New Normark Rods

[Ian Woods]

It's a no-brainer to me, first of all, both 13ft avenger and acolyte specimens weigh 170g, so the biggest advantage of acolytes over other float rods is gone. Second, the avenger has a faster tip, which I like a lot. Third, the avenger has a better action and fish playing feel. As I said, the new Avenger has similar action to the 2000, but slightly more powerful. It keeps bending, but you never feel like you're out of control. The acolyte feels wobbly when under pressure; it's common on high modulus carbon blanks, crisp but lacks flexibility. But that's what puts rods like Avenger, sphere, and Daiwa Tournament apart from acolyte, and why they cost more.

I was a big fan of normark rods both the 2000s and the 3000s and had the majority of the models shortly after their release way back when.
For me the 3000s were better than the 2000s and unlike the 2000s the 3000s felt good with the 2ft extension in place and fished at 15ft.
When I got my hands on the first range of mkIIs which were all 13ft I sold all the 2000 and 3000 rods because the mkIIs felt better to me, as advertised....slimmer lighter and more powerful with better guides.
The tips on the mkIIs were much less fragile also, although I never had a 2000 or 3000 tip break in use.

So, if the latest avenger is only slightly more powerful than the 2000 avenger I think it would be pointless me buying one. Going off that I can't figure how the new avenger would be more powerful than a speci accy rod either since the speci accy rod is way more powerful than the 2000 avenger?
I'm a little confused how the new avenger can have a faster action than a specimen acolyte when i've been told it has a softer mid section?

 

[Richard Isaacs]

I was a big fan of normark rods both the 2000s and the 3000s and had the majority of the models shortly after their release way back when.
For me the 3000s were better than the 2000s and unlike the 2000s the 3000s felt good with the 2ft extension in place and fished at 15ft.
When I got my hands on the first range of mkIIs which were all 13ft I sold all the 2000 and 3000 rods because the mkIIs felt better to me, as advertised....slimmer lighter and more powerful with better guides.
The tips on the mkIIs were much less fragile also, although I never had a 2000 or 3000 tip break in use.

So, if the latest avenger is only slightly more powerful than the 2000 avenger I think it would be pointless me buying one. Going off that I can't figure how the new avenger would be more powerful than a speci accy rod either since the speci accy rod is way more powerful than the 2000 avenger?
I'm a little confused how the new avenger can have a faster action than a specimen acolyte when i've been told it has a softer mid section?

I know for your specific type of fishing, the amount of power or stiffness in a float rod determines pretty much everything but it’s not the case for other people particularly if fishing for other things on other venues.

I personally don’t see a stiffer float rod to always be a better one. Sometimes it is but
in the right situation I love a microlight. Most of the float rods i actually use regularly are what I call stepped up or 4-6 rods as they suit 80% of my trotting better than the real powerhouses or lighter actioned silvers rod

Huanzhou might not need the rod to be diamond stiff to prefer it.

 

[Ian Woods]

I know for your specific type of fishing, the amount of power or stiffness in a float rod determines pretty much everything but it’s not the case for other people particularly if fishing for other things on other venues.

I personally don’t see a stiffer float rod to always be a better one. Sometimes it is but
in the right situation I love a microlight. Most of the float rods i actually use regularly are what I call stepped up or 4-6 rods as they suit 80% of my trotting better than the real powerhouses or lighter actioned silvers rod

Huanzhou might not need the rod to be diamond stiff to prefer it.

Hey, HZ likes what he likes, good luck to him and it's good he's got a rod he likes.

I don't think power and stiffness are quite the same, you can still have a weaker rod with a stiff blank and fast action. A friend of mine has some very nice examples from Rive.
As far as i'm aware and have always been led to believe a softer mid section (waggler rod) is usually associated with still water fishing whatever power the rod posesses.

 

[Huanzhou Zhu]

Hey, HZ likes what he likes, good luck to him and it's good he's got a rod he likes.

I don't think power and stiffness are quite the same, you can still have a weaker rod with a stiff blank and fast action. A friend of mine has some very nice examples from Rive.
As far as i'm aware and have always been led to believe a softer mid section (waggler rod) is usually associated with still water fishing whatever power the rod posesses.

