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New daiwa connoisseur rod

J

Josh Foster

Member
Hi has any seen the new daiwa connoisseur rod they are lighter than the previous model be interested if anyone has seen them in the shop.
 
I do hope these companies bringing out these more recent power float rods start to understand, that 14ft isn’t the only length we want.
It’s getting a bit silly now.
You’ve got Normark throwing dolly sections in with 12 footers, Preston bringing out 1 power float at just 14ft and now daiwa with the new conny. Looks like 14’s only for power options. What’s going on.
 
Richard Isaacs said:
I do hope these companies bringing out these more recent power float rods start to understand, that 14ft isn’t the only length we want.
It’s getting a bit silly now.
You’ve got Normark throwing dolly sections in with 12 footers, Preston bringing out 1 power float at just 14ft and now daiwa with the new conny. Looks like 14’s only for power options. What’s going on.
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The new conny has 15ft power float option. And I am sure you already know, there will be 15ft normark avenger next year.
 
Richard Isaacs said:
I do hope these companies bringing out these more recent power float rods start to understand, that 14ft isn’t the only length we want.
It’s getting a bit silly now.
You’ve got Normark throwing dolly sections in with 12 footers, Preston bringing out 1 power float at just 14ft and now daiwa with the new conny. Looks like 14’s only for power options. What’s going on.
Click to expand...
I agree Rich, 15ft is the new 13ft!
 
Neil Smart said:
Of course the 13ft rod is the template and is the choice of many for the reasons of ease of use and in the right hands will be as good as anything else.
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There are more skilled anglers than I who will be able to use a 13ft rod more successfully than I can, that's for sure and there's no doubting that for manouverability a shorter rod is easier to use. I'm of the opinion though that with float rods, a good big 'un is better than a good little 'un and these things matter less than the control a longer rod brings. I fished a swim on the H.Avon on Saturday where with my 18/20 ft rod, a casual bung puts the float to the far margin quite effortlessly and offers line control that a 13ft would never be able to do, just impossible. Unless you're in a really confined swim, a longer rod offers better line control in pretty much any circumstance and presentation is key. For barbel though, 15ft's as long as I'd like to use - I think the added length works against you when playing a fish at the net. I think there's a lot said for what you like and personal preference, whatever floats your boat right?
 
Luke Farren said:
There are more skilled anglers than I who will be able to use a 13ft rod more successfully than I can, that's for sure and there's no doubting that for manouverability a shorter rod is easier to use. I'm of the opinion though that with float rods, a good big 'un is better than a good little 'un and these things matter less than the control a longer rod brings. I fished a swim on the H.Avon on Saturday where with my 18/20 ft rod, a casual bung puts the float to the far margin quite effortlessly and offers line control that a 13ft would never be able to do, just impossible. Unless you're in a really confined swim, a longer rod offers better line control in pretty much any circumstance and presentation is key. For barbel though, 15ft's as long as I'd like to use - I think the added length works against you when playing a fish at the net. I think there's a lot said for what you like and personal preference, whatever floats your boat right?
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Very true Luke, and of course the real advantage of a longer rod is mending the line, but that frankly has never been that much of an issue with a 13ft or my 14 ft rod, and as you say the task of netting a fish or 'to hand' is a lot easier with a shorter rod.
Still if it keeps us lot shelling out in pursuit of ever dwindling rewards, then good luck to the tackle industry.
I will say though if I did happen to live closer to the Trent I would just have to invest in the best trotting rod money could buy.:cool:
 
The advantage of long rods comes in to play most apparent when you are faced with a down stream wind and trotting at least another 2 rod lengths off the end of the rod.

Hold a long rod up high and you can pick all the line up off the water and place it back behind the float and cause very little disruption to the float on it’s outside path.

Yes a proficient float angler can deal with this situation with shorter rods, I’ve done it myself many times but there is only so much proficiency will do before physics takes over and the extra two feet offers a level of control that can’t be rivaled without it.
 
Just looking to buy a 15' float rod for rivers. I already use an 11' Acolyte Ultra, a14' Acolyte Plus and a 14' Acolyte Specimen
The mention of the NEW Daiwa Conny Pro Power Float 15' interested me but I notice the rod has an EVA butt.
I was surprised as I consider all quality rods should have a cork butt.
Am I wrong? Thoughts please.
 
