Recommendations for a 15ft Speci Float Rod Please?

[Kevin Steele]

Call me old-fashioned (or a traditionalist), but I don't understand why they put those in-your-face 'go fast' graphics on the Hydra X One. Even Daiwa are meddling... who actually asked for a bright red Duplon handle on the latest Connoisseur?
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[Richard Isaacs]

Call me old-fashioned (or a traditionalist), but I don't understand why they put those in-your-face 'go fast' graphics on the Hydra X One. Even Daiwa are meddling... who actually asked for a bright red Duplon handle on the latest Connoisseur?
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I thought the monogram area on the hydra was not to bad for in your face branding being kept relatively sensible.
The colours they’ve used don’t seem to jump out like a lot of other rods. I find it quite tasteful compared to some. It could be a lot worse…… they could make em pink and blue again

 

[Ian Woods]

I thought the monogram area on the hydra was not to bad for in your face branding being kept relatively sensible.
The colours they’ve used don’t seem to jump out like a lot of other rods. I find it quite tasteful compared to some. It could be a lot worse…… they could make em pink and blue again View attachment 38063

I quite like those graphics Richard

 

[Richard Isaacs]

I quite like those graphics Richard

Which ones mate pink n blue or hydra X

 

[Ian Woods]

Which ones mate pink n blue or hydra X

Both of them

I deffo dont think the Hydra is OTT.

 

[Richard Isaacs]

Both of them

I deffo dont think the Hydra is OTT.

The old drennan certainly fits in with its era of the 1990’s. Very Glossy and colourful.
It’s a beautiful little rod and ideal for small floats down little rivers.

It was Chris J that got me intrigued by them with his vast knowledge on float rods and this one in 12 or 13ft being the only spliced tip rods drennan ever offered……. Well I had to find one after knowing that.

It’s lovely to use

The 12ft version really appealed to me for the streams, Becks and small rivers.
I’ve Put some nice chub and grayling in the net with it in the last month.

 

[Ian Woods]

The old drennan certainly fits in with its era of the 1990’s. Very Glossy and colourful.
It’s a beautiful little rod and ideal for small floats down little rivers.

It was Chris J that got me intrigued by them with his vast knowledge on float rods and this one in 12 or 13ft being the only spliced tip rods drennan ever offered……. Well I had to find one after knowing that.

It’s lovely to use

The 12ft version really appealed to me for the streams, Becks and small rivers.
I’ve Put some nice chub and grayling in the net with it in the last month.

I know I'm probably in a minority, but I actually like graphics, line ratings, etc., on a fishing rod.
If I remember rightly, Drennan used to make another spliced-tip rod called the super stick. The blank looked very similar to the IM8 rods. Drennan had another rod out at the same time, I think it was called the super waggler. I had one and used it for trotting as well as still water float fishing.
I have spoken with Chris about the super stick rod, but he has doubts that the super stick actually has a spliced-in tip section.

 

[Richard Isaacs]

I know I'm probably in a minority, but I actually like graphics, line ratings, etc., on a fishing rod.
If I remember rightly, Drennan used to make another spliced-tip rod called the super stick. The blank looked very similar to the IM8 rods. Drennan had another rod out at the same time, I think it was called the super waggler. I had one and used it for trotting as well as still water float fishing.
I have spoken with Chris about the super stick rod, but he has doubts that the super stick actually has a spliced-in tip section.

I wouldn’t know if the super stick is or not mate. I was always under the assumption that drennan never spliced anything and Shakespeare/tricast pretty much spliced everything back then

 

[Chris Jones]

Quoting a certain Richard Norris, former MD at Drennan -

"The Drennan Stick (1987 onwards) and Super Stick (roughly 1991 on) never had spliced tips nor especially soft hollow tips or fast actions anyway. Made very good waggler rods though. The spliced tipped Team England Action Tip was very mellow."

 

[Kevin Steele]

I know I'm probably in a minority, but I actually like graphics, line ratings, etc., on a fishing rod.

I like the way Drennan do the graphics, and technical stuff, on the Acolyte and the old Series 7 rods. The line rating text is on the underside, so you can't see it when fishing... I guess it's the definition of understated.
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[Jim Gregory]

I much prefer no graphics seen at all on my fishing rods , in normal fishing situations.
That's definitely what you could call understated , and why I choose Buzzard Rods to make my rods...
I think the garey and not so, are just to advertise companies products..
And also , so "Joe Bloggs" in the next peg can see what gear you used to win the match..

