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Which off the shelf float rod? Opinions please :)

I got a 15ft Daiwa Speci Float in the spring, used it for Tench waggler fishing, liked it. Gonna use it for Barbel on the Trent for the first time in a couple of weeks.
 
I own an original Free Spirit Hi-S Power 15ft Float rod so anything to compete with this would have to be seriously good. I took a punt on an Acolyte 15ft to give me the option of having two rods set up in case I want to switch between a pin or fixed spool. Knowing the Acolytes reputaion for being fragile in the wrong hands (definitely applies to me) I do worry about the thin wall of the blank and in use I would say it is a bit behind the Free Spirit. Perhaps I am slightly wary of exerting extreme pressure?

Over the last couple of years I have bought a few items from Cadence Fishing, starting with reels then rods. I bought a CR10 13ft No2 for general float fishing for smaller species which impressed me, so I took a look at the 14ft No4 and have to say it performs equally as well as the Free Spirit at less than half the price. The rods are very well made with quality components.
 
John
You have given me a problem
I already have an Acolyte Specimen 14' paired with a centrepin and I want another rod to go with a fixed spool. Do I get another Accy Specimen or go with a Cadence #4. Decisions, Decisions.
I may try a Cadence just to compare the two so thanks for your suggestion.
 
I use the Carbotec No3, 13/15, the Normack Crusader 15ft/20 (only at 15) and the Mark Tunley 13 5ft, 1lb rest curve floart rod.

All are great rods but if I could choose one it would be the Carbotec.
 
Neil Watson said:
I use the Carbotec No3, 13/15, the Normack Crusader 15ft/20 (only at 15) and the Mark Tunley 13 5ft, 1lb rest curve floart rod.

All are great rods but if I could choose one it would be the Carbotec.
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I had a carbotec no2 which was a full system 3 different butt sections 13/15/17.

I was quite excited about owning it and using it before I’d actually tried one
I picked it up for a right bargain at 450 quid.

Been 100% honest, I Absolutely hated it!

I just couldn’t get on with it. The concept is brilliant for certain applications and I imagine they would be really exciting rods stood in the middle of the river letting a massive barbel just tire itself out against that action.
But from a bank with a chub. You just can’t push them out the rod just keeps giving them the leash to plough straight into your bank.
in these situations it’s good for a blank to practically lock right up and say enough is enough.

It cost me afew good fish so I sold it and doubled my money on it.
Perhaps the no3 would have been more to my liking. I sold one not long ago for a friend but I never used it. It definitely felt a bit more substantial.
 
Ian Woods said:
I'll echo you and Lee, imo they are the king of the float rods past and present.
I got one of the latest normark avengers recently, and again, jmo, the acolyte speci blows it away by a country mile. I would also recommend the acolyte plus which is slightly less powerful but I never had a problem catching barbel with it.
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I agree, tried the 13ft acoltye specimen and the 13ft Avenger side by side and the Acolytye was so much more balanced in the hand. Can not see what all the hype is over the Normarks.
 
Anthony Brown said:
I agree, tried the 13ft acoltye specimen and the 13ft Avenger side by side and the Acolytye was so much more balanced in the hand. Can not see what all the hype is over the Normarks.
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2 Totally different rods, made for 2 Totally different styles. Hardly a comparison.
 
There are two types of Barbel float rods:

1, Very powerful stepped up float rod where you want to fish 10lb+ line.

2, More general stepped up float rods rated at 6 to 8lb mainline. For me personally this is more of an all round rod, which I’ll typically use to target Chub and which will deal with bonus Barbel when they come along.

And re the new Normark Avengers, I’ve bought both models and I’m very happy with them. Feels more powerful than my Acolyte Plus and I’ve comfortably fished 7.9lb line straight through to the hook with them. Slightly less well balanced in the hand than the Acolyte, but feels less delicate overall.
 
Jon Frisby said:
2 Totally different rods, made for 2 Totally different styles. Hardly a comparison.
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How do you mean John?
As far as I am aware the normarks have always been portrayed largely for river anglers.
When I got my two and three thousands way back when, and then the mkIIs after they were always thought of as being top totty for trotting a float.