Mike Window said:
Just looking to buy a 15' float rod for rivers. I already use an 11' Acolyte Ultra, a14' Acolyte Plus and a 14' Acolyte Specimen
The mention of the NEW Daiwa Conny Pro Power Float 15' interested me but I notice the rod has an EVA butt.
I was surprised as I consider all quality rods should have a cork butt.
Am I wrong? Thoughts please.
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No, not all quality rods use cork handle. Consider browning spheres rods, best float rod ever, but with full Eva handle.
 
Mike Window said:
Am I wrong? Thoughts please.
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I used to try avoid EVA handles due to an early 80s experience with terrible Duplon handles. Despite believing that the Browning Sphere (float rod) blanks were something special, I prevaricated over buying one for some time due to the brand and the EVA handle. Unfortunately, once I'd bought one, I soon bought more. In the end, I bought spares for those I like and use most. I've never bought spares for any rod before and doubt I will again.
 
Mike Window said:
Am I wrong?
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No as it’s a matter of opinion and one I share to some extent
Certainly as far as cost is concerned, a piece of premium cork out of Portugal is a lot more expensive than EVA
I find feels nicer in the hand and it looks more attractive too.

Eva on premium rods does work just fine despite all this.
I personally like it in conjunction with cork. It’s harder wearing and water resistant so it’s a material that does work very well on the back of rod handles that are getting placed in the grass or water etc.

The browning sphere handles as mentioned above are full Eva and they are fine. They are very comfortable to use and the reel seat is excellent.
The handle is too long for my taste and I don’t like the rear grippy bit at all it should have been lopped off before that point and finished nicely with a cap.

The Preston supera X handle is a lot better again imo and is actually my personal favourite these days by quite some margin.

that is also 80% eva but it doesn’t matter as it’s designed so well, is so comfortable and maneuverable and at a nice length too being a good 2.5 inches shorter than the sphere handles.

There’s only 3 inches of cork in the whole Preston handle which isn’t a lot but that 3 inch section really does add a little bit of a premium look to the handle and makes all the difference in breaking it up.
 
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The Daiwa Dave Harrell tourny float rods have a mix of cork and eva handles. The eva ( if that is what it is) is fitted where you hold the rod and is shaped nicely and very comfy in my hand. The shape of it is my favourite out of all my float rods. It does seem to be standing up to usage ok but has gone a bit smooth and kinda shiny despite me keeping it as clean as possible during use and wipeing and drying it off after every outing.
I've always been fine with rods of no longer than 14ft but I had an underlying desire to get a daiwa tourny pro bu 15ft float rod. I don't like the usual tourny reel holders as i've had issues with them damaging reel feet due to the way they screw around the reel foot and tighten as they go, but, the tourny bu has a normal fuji reel seat which looked nice. Anyhow, last March I managed to get hold of one and took it out fishing within a day or so of getting it. If i'm honest the rod did feel a little wierd to me but after fishing for no more than about 10 minuites I had got more used to using it and was glad i'd taken it, as there was a downstream wind and the extra foot of length on top of my 14 footers did make controling the line easier. The handle on the bu rod is a mix of eva and cork, the screw down forend is eva, directly behind the hand where my hand rests is cork and below that is a longer length of eva with a nice flat arm lock and the handle feels very nice in my hand. The rod grew on me so much on that one session that half way through the session I phoned the shop up and asked if they could get me another one.
They got back to me and told me they had got two sections but would daiwa would only be able to get/make me the missing section for July. Since there was no deposite I ordered it and only got it a couple of weeks back!
So, from never likeding a rod over 14ft i've gone to having two 15fters now lol.
For myself a 15ft rod is usefull if im wading in a wide section of river, especially if there is a downstream wind, and also if fishing off the bank on a wider river. If fishing a deeper stretch the extra length makes casting easier also. A15ft rod has the bonus of being able to reach over bankside and marginal undergrowth on smaller rivers. So I think it is well worth having one in your rod room.
 
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