Recent content by Neil Blood

I didn’t get along with this rod. Initially it seemed perfect as a 13ft rod, which I could rig up at home then transport to the river bank in a 6ft rig sleeve. Primarily I used it on the Severn for laying on under a float with lobworms. The action in the top two thirds, was just too light and...

I’ve used it for years on my trotting reels/pins, in 5.5lb, 6.6lb and 7.9lb, without issue. Always considered it 100% reliable. However, my local tackle shop, suddenly stopped stocking it. On enquiring why, I was informed they’d had quite a few complaints as the diameter was suddenly and...

I heard the tightening of Japanese quality regulations as the other story too. Apparently they had to check the line diameter for every meter produced and weren’t geared up to do so. Therefore they had to suspend production. So perhaps we are now dealing with two total bollocks stories 🙂

There was a story doing the rounds on other angling forums that the current shortage was due to the factory burning down. No idea if its hearsay/total bollocks 🙂

They had bulk spools in Dave’s of Middlewich several weeks back

A guy who works in my local tackle shop has the 14ft Vertex Float Rod. He said its good for general trotting and not as delicate as an Acolyte. Guess it depends on your budget? I have an Acolyte Plus 15ft and tend to carry it to the river bank, already made up in a 5ft padded rod sleeve.

Tip rods or float rods? I’m a big fan of the Vertex Medium Feeder, as great for Chub and Perch work. Unlike the Acolyte tip rods, it has a slow taper glass tip option, which is important for 90% of my own river fishing.

For my Chub and Perch quiver tip work on 11ft feeder rods, I use these: https://johnsonrosstackle.co.uk/shimano-baitrunner-reels/16572-shimano-baitrunner-dl-2500-fb-reel.html Although if you are primarily targeting Barbel with the rods, you may be better sticking with 4000 sized reels.

I’ve been out the last 2 Saturdays. On both occasions it was around -1 degrees on packing up, with my landing net frozen to the riverbank. Saturday caught my first 5lb Chub from my local river Dane on cheese paste. Only took 36 years to catch a 5lb Chub from my local river. It was bitterly cold...

Similar to above, I’ve just bought these following a recommendation, although I haven’t had chance to use them yet. TerraTherm Insole Foot Warmers - Air Activated - 8 hours of warm feet - 5, 10 or 30 Pairs Heated Insoles - 100% natural warmth https://amzn.eu/d/fR0VUyI

Hi Ian, I hate the cheap metal end cap, which they now put on all their rods including acolytes and which scratches easily. The textured cork ends on previous rod handles were far better. I have wider issues with their Specialist rage of rods. The fittings seem to be on a par with the budget...

I have a couple of Kev Baine’s 1.5lb 11ft Specialist No 1 rods, my go to Barbel rods. They have shrink wrapped handles, 15+ years old and handles are in excellent condition 👍🏻 Re Duplon, tackle companies use it because its cheap. I rave about the Drennan Vertex Medium Feeder rods for Chub and...

Start with all the Alan Stagg videos 👍🏻

The latest Drennan Specialist Video was released on Friday via YouTube. I didn’t personally find it to be very good and note they are promoting it as “free to watch”. Call me a cynic but that looks like more Dennan vs Bowler bad blood. Then again Martin goes out of his way not to plug current...

The Alan Stagg - River Loddon video, which has just dropped is incredible 👍🏻