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Recommendations for a 15ft Speci Float Rod Please?

Barry Peck said:
I've got 3 acolytes , one being the specimen and never snapped any of them .
I use the lighter rods for crucians and perch fishing and have landed carp to 18lbs on them when they inevitably turn up .

I think if your tackles balanced and you use the angles , the rods are fantastic ...
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Thanks Barry
 
Carl Massey said:
Russ, the Normark Avenger 15ft is due out in a few months (May/June 2026 I believe) so am considering one of these as a friend let me have a try of his 13ft Avenger on a smaller river and that was a joy to use. The Acolytes are certainly up there in value for money though as I've tried the Plus version for smaller fish / chub etc.
I'd take a trip to a good tackle store and try them out side by side with your reel of choice though as then you'll know which one you like. They're all very good nowadays and as people have said - more likely user error for breakages. Who hasn't come through the undergrowth and then discovered you've got a 4 piece rod :D .
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Had a waggle with the Normark range (inc the 15' Avenger) today at the Big One show . . .very impressive. Endorsed by Bob James who I had a good chat with on the stand . . boyhood hero!
 
Kevin Steele said:
+1, or is that +4? I have the 13ft, my two best fishing mates each have the 15ft.
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I'm not sure what you mean, Kev?

I haven't got the speci 15-footer myself....yet. I got the 13ft mode as soon as they were released, and then a week after, I got the 14ft model because I liked them so much. They had an action and the power I had been looking for for ages, and I was very happy when Drennan released them.
I wasn't really interested in a 15ft rod, but after using a 15ft Daiwa float rod, I have grown to like them, especially when there is a downstream wind and when fishing across the flow.
Because I have the 15ft Daiwa rod i've not been in a rush to get a 15ft Speci Acolyte, but I do want one because the Speci Acolytes are my personal favourite float rods.
 
i picked up a garbolino 14 medium power and a heavy power float rod the weekend , and the medium especially felt amazing , i would defiantly consider these .
not cheap rods , normark money .
hard choice .🤔
 
If you get an Acolyte Specimen rod, make sure you buy new in case it does snap - mine did, just above the handle and fortunately Tackle Addicts in Tamworth managed to get me a new rod ( the tip section went at the same time due to the compression). I really like the 15ft, I have the 17ft as well but I'm not so keen on it. I really like the Tricast Allerton 15ft too, I had a couple of 10lbers on it back in the Summer (seems like ages ago!) in fast water and it coped admirably.
 
Luke Farren said:
If you get an Acolyte Specimen rod, make sure you buy new in case it does snap - mine did, just above the handle and fortunately Tackle Addicts in Tamworth managed to get me a new rod ( the tip section went at the same time due to the compression). I really like the 15ft, I have the 17ft as well but I'm not so keen on it. I really like the Tricast Allerton 15ft too, I had a couple of 10lbers on it back in the Summer (seems like ages ago!) in fast water and it coped admirably.
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Cheers for the heads up Luke
 
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
 
Richard Isaacs said:
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
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Thats interesting Richard 🤔, care to put a few pics on please 🙏.
 
Jon Frisby said:
Thats interesting Richard 🤔, care to put a few pics on please 🙏.
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See attached Jon.
Tip section weighs 15g
Total rod 204g
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IMG_1413.jpeg
 
Looks nice Richard so got me debating the Avenger now when the 15ft version is available or this X-one. More competition in the specimen/heavy float range is always good as I have been asking Mr Tunley whether he is going to bring out a 15ft model as I have his 13.5 ft version which is excellent.

I'll have to arrange a detour to Benwicks enroute North to see family/friends and try both out at the store. Last time I did this it added 3 hours on a journey from Southampton area to the NW when I persuaded the wife we could pop via Hoddeston (Johnson Ross Tackle). She wasn't amused - 😒
 
I hadn't thought to mention the 15ft float rod I've been using recently.
I don't know if it's possible to get one now, but when I got mine, which was this time last year, they had been discontinued for a while.
I contacted Matchman Angling, who still had the advertised range of rods. When I spoke to them, they had none in stock but said they would contact Daiwa to see if they had one. Matchman got back to me and confirmed that Daiwa had one. At this point, I have to mention that Matchman Angling were really helpful and a pleasure to deal with.
Daiwa made me a rod out of spare sections they had for replacements if someone had a broken section.

I wasn't sure about the rod at first, as I have never liked a rod longer than 14ft, but after using it for 20 minutes, I found I liked it, and ever since, it has grown on me massively. In fact, I liked it enough to order another one, which took a few months to get, as Daiwa only had one section left and had to make some more.
The rod is rated to 10lb line, which was the reason I bought it in the first place, although I don't think I would be comfortable using 10lb line through the rod.
So, if anyone is interested in the 15ft Daiwa Tournament Pro BU rod, then it might be worth a punt to contact Matchman Angling and ask if they can get one from Daiwa. The drawback with the rod is the price; they are expensive, but if you like a quality rod and feel like treating yourself, then I think they are worth it.
You can actually see how the rod performs in some of my videos. I found it was fine for both larger and smaller fish species, so it is a great all-rounder.
 
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