2x Drennan Specialist 12ft 2lb Distance Tench & Bream Rods

[Daniel Earl]

Anyone got anything of the below let me know

Afternoon all,


It’s been a while — had a tough year but coming out the other side now.



I’m localising my fishing this season and focusing mainly on targeting quality tench on a local, fairly weedy pit.


Currently considering a few rod options and would appreciate any feedback or suggestions:

• Drennan Distance Specialist Tench & Bream 12ft 2lb (I think the Mk1 version)
• Something from Harrison or Free Spirit, such as the Hi-‘S’ Special 12ft SU
• Free Spirit Tench Seeker — though I wonder if it might be a bit too soft for what I need
• Also very interested in the Dave Lumb SS12-204 (12ft / 2lb 4oz) — if anyone’s used one or has one they’re looking to move on, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Quite interested in user feedback on this one and if anyone knows what blank it is is it similar to the 2.4 multicarp ?

Any recommendations, comparisons, or experiences would be really appreciated.


Like the photo attached again I believe it be like the mark 7 or mk1 not sure the official name

 

[Christian Tyroll]

Hi Daniel

I’m glad you’re coming out the other side. Hopefully there’ll be a few nice tench for you this year.

I’ve got a pair of the SS12-204s and got the first one getting on for 15years ago. Then a few years later bought the second once I could afford it.

They don’t get as much use as they should but they are lovely rods. Soft in the tip with a progressive action that will get a good fight out of a 6lb tench but comfortably tame it. They’re very multi purpose, I would say jack of all trades master of none. There are probably crisper rods for casting loaded feeders but the SS12-204 will almost certainly be a nicer fish playing rod.

Mine have had more use for barbel and have been very capable for that. The only time I’ve wanted something else is when swinging out a 5oz lead with half a tin of spam on the end. They’ve also had river carp to 20lbs but to be honest, looking back they were undergunned for that.

I can’t compare them to other rods on your list but a chimera 3, supposedly also 2.25lb, is a whole another beast.

 

[Dave Quinn]

Hi Daniel

Good to hear you’re getting back in the bank

There’s rumors of some new Drennan tench and bream rods coming out soon. They do come up second hand but they are a bit overpriced when they do, imo.

The 2lb is a bit of a poker, like you’d expect from a rod that Drennan claim can cast a lead 100 yards. If you’re not going to cast that far I think there are better choices in higher test curves for weedy waters - Daiwa infinity or Basis 2.25s or free spirit big water or big rivers, or Harrison chimeras at 2.25 or Torrix at 2lb. A bit more expensive, though. Korum Xperts are tried and trusted, ESP floater rods are another cheaper alternative

 

[Daniel Earl]

thank you !

I been rebuilding and saving up I’ve got one water now big pit I will fish for tench this season move on to perch in the winter have an old set up for that.

I’ve saved up to have one set of nice rods for this as there be used 90 percent of the time. Whilst looking I’m keeping all options open. The Torrix did look really good to me the 12ft 2lb and have a lovely builder for anything Harrison. And a few old blanks left over I could swap out with them.

I’m really wanting something that handles feeders well and not a a pub chucker for big method balls and 6 once feeders.

Something than can punch 2/3lb ounce or even less out accurately.

 

[Christian Tyroll]

thank you !

I been rebuilding and saving up I’ve got one water now big pit I will fish for tench this season move on to perch in the winter have an old set up for that.

I’ve saved up to have one set of nice rods for this as there be used 90 percent of the time. Whilst looking I’m keeping all options open. The Torrix did look really good to me the 12ft 2lb and have a lovely builder for anything Harrison. And a few old blanks left over I could swap out with them.

I’m really wanting something that handles feeders well and not a a pub chucker for big method balls and 6 once feeders.

Something than can punch 2/3lb ounce or even less out accurately.

I used to use mine a lot for light carp fishing with a 1.5oz lead and pva mesh bag tied to the lead. They were super accurate for me when doing that.

If I was buying again I’m not sure they would be my choice, though I haven’t given any thought to what would. I don’t think I’ll be coming south any time soon or I would offer to lend them to you for a few months.

 

[Dave Quinn]

I guess it depends on how weedy the pit is and how far you need to cast a 3oz feeder or lead

I use 1.75 Infinitys for all my Barbel and tench and big bream fishing but I’m on a big very weedy pit this season for tench and they aren’t powerful enough on the off chance that I hook a big tench in a weedy swim. The Free Spirit big waters and the Chimera 3s and bigger tc Torrixs are favored by the tench guys who mainly fish 3oz feeders or leads but I’ve never used them myself. Lack of time and money

There are a few threads on bfw about this, you could do a search. Or look on the tenchfishers page on Facebook if you’re on it

You’re welcome to borrow one of my Infinitys to try it if it would help

 

[Daniel Earl]

I used to use mine a lot for light carp fishing with a 1.5oz lead and pva mesh bag tied to the lead. They were super accurate for me when doing that.

If I was buying again I’m not sure they would be my choice, though I haven’t given any thought to what would. I don’t think I’ll be coming south any time soon or I would offer to lend them to you for a few months.

I’ve heard a few things over the 2lb they say the 2.25lb is always much nicer rod overall

 

[Daniel Earl]

I’ve heard a few things over the 2lb they say the 2.25lb is always much nicer rod overall

Thank you but the way

 

[Daniel Earl]

I guess it depends on how weedy the pit is and how far you need to cast a 3oz feeder or lead

I use 1.75 Infinitys for all my Barbel and tench and big bream fishing but I’m on a big very weedy pit this season for tench and they aren’t powerful enough on the off chance that I hook a big tench in a weedy swim. The Free Spirit big waters and the Chimera 3s and bigger tc Torrixs are favored by the tench guys who mainly fish 3oz feeders or leads but I’ve never used them myself. Lack of time and money

There are a few threads on bfw about this, you could do a search. Or look on the tenchfishers page on Facebook if you’re on it

You’re welcome to borrow one of my Infinitys to try it if it would help

Thank you, the pit can be savage with the weed at times top to toe with weed at its peak, racking out mountains of the stuff