Drennan Acolyte compact plus 13’ **SOLD**

[Richard Isaacs]

Recent purchases of new float rods have kind of made this little Beauty redundant as more and more I’m reaching for longer and in some cases more powerful rods and this seems to sit smack in the middle of a range I have well and truly covered.

It is the discontinued, very desirable compact version of the 13ft plus acolyte.
It is a lot better than the 3 piece version in the respect that there is 1 less joint on the blank hindering the action and it bends that bit nicer with a big fish on and it is perfectly designed to take to the river all built up ready to fish.
I’ve had it afew years and banked a lot of fish on it to some great sizes but don’t for a second think you would receive a typical “used” rod here…. It is absolutely flawless. Not a single scratch or mark or bent ring or anything out of place.
This has been treated with the absolute upmost of care and you would struggle to tell it apart from a new one.
It’s stupidly light and surprisingly powerful in the mid section. The tip is extremely fast for a hollow tip rod and you could use this without a problem bagging up on bits just as well as bagging up on chub and bream etc. (I’ve had a 17lb ghost carp on it so it’s got some guts)

I have the whole complete kit in it’s original format as it arrived inc padded travel sleeve tip and but protectors and them daft tags that you write your rigs on that no one ever uses

Now if you are looking for a dedicated barbel float rod my advice is look elsewhere. Yes it will handle them in favourable conditions to reasonable sizes with an element of fish playing skill but it will not stop an angry double getting to a snag in close quarters……no chance it’s just not that type of rod. You want to be keeping an eye out for connys and spectron xp’s for that job.

This is a chub, tench, bream smashing tool with the reserves to bank a special fish if needed

Hope this helps if your interested. Very Rare to come by nowadays £180 ovno

Collection preferred and I’ll be willing to do half way meet ups within reason

 

[Richard Isaacs]

 

[Terry Simner]

Any first hand experience how this rod compares to the Drennan Series 7 Tench & Specimen Float 13ft?

 

[Richard Isaacs]

Any first hand experience how this rod compares to the Drennan Series 7 Tench & Specimen Float 13ft?

No sorry Terry all I could tell you would be what you could read yourself with research I’m afraid.

It’s a fair chunk less in weight I know that much and the acolyte is going to be much faster in the tip thats for sure
Line rating on the speccy tench is slightly higher by 1lb so thats probably going to be that bit more substantial with bigger fish again.

Complete guess here based on reading about it and not first hand experience but I’d say the speccy tench would be better on commercials when there’s a big fish to be caught and the acolyte better on running water holding it all day and hitting faster bites.

 

[Huanzhou Zhu]

Any first hand experience how this rod compares to the Drennan Series 7 Tench & Specimen Float 13ft?

I handled the non compact version, which should have same action/power with the compact one. My feeling is it is less powerful than the Tench & Specimen Float, not not that much. The rod should no problem for decent sized tench. And it is much lighter.

 

[Huanzhou Zhu]

Out of interest, Richard, which rod did you change to?

 

[Richard Isaacs]

I handled the non compact version, which should have same action/power with the compact one. My feeling is it is less powerful than the Tench & Specimen Float, not not that much. The rod should no problem for decent sized tench. And it is much lighter.

Thanks Huanzhou.

 

[Richard Isaacs]

Ok slight update….. it’s now in a hard tube.
I received a message asking if I’d post and long story short they’ve had a change of heart which is fine.
However it’s now in a hard tube so your options change. I’ll put it on a van that you arrange if you are prepared to take the risk. Not me!!!! I’ve given it as much protection as physically possible.
it’s in its padded sleeve with the tip n butt protection on.
in a very thick walled tube and bubble wrap stuffed tight in the ends.

It went in perfect
It should hopefully come out the same way but that’s on you.
Oh and the protection sleeve could do with a wash. It’s a tad grubby I noticed.

 

[Guy Leeder]

I have absolutely no need for this rod, but my god, i'm tempted by it!

 

[Chris Belcher]

PM Rich!

 

[Richard Isaacs]

This is sold now.

 

[Paul Collins]

Any first hand experience how this rod compares to the Drennan Series 7 Tench & Specimen Float 13ft?

I have used both extensively. The acolyte is a fantastic piece of kit and is my first choice for any coarse river fishing situation, usually the upper Lea or the Ivel. I bought the compact Tench and specimen for my son and was so impressed with it I got one for myself. This was to be used for trotting for Salmon as although I'd had a few on the old super tench 12'9" it wasn't quite as meaty as the tench and specimen and the compact set up clinched it. Indeed I had a few on it and it's more than capable of handling big barbel or indeed salmon . Unfortunately the tip got entangled in a branch and broke when I was down the Avon. Immediately went to the local tackle shop to get another but they were out of stock. They did have the carp waggler, also compact so made do with that. Even more powerful than the tench and specimen. Landed 2 that afternoon and I'm still using it to this day. Or would be if it wasn't so hot!
I slightly prefer the tench and specimen, as being slightly softer but they're both good rods.
Certainly more robust than the acolytes and still very well balanced.

 

[Richard Isaacs]

I have used both extensively. The acolyte is a fantastic piece of kit and is my first choice for any coarse river fishing situation, usually the upper Lea or the Ivel. I bought the compact Tench and specimen for my son and was so impressed with it I got one for myself. This was to be used for trotting for Salmon as although I'd had a few on the old super tench 12'9" it wasn't quite as meaty as the tench and specimen and the compact set up clinched it. Indeed I had a few on it and it's more than capable of handling big barbel or indeed salmon . Unfortunately the tip got entangled in a branch and broke when I was down the Avon. Immediately went to the local tackle shop to get another but they were out of stock. They did have the carp waggler, also compact so made do with that. Even more powerful than the tench and specimen. Landed 2 that afternoon and I'm still using it to this day. Or would be if it wasn't so hot!
I slightly prefer the tench and specimen, as being slightly softer but they're both good rods.
Certainly more robust than the acolytes and still very well balanced.

What’s the stand off on the guides like on the tench specimen rod Paul. Is it a decent distance from the blank?
The acolyte is ok and it’s decent enough for trotting but I wouldn’t want to go any shorter personally. The Daiwas tend to be brilliant in this aspect I’ve found

 

[Paul Collins]

Can't say I've ever given it any thought. I'm using 30lb + braid mainline and I've never had a problem with it sticking to the blank, mind you Salmon is over by the end of September so not much experience in the wet colder months.