 

[Jim Gregory]

Sorry for the swerve in the thread Russ.
Btw , have you considered the Harrison Mk2 15ft S.U. float....

 

[Russ Pike]

Does anyone know anything please about the Maver Jurassic power float rods 15ft to 18ft ?

 

[Jim Gregory]

Yes , it's a good budget power float rod
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Quite sensitive in the tip for small stuff, with plenty of power in reserve for the lumps , probably not a rod you'd want to hold for more then a few hours tho.

 

[Russ Pike]

Thanks Jim

 

[Craig Lea]

Does anyone know anything please about the Maver Jurassic power float rods 15ft to 18ft ?

i bought one cheap last year , love it , but it’s heavy .

 

[Russ Pike]

i bought one cheap last year , love it , but it’s heavy .

Hi Craig, thanks for the input. Do you know what the line rating is for it?

 

[Peter Jones]

Another curve ball here….

I bought a hydra X-one 450 10-30g from benwicks. Wasn’t planning to buy it but after a shop waggle and pull around i couldn’t resist it.
I am reluctant to start shouting about it regarding barbel because i haven’t caught a barbel on it yet since buying it and im not one of these people that can recommend something based on guess work.

currently I’ve only caught chub on it and so far I do really like the rod.

However……. I bought it very much with barbel in mind and based on my experience of such rods, unless it explodes the second I do hook one, I have a pretty good idea, based on its action and levels of resistance to bending, it’s likely going to be a very good rod for both trotting big floats long distances and dealing with powerful fish in all manner of river type.

Some information on it.
It’s exclusively sold only through benwicks currently.
Hydra is an Italian company and these rods are relatively new in their range.

Designed for casting out those enormous bolo and waggler floats that the Italians love and designed to deal with big fish on both still and moving waters.
The action and power to me seem just ideal for what we in the uk like to do regarding barbel and chub on heavy float gear.

Carbon is Japanese and it looks identical in texture, colour but just a fraction thicker in wall thickness to the blanks used on browning spheres. Rings are beautiful, seaguide singles which are reverse curved and flared to prevent tangles and the stand off is super.

Screw down seat, looks like a Fuji kdps but hydra have branded it so I don’t know that it is.
Good cork and eva mix and a nice armlock section that I’ve always liked.

It’s a tippy rod and there’s boat loads of progressive power in it. It feels like something you can lean right into and just watch the whole lot bend hard into a massive barbel.
I hope it’s as it appears to be because it’s one of very few rods I plan on using down the nene in summer for the really big fish on a section full of snags.

I wouldn’t chance just any float rod at that game and I hope this one is up for it. I’ll let you know on my proper review late Summer after it’s had a crack at the whip.
I’ll bung it down the Trent too which is less demanding on rods and gear but still a nice test for hitting and playing good fish from a long way down

Hey Richard, interesting stuff, and looks a great rod. As a matter of interest why would you choose this over say the
Acolyte Specimen at 15ft?

 

[Russ Pike]

Sorry for the swerve in the thread Russ.
Btw , have you considered the Harrison Mk2 15ft S.U. float....

No worries Jim about the swerve, I love reading the enthusiastic responses and just shows the passion of some members…

I did buy the Accy Speci 15ft this week but yet to try it out due to work commitments. I’m also considering the following for next season:

Harrison MK11 - 15ft SU Float Rod

Normark Avenger 15ft (when released in June)

Hydra X-one 450 (based on feedback and details provided by @Richard Isaacs and Once he’s had a few barbel on it).

Also have my new trotting station / bait waiter almost completed, which again was inspired by @Richard Isaacs so looking forward to trying that out next season.

Thank you to all the advise and recommendations, most appreciated.

 

[Martin Hemington]

No worries Jim about the swerve, I love reading the enthusiastic responses and just shows the passion of some members…

I did buy the Accy Speci 15ft this week but yet to try it out due to work commitments. I’m also considering the following for next season:

Harrison MK11 - 15ft SU Float Rod

Normark Avenger 15ft (when released in June)

Hydra X-one 450 (based on feedback and details provided by @Richard Isaacs and Once he’s had a few barbel on it).

Also have my new trotting station / bait waiter almost completed, which again was inspired by @Richard Isaacs so looking forward to trying that out next season.

Thank you to all the advise and recommendations, most appreciated.

Have a bunch of Spheres which are nice. Cadence match rods a good value