The thing is, the avenger doesn’t have a soft mid section, at least I wouldn’t call it soft. It is definitely stiffer than the 2000 and the original, not sure about the 3000 and mk2 as I never handled them. I said slightly powerful than the 2000, because the rod has a fine tip and progress action, I feel there’s a lot of power in mid to lower sections but haven’t caught anything big enough to test it.

It is a rod designed with river fishing in mind, not like a waggler rod at all.

 

[Alec Hague]

What’s the reason Huanzhou that makes the avenger that much better than the acolyte for you?
As we know the acolyte specimen is lighter, comes in 4 dedicated lengths for a start

Hey, HZ likes what he likes, good luck to him and it's good he's got a rod he likes.

I don't think power and stiffness are quite the same, you can still have a weaker rod with a stiff blank and fast action. A friend of mine has some very nice examples from Rive.
As far as i'm aware and have always been led to believe a softer mid section (waggler rod) is usually associated with still water fishing whatever power the rod posesses.

Hi Ian. Interested you mention a friend has rive rods. I was upset when I missed a r design on ebay at silly money. I bought a feeder last year from Austria and have to say its an 11ft dream.. if your pal thinks of disposing of any, I am interested. Please pass this on to hi.. cheers Alec

 

[Ian Woods]

Hi Ian. Interested you mention a friend has rive rods. I was upset when I missed a r design on ebay at silly money. I bought a feeder last year from Austria and have to say its an 11ft dream.. if your pal thinks of disposing of any, I am interested. Please pass this on to hi.. cheers Alec

Hi Alec. If he does decide to sell any I will let you know, although I very much doubt he will. He has two float rods and I handled them a few months back on the river. They had lovely rigid blanks and a super fast action and were amazingly light!

 

[Alec Hague]

Hi Alec. If he does decide to sell any I will let you know, although I very much doubt he will. He has two float rods and I handled them a few months back on the river. They had lovely rigid blanks and a super fast action and were amazingly light!

yes they have a nice feel. The r design were £400 at A/D, so very pricy! Toray carbon too but I don't think the standard R rods had that but still very light as you say.

 

[Richard Isaacs]

I don't think power and stiffness are quite the same,

I absolutely agree mate. I think they counter each other a lot of the time because to my mind power = pressure you can apply to a fish and to do that the rod or lever against you needs to be as short as possible but obviously not break

 

[Huanzhou Zhu]

I absolutely agree mate. I think they counter each other a lot of the time because to my mind power = pressure you can apply to a fish and to do that the rod or lever against you needs to be as short as possible but obviously not break

I 100% agree the stiffness and power are not the same thing. But to me, the power of the rod is when a rod bends under an external force, the force it generates to restore itself.

 

[Carl Massey]

I know there have been a lot of comparisons with the Drennan Acolyte but how the Normarks compare to say the Free Spirit Hi-S Special Power, as like a lot of people am really waiting for a 15ft float option. I have the Mark Tunley Specialist Float 13.5 ft at the moment which is a great all round rod as I don't feel over powered even when pulling in small stuff and that seems to have some power but only had chub to 5.5 lb to really test it.

Any views on the FS or MK1's against the new Normarks?

 

[Alec Hague]

I know there have been a lot of comparisons with the Drennan Acolyte but how the Normarks compare to say the Free Spirit Hi-S Special Power, as like a lot of people am really waiting for a 15ft float option. I have the Mark Tunley Specialist Float 13.5 ft at the moment which is a great all round rod as I don't feel over powered even when pulling in small stuff and that seems to have some power but only had chub to 5.5 lb to really test it.

