attentions to barbel and chub in the milder weather, and perch and roach when first the frosts arrive leading into winter.

As I previously mentioned, my past records of captures have not been committed to pen and paper, or keyboard and screen, but are stored in the old grey matter. With middle age well set in, these memories are becoming ever increasingly vague . So with that in mind (or not! ) I decided that I am not going to start my blog with stories of personal bests or previous catches, but too look forward to dreaming about, and hoping for, future catches.
This coming season I will be pursuing a wily 40lb+ carp from an extremely difficult local mere. I will also be chasing my first Sussex barbel, a 4lb perch and with work allowing me too, a few impromptu spur of the moment sessions, for whatever condition dictate!
I hope that when I’m adding to this blog over the coming season that I am able to not only add my captures, but in an articulate manner also convey the laughs and tears together with my observations and thoughts along the way……. here’s hoping !

Cheers, and all the best for the 2012 season
Colin