For what its worth I've used a mkII avenger float fishing for barbel for 20yrs and it was/is great. I caught literally hundreds of barbel with the rod, ok, nothing bigger than 13lb with it but the rod was fine.
I recently "against my better judgement" bought a numbered legasy avenger and in all honesty I was somewhat underwhelmed with it. I won't go on about my thoughts on the rod, but if anyone is on the lookout for a pristien used once only legasy numbered avenger in its box etc I have one here available for them.
 
I have a 14ft Cadence CR10 No2 for trotting duties. I partner it with a JWY Ray Walton rolling pin but they work well with a light reel.

Lovely rod and well priced. That said, any 14ft by Drennan would be just as good.
 
Ian Woods said:
How do you mean John?
As far as I am aware the normarks have always been portrayed largely for river anglers.
When I got my two and three thousands way back when, and then the mkIIs after they were always thought of as being top totty for trotting a float.

For what its worth I've used a mkII avenger float fishing for barbel for 20yrs and it was/is great. I caught literally hundreds of barbel with the rod, ok, nothing bigger than 13lb with it but the rod was fine.
I recently "against my better judgement" bought a numbered legasy avenger and in all honesty I was somewhat underwhelmed with it. I won't go on about my thoughts on the rod, but if anyone is on the lookout for a pristien used once only legasy numbered avenger in its box etc I have one here available for them.
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Hi Ian, never seen a MK2 Avenger, just the 2000s. Sounds like it had a little more backboneThe Acolytye Specimen is made imo for out and out bagging bags of Barbel and Chub on a big river, where imo, the original Avengers are just a little lacking and made for bagging bags of Chub and the Odd barbel.
I'd still have a 14ft Daiwa SM2 XP over any of these.
Great videos Ian, looks an amazing river...

Jon
 
Jon Frisby said:
Hi Ian, never seen a MK2 Avenger, just the 2000s. Sounds like it had a little more backboneThe Acolytye Specimen is made imo for out and out bagging bags of Barbel and Chub on a big river, where imo, the original Avengers are just a little lacking and made for bagging bags of Chub and the Odd barbel.
I'd still have a 14ft Daiwa SM2 XP over any of these.
Great videos Ian, looks an amazing river...

Jon
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I've no knowladge of the 14ft daiwa SM2 XP rod but i've heard some very good things about it.
I have the Daiwa Dave Harrell RS PF in 13 and 14ft but going off what i've heard about the SM2 XP the Harrells arn't as powerful. It's a pity daiwa don't still make the SM2 XP rods!

Thanks for the nice comment on the videos John, I appreciate that bud 😎👍.
 
Ian Woods said:
Harrells arn't as powerful.
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As an ex owner of both I would say the RS PF rods are definitely as capable as the spectron. The action is a little different. In respect that the tip is faster on the spectron making it a bit more versatile. Both have rock solid back ends. Both capable of using 0.25 lines and big fish.

I think they are both as special as each other in their own right and I would struggle to pick a favorite
 
Richard Isaacs said:
As an ex owner of both I would say the RS PF rods are definitely as capable as the spectron. The action is a little different. In respect that the tip is faster on the spectron making it a bit more versatile. Both have rock solid back ends. Both capable of using 0.25 lines and big fish.

I think they are both as special as each other in their own right and I would struggle to pick a favorite
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Thanks for the info Richard.
I have had the Harrell rods for quite a number of years now. I remember thinking the 14ft rod was jinxed as it took me a few outings before I actually caught a barbel with it. Turned out the rod wasn't jinxed after all and the very first barbel I had with it was over 12lb, although that was the only barbel of that session lol.
I was surprised when you let your 13 footer go.
 
Ian Woods said:
Thanks for the info Richard.
I have had the Harrell rods for quite a number of years now. I remember thinking the 14ft rod was jinxed as it took me a few outings before I actually caught a barbel with it. Turned out the rod wasn't jinxed after all and the very first barbel I had with it was over 12lb, although that was the only barbel of that session lol.
I was surprised when you let your 13 footer go.
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I liked the 13 a lot but it’s just not a length in that particular power rating that I use hardly ever.
I sold my 14ft spectron too.

I do turn rods over quite frequently and only keep the really special ones.
The Preston is really becoming a firm favorite. That was really awesome to play barbel on last Sunday. That’s got some mega back bone in it.
 
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