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Drennan Acolyte plus 13ft....powerful enough for barbel?

Iain Tutt said:
My son and I have 2 x 14ft Acolyte plus rods. we've had them since the rods came out. Drennan states 6lb line but after talking to Drennan they told me that the rods are happy with 8lb and will not be overloaded. We have one used with 6lb and the other with 8lb both for trotting. As long as you use the reel drag sensible and don't lock it up you will have no problems. Even better with back winding or a pin. We've had Double Barbel, Double Wild Carp, Tench, Chub and a Sea gull.
I mostly use a pin TFG classic, TFG free flow and the other one but forgot it name. None tarts pins but they work well for me
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Did you take the Gull on chips Ian ? :D
 
If you can buy one for that, it's a no brainer. I paid new £200 but it's worth every penny. The Daiwa was £100 more.

I don't know where you have seen it at that price, but be a bit careful if it's Ebay. I've been told that stuff from China may not be what it seems?
 
I have Acolyte Ultras and Pluses, and plenty of other choices of float rods. As far as I'm concerned, the Ultras are light actioned for a modern match rod and the Pluses are a slightly heavier actioned version of the Ultra. If your idea of a match rod is rooted in the 80s and early 90s, the Ultra is broadly comparable to a match rod of the era. With that period in mind, the Plus will seem like a beefy rod. However, compared to plenty of modern match rods, let alone specialist/specimen float rods, they aren't.

The Ultras have stated optimum reel lines of 3-5lb, hooklengths 1.5-4lb.
The Pluses have stated optimum reel lines of 4-6lb+, hooklengths 2.5-5lb.
It also states that the Plus is "slightly more powerful" than the Ultra. I don't tend to give great credence to manufacturers line ratings. However, I'm not inclined to push the envelope too far with the Acolytes.

Though I consider the Ultra to be a roach, dace and grayling trotting rod, I've landed big chub with it without problems. I consider the Plus to be primarily a chub rod, but don't have an issue with the odd barbel crashing the party. If I were specifically targeting barbel, especially with heavier line, the Acolyte plus would not be the rod I'd reach for. I'd also mention that I don't much like the Acolytes on stillwaters. Nice trotting rods with an action that I find well suited to such methods.

I suspect that an awful lot is going to depend on the age (what exactly they think a float/match rod is) and skill of the angler coupled with the intended venue. I'd advise that no one thinks of the Acolyte Plus as an out and out big fish rod though.
 
Chris. Thanks.
How would you say it compares power wise with a Drennan IM9 classic if you have experience of it?
 
Graham Elliott said:
Chris. Thanks.
How would you say it compares power wise with a Drennan IM9 classic if you have experience of it?
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I'll have to admit to limited experience of the IM9 Finesse and Classic beyond giving them a good waggle and bending in a shop. However, I'd pitch the Finesse as broadly equivalent to the Ultra and Classic as broadly equivalent to the Plus. As I recall, the line ratings were pretty comparable too. However, the Acolytes have a faster action and are much lighter in weight. I was always a bit puzzled as to why the IM9s were still in the range when they sat between Matchpro/Matchpro Ultralights on one side and Acolyte Ultra/Plus on the other. The price differentials were relatively small too. I think the fact that Drennan discontinued the IM9s might tell its own tale.
 
My last word would be that trotting for barbel is a very niche method ( I'd guess less than 10% of barbel anglers do it as a main method) By that I mean you're fishing for a very big powerful fish, in often very fast water, on a method really designed for smaller fish. So for me it's all about compromise, and having a rod that gives you a decent chance of landing some big barbel.

For trotting I'd be loathed to go heavier than 6lb main line. Yes, I know you could, but when you do, for many reasons most of you will know, it just doesn't feel right the presentation suffers.

So the rod I need is one designed to take a 6lb mainline and lets me use it to the max. A rod that lets me present a bait with precision and delicacy when desired.

The two rods I've found that will allow me to do that are the Daiwa Spectron, and Acolyte plus. While not out and out specimen rods, they come close for barbel trotting.
 
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