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Big bream rods, not for long casts - Barbel rods?

D

Dave Quinn

Senior Member & Supporter
I’m looking for rods that will handle very big bream without the need for long casts - I’m not able to cast long distances so I need to use a boat for baiting and dropping my rigs.

I’ve got some Drennan 2lb tc distance tench and bream rods but while they’re excellent for casting heavy feeders a long way they’re very stiff.

I was looking at the 1.75tc tench and bream rods which are supposed to have a through action but I was wondering if there are any barbel rods that you would recommend that would do the job

The water I fish has very few snags and little weed. I fish at about 70m
 
Dave Quinn said:
I’m looking for rods that will handle very big bream without the need for long casts - I’m not able to cast long distances so I need to use a boat for baiting and dropping my rigs.

I’ve got some Drennan 2lb tc distance tench and bream rods but while they’re excellent for casting heavy feeders a long way they’re very stiff.

I was looking at the 1.75tc tench and bream rods which are supposed to have a through action but I was wondering if there are any barbel rods that you would recommend that would do the job

The water I fish has very few snags and little weed. I fish at about 70m
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Harrison Interceptors.

Both the 1.10 and 1.12 TC rods were designed by Graham Marsden for tackling big bream in Meres.

I use the 1.12 for tench...my favourite rods.
 
A friend of mine swears by the Shimano Purist Brench for big bream. He's tried a few others since it first came out, but that's the one he keeps going back to. They pop up on eBay quite often.

If you want something with a softer action than the Drennans, any half decent Avon rod should suffice I would've thought.

Perhaps what the bream boys used to use in the 80s and 90s - a heavy feeder rod?
 
Joe Winstanley said:
Harrison Interceptors.

Both the 1.10 and 1.12 TC rods were designed by Graham Marsden for tackling big bream in Meres.

I use the 1.12 for tench...my favourite rods.
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Thanks Joe, I've had them on my ebay saved searches for a while but haven't seen one. They do look ideal
 
Steve Lewis said:
A friend of mine swears by the Shimano Purist Brench for big bream. He's tried a few others since it first came out, but that's the one he keeps going back to. They pop up on eBay quite often.

If you want something with a softer action than the Drennans, any half decent Avon rod should suffice I would've thought.

Perhaps what the bream boys used to use in the 80s and 90s - a heavy feeder rod?
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Hi Steve

I've got the Brenchs on my ebay saved searches as well, but never seem to get my timings right. I might go with the Drennan Specialist Avon in a higher test curve than the two 1.25 I have but have managed to break the tips off.
 
I fished two tench seasons using 2 Interceptors with a 1.75 infinity as my 3rd rod. The infinity is a seriously good rod, possibly the best off the shelf specialist rod out there. If anything ever happened to my interceptors (god forbid) and I couldn't replace them, then I'd have the 1.75 infinity's for tenching.
 
I've never handled the brench but I did look at some of the other Purist rods when they came out (10 years ago?), namely the specialist quiver. I really didn't like it, awful action.

Made my laugh when not long after they were introduced the angler who had designed it put an advert up on one of the fishing forums (maybe here?) wanting an Antares specialist quiver...I know why!
 
Joe Winstanley said:
I fished two tench seasons using 2 Interceptors with a 1.75 infinity as my 3rd rod. The infinity is a seriously good rod, possibly the best off the shelf specialist rod out there. If anything ever happened to my interceptors (god forbid) and I couldn't replace them, then I'd have the 1.75 infinity's for tenching.
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Heres a nice pic of an Infinity 1.75, with fish on. 20200314_222129.jpg
 
I would have said Interceptors as well. Probably difficult to find a few old school builders may have blanks. Or maybe try ringing Harrisons.
 
Dave Lumb, a well known rod builder mainly known for predator rods does a decent line in specialist rods. All his rods are on Harrison blanks

D.L. Specialist Tackle - Rods

Dave Lumb's D.L. Specialist Tackle - Fishing rods and tackle for UK based pike and predator anglers
www.dlst.co.uk
 
The Drennan series 7 Avon / quiver tip rods are great. I have 1.25 and 1.50 but I was fishing for big bream at 70 yards I would go for the 1.75tc one and you have the option of using the Avon or Quiver tip.
Some people use theses rods for barbel to.
 
Stephen Scaysbrook said:
The Drennan series 7 Avon / quiver tip rods are great. I have 1.25 and 1.50 but I was fishing for big bream at 70 yards I would go for the 1.75tc one and you have the option of using the Avon or Quiver tip.
Some people use theses rods for barbel to.
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I was using a pair of those at 1.25lb that I bought from Graham on here but I managed to snap the tops off them, and I want something with a bit more backbone so the 1.75s would be worth a pat butchers
 
Joe Winstanley said:
I've never handled the brench but I did look at some of the other Purist rods when they came out (10 years ago?), namely the specialist quiver. I really didn't like it, awful action.

Made my laugh when not long after they were introduced the angler who had designed it put an advert up on one of the fishing forums (maybe here?) wanting an Antares specialist quiver...I know why!
Click to expand...

I've never tried (or even seen) the specialist quiver, nor tried the Brench, but I've got a couple of the Multi Classic barbel/quiver rods (one I got on eBay, one I found in the clearance bin in a local tackle shop - managed to get both for a bargain) which I use in fast/flooded water and think they're fantastic (although I'll freely admit for most of the year I typically go back to my trusty John Wilson Avons and Fox Specialist). I also borrowed the river feeder off someone a while ago and absolutely loved it (been trying to get one ever since, but they're rarer than rocking horse sh*t), but that's not really suitable for bigger fish. I DID handle the Light Specialist but really wasn't a fan so left it - I think it tries to do too many things but is a master of none of them, but I know it's a bit of a marmite rod - plenty of people love it (and Jan Porter used it routinely for his smaller-species specimen exploits), but equally as many hate it.


One question though Dave - how on earth did you manage to break the tips off 1.25 rods?????
 
Steve Lewis said:
I've never tried (or even seen) the specialist quiver, nor tried the Brench, but I've got a couple of the Multi Classic barbel/quiver rods (one I got on eBay, one I found in the clearance bin in a local tackle shop - managed to get both for a bargain) which I use in fast/flooded water and think they're fantastic (although I'll freely admit for most of the year I typically go back to my trusty John Wilson Avons and Fox Specialist). I also borrowed the river feeder off someone a while ago and absolutely loved it (been trying to get one ever since, but they're rarer than rocking horse sh*t), but that's not really suitable for bigger fish. I DID handle the Light Specialist but really wasn't a fan so left it - I think it tries to do too many things but is a master of none of them, but I know it's a bit of a marmite rod - plenty of people love it (and Jan Porter used it routinely for his smaller-species specimen exploits), but equally as many hate it.


One question though Dave - how on earth did you manage to break the tips off 1.25 rods?????
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Thinking about it, one was already missing a couple of inches when I bought it from Graham at a reduced price, I’m not sure about the other one, it was snapped off in the rod holdall when I opened it. Probably happened in the car.
 
Hi Dave.

Wish you had told me about this in 2018.

When you got them you said this...

"Hi Graham

Sorry I’ve not replied sooner, the rods arrived on Friday, they are exactly as you described.

Thanks very much

Dave"

Yes the avon tip was short on one as agreed. Quiver fine.
The other rod was as new complete.

If you had said one was broken on arrival would have refunded and claimed.
 
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