Any views on the FS or MK1's against the new Normarks?

yes Carl, that's what I am waiting for too. I have always held the view that with the passage of time, progress in materials, design etc enable improvements not previously achievable. Therefore improved material, techniques should result in some changes, either improved product , lower prices or whatever. Given what was available in the 90's, clearly from what I read, the Normarks were way in front of the float competition. I would expect for the reasons above they are streets ahead now. Pricewise they appear a bargain compared to yester year. That's what it is all about in my view. Have they succeeded in blowing the competition out of the water, again? I give them 10 out of 10 for application and effort. But its you guys with experience of before and after which will influence whether they are a commercial success. I sincerely hope they are, as I admire people who have a go and try. I did try loads of things in my commercial life, probably 12 plus different schemes. all failed. The RSM tutted a few times, but did whatever she could to make them work, still at it after 58 years, (today in fact) ! Wow!

 

[Neil Blood]

Took delivery of a 13ft Avenger mid week, used it on the Upper Severn in Wales yesterday and in a snaggy swim. 7lb line on the pin with 5lb hook length to a size 16 super spade hook.

Had 7 quality Chub to just under 5lb. No monsters or Barbel, but the rod just blew me away. As noted in a previous post, really fast tip on the strike and good progressive action with power reserves. No hook pulls and the rod did all the work in playing the fish, as not once did I give any line off the pin, when the Chub headed for both near and far bank willows

 

[Tim Penn]

Had 11 barbel (albeit small - up to around 5lb) on the upper lea today on my avenger, not a true test of the rods limits in terms of size but in such a shallow and narrow river as very close quarters, and with a good 4-5ft of under the far bank dash space that they all go for immediately on hooking, it performed admirably. They are a joy to play fish on and give you confidence that there is always plenty of power left over despite feeling very light and looking fairly slim. My acolyte plus gives me a weird 'I'm too delicate' feeling (purely personal), the avenger definitely doesn't, it screams 'I'm made for this'.

 

[Alec Hague]

discounted on ebay with free postage. Does that seem right?

 

[Richard Isaacs]

There’s a couple of spots on the river nene where I have been lucky enough to encounter an odd barbel on float tackle which I believe would be a true test of a power float rod’s actual strength.

So far I’ve only been brave enough to try 3 rods and only 2 have really been put under maximum strain and landed very large fish in what can only be described as a snag pit. The 3rd rod I managed to loose one to a straightened hook in a hold on for dear life situation and still remains unfully tested despite the fact i could hear the whippings creaking under pressure before the small hook gave up and was returned to me looking like an unfolded paperclip.

Once the dedicated 14 or 15 footers come to market I shall make a decision as to whether i want to try an avenger legacy out for it or not. In this situation the stiffness of the action isn’t as important as the actual strength of the carbon fibre itself

One rod that feels like it could be absolutely fantastic for it is the tricast triaxial but I’m just not brave enough to try it there.
The fact it’s taken me over a decade to find a mint complete one and they etched what seems to me like an underrated line rating on the side of it puts me completely off the idea of giving it a go yet it feels like it was made for it.

 

[Michael Brindle]

There’s a couple of spots on the river nene where I have been lucky enough to encounter an odd barbel on float tackle which I believe would be a true test of a power float rod’s actual strength.

So far I’ve only been brave enough to try 3 rods and only 2 have really been put under maximum strain and landed very large fish in what can only be described as a snag pit. The 3rd rod I managed to loose one to a straightened hook in a hold on for dear life situation and still remains unfully tested despite the fact i could hear the whippings creaking under pressure before the small hook gave up and was returned to me looking like an unfolded paperclip.

Once the dedicated 14 or 15 footers come to market I shall make a decision as to whether i want to try an avenger legacy out for it or not. In this situation the stiffness of the action isn’t as important as the actual strength of the carbon fibre itself

One rod that feels like it could be absolutely fantastic for it is the tricast triaxial but I’m just not brave enough to try it there.
The fact it’s taken me over a decade to find a mint complete one and they etched what seems to me like an underrated line rating on the side of it puts me completely off the idea of giving it a go yet it feels like it was made for it.

I have found my Triaxial rods to be great all rounders, I am not bumping dace and roach off when fishing for chub & barbel, yet it had enough lower down to deal with the bigger fish. However in a few swims I don't use them and prefer the tsi 15ft power float.

