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New Normark Rods

Don't misunderstand me Alan I am not making a criticsm as I admit I have been and possibly still am a bit of a tackle tart though I have reduced my collection dramatically over the past few years, some I really regretted selling even though they were rarely used.
Anyway the feeders have been posted today. I trust you will be pleased with them
Mike
 
Mike Window said:
Don't misunderstand me Alan I am not making a criticsm as I admit I have been and possibly still am a bit of a tackle tart though I have reduced my collection dramatically over the past few years, some I really regretted selling even though they were rarely used.
Anyway the feeders have been posted today. I trust you will be pleased with them
Mike
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Not taken as one Mike; I’ve done the same and sold then re-bought tackle after regretting it….so now the amount of times I list something to sell then think nah is ridiculous!
 
Mike Window said:
I am getting a little confused and bemused with all the discussion and excitement over new float rods that are becoming available.
It was only a relatively short time ago everybody was raving about the Drenna Acolyte Specimen series of float rods. Is that old hat and should we be rushing to buy the more recent rods that are coming on the market?
With the winter floods and the extremely dry summer I have barely used my 14' Drennan specimen, which I really like.
Are the more recent rods any better and will they make a definite difference to my catches?
I may sound slightly cynical but having had literally hundreds of rods pass through my hands over the years and at one time had 400 plus ranging from cane. split cane glass and carbon in my collection. Sometimes I still fish with some old rods in fact yesterday I was using a Graham Phillips float rod for Tench fishing.That must be nearly 30 years old and really enjoyable to use.
I await some interesting responses.
Mike
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Sounds too me like you'll be in your local tackle shop purchasing one tomorrow Mike 🤔😂🤣
 
Mike Window said:
I am getting a little confused and bemused with all the discussion and excitement over new float rods that are becoming available.
It was only a relatively short time ago everybody was raving about the Drenna Acolyte Specimen series of float rods. Is that old hat and should we be rushing to buy the more recent rods that are coming on the market?
With the winter floods and the extremely dry summer I have barely used my 14' Drennan specimen, which I really like.
Are the more recent rods any better and will they make a definite difference to my catches?
I may sound slightly cynical but having had literally hundreds of rods pass through my hands over the years and at one time had 400 plus ranging from cane. split cane glass and carbon in my collection. Sometimes I still fish with some old rods in fact yesterday I was using a Graham Phillips float rod for Tench fishing.That must be nearly 30 years old and really enjoyable to use.
I await some interesting responses.
Mike
Click to expand...
In general I like to try out the latest thing but quite often the hype can sometimes be bigger than the actual experience.

Acolytes certainly are not old hat but when theres talk of new normarks being released, that is going to create quite a stir and prick a lot of peoples ears up.
until just a year ago, the name that once rocked the match world was gone for nearly 3 decades. Certainly nothing decent has been made by the brand since 2003 so it’s to be expected that there’s some shadows cast across other brands temporarily.

Personally I don’t think you can better the browning sphere river rods. I use others and think yeah they are better in some ways but then 30 seconds with a sphere in my hand and all becomes very clear and apparent. They are the best trotting rods ever to of existed no ifs buts or maybes….. in my opinion of course.

Its a shame they didn’t continue with them as if they had bought out a more stepped up version of both lengths to deal with lines up to 8lb then it would possibly be the case where i wouldn’t want to use anything but a sphere to fish with.
 
Is the acolyte specimen that much more powerful than the plus? I’ve had a few barbel on the plus but to me it’s not a rod for barbel, especially in faster water, very nice all round rod though. Are any of the new Normarks or Daiwas a better bet for barbel than a specimen ?
Not that I can afford a new rod at the moment, but I think next season I’m going to do a bit more trotting again hopefully. I always seem to get better chub on the float then legering too.
 
Should I expect my original 14ft Avenger to be the same as the new one re action/line rating,?

I'm assuming the 14ft Daiwa XP will be a stronger action and the 14ft Hardy Specialist will sit midway?
 
Graham Elliott said:
Should I expect my original 14ft Avenger to be the same as the new one re action/line rating,?

I'm assuming the 14ft Daiwa XP will be a stronger action and the 14ft Hardy Specialist will sit midway?
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I have the original avenger and 14ft hardy specialist (it was yours btw), I feel the new avenger is more power than both original and hardy.
 
Huanzhou Zhu said:
Also tried the avenger that my mate bought. The 13ft avenger feels better than the 12-14ft, lighter and well balanced, and it has a fine tip that won’t bump the small fish. I wish they will bring the 15ft out soon.

The tip of the these rods are so fast just feels like a spliced one, and the power in the butt is there when you need it. Top quality components, and top build quality. So enjoyable to use and play fish on.

