for years I used cutback no.1s in my match kits for latex from 2 to 8 and thought no more of it. Last year I tried outing the no.1s and had some bushes made to use the same elastics and feel that the pole is a lot less whippy (duh! :rolleyes: ) and I get fewer tangles when fishing long with short lines to the float. Also, the elastics seem to be smoother with less stickiness. above a 3 the latex is run through the 2 & 3 section. The pole is obviously shorter but that’s taken care of with a phex/dolly butt.

It may or may not suit you it’s something you have to try.

If you can’t get an internal bush made up, then use a maver internal with another polemaster sleeving it to reduce the bore size, else you will be unable to use a crowfoot or small stonfo effectively on light eleastic.

Garbolino are bringing out bushes for this purpose, 1,8mm internal diameter and t.ex a 5,0mm external diameter.

I use an airity and remove all the No1’s from the match kits, just use a standard internal bush with single elastics from No3 upwards. I also use dacron connectors with beads which stops water getting in to an extent. On single elastics 3/5/6 whatever I only ever use the preston original slip, never sticks, runs a smooth as a babies bum and never had any problems.

get rid of no. 1 stubs for all elastics- even a light solid 1 or 2 actually works better thru a match no 2 as their’s no bend from the no. 1 to impede the elastic working smoothly even when using a severely cut back no. 1.