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Darent Valley 13ft 2 piece specialist float rod.

Neil Blood

Neil Blood

Senior Member & Supporter
Does anyone have experience of this rod:


I want a 2 piece 13ft float rod, to be used for laying on for Perch with lobworms, which are occasionally taken by big Chub and Barbel. I’m not looking for a powerful Barbel float rod and I wont be holding the rod, as its fished on rests.

Its to replace a Drennan compact extension float rod, which is too floppy in the top two thirds for fishing near cover. I also want a 2 piece rod for ease of transport after making up at home.
 
I ordered one and sent it back, taking in to account return postage I only got £30ish back but I really didn't like it. In the hand, it felt to me unwieldily and floppy but I can't comment on how it would be with a fish on. I didn't even put a bend in it as I could tell I wasn't going to want to use it just from holding it.

I'd be tempted to hold some 13ft pellet wagglers if I was looking again.
 
Have only used mine once so far but for a non connoisseur and for the low cost it appears to be decent rod. It's a bit hobson's choice in the two piece 13ft float rod department and might have chosen differently if there were more choice but for my needs it's adequate.
 
Christian Tyroll said:
I ordered one and sent it back, taking in to account return postage I only got £30ish back but I really didn't like it. In the hand, it felt to me unwieldily and floppy but I can't comment on how it would be with a fish on. I didn't even put a bend in it as I could tell I wasn't going to want to use it just from holding it.

I'd be tempted to hold some 13ft pellet wagglers if I was looking again.
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That floppiness is the problem with the Drennan, when laying on close to cover, as when you hit a good fish, the top two thirds of the rod bend right round before hitting the more powerful lower butt section. You’re effectively giving the fish a meter start before you’re anywhere near in control. This is a dangerous game with overhanging willow branches and underwater root systems.
 
I only just realised that there’s this option from Free Spirit in 13ft:

johnsonrosstackle.co.uk

Free Spirit Tamer Power Float Rod

As with the Free Spirit Hi-'S' Special Power Float Rods Free Spirit prefer the actions when made with longer section lengths and less joints so the 10ft, 12ft and 13ft are two piece and the 15ft is three piece.
johnsonrosstackle.co.uk johnsonrosstackle.co.uk

Any opinions please, based on what I want it for?
 
I think an older drennan tench float rod might be a good option. The super tench rods are very good but are only 12ft 9 inch long.
The very next incarnations were 13ft and are excellent also.
I think they often come up on eBay and a lot are unused, or little used.
 
Ian Woods said:
I think an older drennan tench float rod might be a good option. The super tench rods are very good but are only 12ft 9 inch long.
The very next incarnations were 13ft and are excellent also.
I think they often come up on eBay and a lot are unused, or little used.
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He wants a 2 piece rod specifically mate.
I can think of dozens of 3 piece rods that would do the job but 2 piece 13ft is a much smaller market
 
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I'm a little surprised at Christian Tyroll's comment about it being floppy, although I don't have this rod I do have the 11' Specialist 0.75 and the 11' twin tip 1.25 Avons from Darent Valley and find them to have quite a stiff action and plenty of power. Perhaps the 13' float is on a different style of blank.
 
Steve Roffey said:
I'm a little surprised at Christian Tyroll's comment about it being floppy, although I don't have this rod I do have the 11' Specialist 0.75 and the 11' twin tip 1.25 Avons from Darent Valley and find them to have quite a stiff action and plenty of power. Perhaps the 13' float is on a different style of blank.
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I can’t pretend to be an expert on float rods, it might be brilliant for the price but I thought it felt horrible. I bought it on the basis of reading good reviews so I’m possibly in the minority.
 
Korum all rounder 3k 12ft 1.5tc.

Enough power, cheap, 2 piece.


What I use for most of my chub feeder or perch float fishing. Just a foot short.....
 
Richard Isaacs said:
He wants a 2 piece rod specifically mate.
I can think of dozens of 3 piece rods that would do the job but 2 piece 13ft is a much smaller market
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Yea, I forgot about that 🙄, although it is easy to strap a 3 piece up just the same as a 2 piece....for me at least.

There are the two piece free spirit float rods like the ones Chris has, they would be ideal for Nieil purpose.
Im sure chris will see this and possibly leave a comment about them.
 
I had the Darent Valley float and hated it. Tip felt stiffish but the middle section had no backbone. Felt like the old tank ariel
 
Richard Isaacs said:
Yeah I have no issues either. In fact I prefer 3 pieces being more compact
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Me too, I prefer a 3 piece.

The 11ft hardy avon rods are mangable in their two section models, now they really would be ideal for Neil if he could cope with a foot shorter rod and the cash outlay. Hardy also do a 11ft 6inch avon which again would be ideal.....no floppy mid sections on them avons!
 
Being particular about two piece 13' rods leaves you with Hobson's choice. As far as I'm aware, you've currently got Freespirit (Tamer and Hi-S) and TB Darent Valley. If you are prepared to go second hand, you might get some older FS models and perhaps others. However, you won't be falling over them, they aren't exactly common.

As alluded to above, I have a pair of old Freespirit Specialist Advanced Power Float 1lb 6oz. They also did a 1lb 2oz variant which I've never managed to get my sticky mitts on. I can't comment on the latter, but the former are little use for trotting, unless you want an upper body work out. They aren't much use for fish much less than 10lb either. It's not particularly unfair to suggest they are brutal. They are certainly thee most powerful genuine float rods I've ever encountered. They make Acolyte Specimens look feeble.

As an aside, if you've never had 13' two piece rods before, see if you can borrow one to try transporting and storing. As far as I'm concerned, they are a royal PITA.
 
Chris Jones said:
Being particular about two piece 13' rods leaves you with Hobson's choice. As far as I'm aware, you've currently got Freespirit (Tamer and Hi-S) and TB Darent Valley. If you are prepared to go second hand, you might get some older FS models and perhaps others. However, you won't be falling over them, they aren't exactly common.

As alluded to above, I have a pair of old Freespirit Specialist Advanced Power Float 1lb 6oz. They also did a 1lb 2oz variant which I've never managed to get my sticky mitts on. I can't comment on the latter, but the former are little use for trotting, unless you want an upper body work out. They aren't much use for fish much less than 10lb either. It's not particularly unfair to suggest they are brutal. They are certainly thee most powerful genuine float rods I've ever encountered. They make Acolyte Specimens look feeble.

As an aside, if you've never had 13' two piece rods before, see if you can borrow one to try transporting and storing. As far as I'm concerned, they are a royal PITA.
Click to expand...

To be fair Chris, I had dace etc when I used one of your freespirit advanced power float rods as well as chub and barbel and it was fine. The chub and barbel did put a decent enough bend in it and the tip section was surprisingly bent over with the dace and chublets.

I only used Chris's rod one time and as he says transporting it was a "royal pain in the arse" lol.
We had a day out on a river after the grayling several months back and a m8 of mine picked me up in his pick up.
I was going to take Chris's rod with me to give him back but the rod was too long to fit in the back of the pick up!
 
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