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Barbel Float Rod Blank

V

Vince Maddock

Senior Member & Supporter
Hello (and happy New Year),

Can anybody point me in the direction of a new off the shelf blank (13ft minimum and 15ft maximum) for float fishing on the middle Trent.
I know I could buy an Acolyte or similar but I've won a voucher for a very well known rod builder and I'm considering having him build me one (it's that or upgrade my spod rod)

Thanks

Vince
 
Tough one since there are not many blanks available for that purpose. Top of my head is free spirit 15 blank, of course you can get Harrison Gti su, but, that blank is so out dated, I mean, it’s really heavy.
 
At 13ft the Harrison GTI SU will be fine. I wouldn’t personally go any longer with it. Have it fitted with some lighter guides to counter some weight out of the rod
 
Thanks for the input guys,

I've been in touch with Harrisons and Steve Harrison has, very promptly, replied with this (below) which I'm sure you'll be interested in.

"We have been making some new blanks for the European market for the last couple of years and these are now available for the UK but not yet in our list.
There are two that may be of interest. We have a 12’9 SU float which has been designed to be able to cope with the biggest fish. We have not given it a unique name just yet but let’s call it “Type R” for now. It is light and slim but with much more power low down to control big fish. We have used the feedback from this to produce and updated version of our standard 13’ SU, which is now both a fraction lighter and more capable with bigger fish. Both of these would make excellent Barbel float rods."
 
Peter Hayes said:
See if you can find an original Drennan Mk1 Tench Float or some of the later models. Not new I know but great for what your after.
Click to expand...
I’ve read this a lot myself but never tried one out. I think had they done some in longer versions I’d of given one a whirl before now but as far as I know they only come in lengths of just over 12 n arf foot which I would find very limiting
 
Richard Isaacs said:
I’ve read this a lot myself but never tried one out. I think had they done some in longer versions I’d of given one a whirl before now but as far as I know they only come in lengths of just over 12 n arf foot which I would find very limiting
Click to expand...

I've had a few drennan tench float rods Rich, they did make them in 12ft 9 to 13ft.
The tench rod I finnished up keeping is a drennan super tench float rod. I've had lots of barbel with it and it's a beltin tool for the job. Only downside with the rod is the fact that it has sliding reel rings/holders.
I say the only "downside", but the rings on the rod are quite good ones and don't come loose once they are pushed up onto the reels foot.
I like the guideson the rod also, they are treble leg fujis and very robust. The rods arn't really heavy but have lots of power!
I also have the older drennan im8 specimen float rod, like my super tench rod this rod is the odd size of 12ft 9 inches. This rod also has sliding reel holders and some excellent treble leg guides. I don't think the im8 is as powerful as the super tench, but it's still a belter for barbel, which I think is what it was made for. This is another rod that i've had a hell of a lot of barbel with.
 
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