A new 15ft Normark is a potential consideration along with a MK1 Hi S power float if I spot one for sale.

 

[Chris Jones]

discounted on ebay with free postage. Does that seem right?

RRPs on rods and reels from mainstream brands typically do not last very long. Some are total fiction before the products even reach the shops. I doubt I've paid full RRP on any new rod in the last thirty years. I'm not the type to demand discounts, and I'm also not a haggler. I generally have enough time on my hands to search for deals and the patience to wait for them.

 

[Richard Isaacs]

I have found my Triaxial rods to be great all rounders, I am not bumping dace and roach off when fishing for chub & barbel, yet it had enough lower down to deal with the bigger fish. However in a few swims I don't use them and prefer the tsi 15ft power float.

A new 15ft Normark is a potential consideration along with a MK1 Hi S power float if I spot one for sale.

The tsi is the 2nd rod I felt quite comfortable tackling double figured barbel on in the river nene and being completely honest it was only Down to the fact that I owned 2 at time, paid little for them and if I broke one it wouldn’t be the end of the world so i didn’t hesitate with it.
I had a 12 and a 13 on it at very close quarters to a fallen tree and it’s completely boosted my confidence in that blank as a very strong and capable 15ft float rod’.
It’s not a particularly over stiffened blank either but the carbon is obviously very high quality being thin, light and strong.

Personally i believe a sphere river rod would deal with those zoo creatures in the nene simply due to the fact that the carbon quality is as good as you’ll ever find. While the hard to obtain line ratings might state otherwise and the blanks resistance to bending is not as “stiff” as other so called power float rods out there, I absolutely believe you would need an immense amount of force to break it. It’s action is perfectly suited to tame massive fish because it bends so perfectly into a sweet fish playing curve but has the progression in the bend for you put down the foot and say enough is enough.
It’s all superficial anyway cos there’s no way on heaven Hell or earth I’m feeding that rod 0.24 for a monster nene barbel in a snag pit….. just incase I’ve predicted it very wrong!

 

[Richard Isaacs]

MK1 Hi S power float if I spot one for sale.

There’s no risk at all with this rod. It is as strong as carbon fibre can possibly get. I have 2 of them.
Between them they have quite literally been to hell and back.
One of them has tamed a known nene fish which knocks close to 15lb in summer and both have extracted 12’s and 13’s out without too much trouble but I’d be lying if i said none

Yes they bend and with serious fish on they’ll progressively bend right to the cork but the strength of the carbon is unreal.
There have been afew occasions I’ve had to look away from the rod in fear it’s going to explode but miraculously it never has.

Not the lightest of rods when you compare to acolytes, tsi, triaxial etc. they can be as light but it doesn’t work. Around 200g is where they work best.

 

[Alec Hague]

There’s no risk at all with this rod. It is as strong as carbon fibre can possibly get. I have 2 of them.
Between them they have quite literally been to hell and back.
One of them has tamed a known nene fish which knocks close to 15lb in summer and both have extracted 12’s and 13’s out without too much trouble but I’d be lying if i said none

Yes they bend and with serious fish on they’ll progressively bend right to the cork but the strength of the carbon is unreal.
There have been afew occasions I’ve had to look away from the rod in fear it’s going to explode but miraculously it never has.

Not the lightest of rods when you compare to acolytes, tsi, triaxial etc. they can be as light but it doesn’t work. Around 200g is where they work best.

I find this discussion most interesting. I rarely fish simply using a float . Whilst I use a float rod, it is usually attached inter alia to a polaris float. One of the best imho is the tsi specialist 12ft. Correctly set, the rod gives almost a quivertip reaction thus providing a second indicator. Experience shows that the float and tip can be aligned quite easily. So I am hopeful that a normark can do the same. Sadly a waggle in a tackle shop will not suffice. For carp fishing, the tsi, my sportex barbel and sportex xclusive are great. A polaris is quite ok down to say 15g so most float rods wiĺ cope but not many excell. My favourite was the marksman extreme 13ft. Hoping an opportunity arises to try and see wiylth a new normark rather than just suck it and see but that's doubtful.