I think they did a great job in designing and producing these rods. These rods definitely have the signature normark action and
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Alan Palmer said:
Boys toys Mike, at least it is for me! I don’t need anymore rods but it won’t stop me buying and using them because I get pleasure from it. I work hard enough for the money, don’t go out drinking or smoke or run a flash car, so if I can afford it why not? I guess others will all have their reasons but an enjoyable part if this angling pastime we have is buying and using new (and old) tackle, some I keep and some I don’t.
I have a mate who collects toy models and gets very excited about those…not my thing but it puts a smile on his face, he doesn’t understand my tackle obsession…so be it. Basically I enjoy being a tackle tart
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Graham Elliott said:
Still got 2 Huanzhou😀
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I would like a peek at your collection Graham!. Ha.
 
Richard Isaacs said:
In general I like to try out the latest thing but quite often the hype can sometimes be bigger than the actual experience.

Acolytes certainly are not old hat but when theres talk of new normarks being released, that is going to create quite a stir and prick a lot of peoples ears up.
until just a year ago, the name that once rocked the match world was gone for nearly 3 decades. Certainly nothing decent has been made by the brand since 2003 so it’s to be expected that there’s some shadows cast across other brands temporarily.

Personally I don’t think you can better the browning sphere river rods. I use others and think yeah they are better in some ways but then 30 seconds with a sphere in my hand and all becomes very clear and apparent. They are the best trotting rods ever to of existed no ifs buts or maybes….. in my opinion of course.

Its a shame they didn’t continue with them as if they had bought out a more stepped up version of both lengths to deal with lines up to 8lb then it would possibly be the case where i wouldn’t want to use anything but a sphere to fish with.
Click to expand...

Richard, to be fair I use 6lb sensor (which you could say is 8lb in reality) straight through on my sphere rods, thats both the wagglers and spliced rods and had no issues at all. I have used them to target barbel for a number of years and have had quite a lot whilst using them. I favoured the 14ft waggler but now and again would use the 13 6 spliced rod. The very first fish I caught with the 13 6 spliced rod was a 10lb plus barbel. I gree that the spheres are a top notch rod to trott a float and deffo one of the best for the purpose (likewise to you...jmo) but I do like the action and extra power of the acolyte specimen rods whilst targetting barbel.
If the latest avenger has the same blank action with added power as the acolyte specimen then i'd be all over one.
 
Matt Shipley said:
Is the acolyte specimen that much more powerful than the plus? I’ve had a few barbel on the plus but to me it’s not a rod for barbel, especially in faster water, very nice all round rod though. Are any of the new Normarks or Daiwas a better bet for barbel than a specimen ?
Not that I can afford a new rod at the moment, but I think next season I’m going to do a bit more trotting again hopefully. I always seem to get better chub on the float then legering too.
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I have found the specimen has noticeably more power than the plus and a better action for me when float fishing for larger chub, barbel & tench etc. I would agree the plus isn't really a barbel rod, the fish I landed on my plus (and the ones I lost) convinced me of that.

It is fantastic to see so many different tackle companies making good rods that are suitable for float fishing for bigger fish.
 
Richard Isaacs said:
That was kinda my point.
I know the spheres are capable rods but having a stepped up version would complete them for me.
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Ok, for sure a power model of the sphere would have been great.

Michael Brindle said:
I have found the specimen has noticeably more power than the plus and a better action for me when float fishing for larger chub, barbel & tench etc. I would agree the plus isn't really a barbel rod, the fish I landed on my plus (and the ones I lost) convinced me of that.

It is fantastic to see so many different tackle companies making good rods that are suitable for float fishing for bigger fish.
Click to expand...

Funny enough I used the plus's in 13 and 14ft specifically for barbel and found them to be great for the purpose.
I also used my avenger mkII ( the first mkIIs which were all 13ft) for barbel, again it was great to catch barbel on.
Another rod which is great to catch barbel with, and a rod you never hear of now was the drennan im8 specimen float rod, i'm lucky that I still have a minter in my posession.
I used a 14ft daiwa Tournament RS PF Dave Harrell rod the other day and like those above rods it is another one ideal to trot a float for barbel etc.
Unfortunately tackle companies often only produce some great rods for a short spell before ceasing their production.
 
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Ian Woods said:
Richard, to be fair I use 6lb sensor (which you could say is 8lb in reality) straight through on my sphere rods, thats both the wagglers and spliced rods and had no issues at all. I have used them to target barbel for a number of years and have had quite a lot whilst using them. I favoured the 14ft waggler but now and again would use the 13 6 spliced rod. The very first fish I caught with the 13 6 spliced rod was a 10lb plus barbel. I gree that the spheres are a top notch rod to trott a float and deffo one of the best for the purpose (likewise to you...jmo) but I do like the action and extra power of the acolyte specimen rods whilst targetting barbel.
If the latest avenger has the same blank action with added power as the acolyte specimen then i'd be all over one.
Click to expand...
Well, after using the13ft new avenger, I decided to sell my acolyte specimen and get an avenger instead, but it’s just me.
 
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