Drennan specialist extension

[Bob Watson]

Anyone have any experience with one of these. I'm in the market for a rod specifically for trotting, I'd sort of settled on the 14ft acolyte specimen after handling one on the bank, had a waggle with the 15ft in the shop and also saw this. It feels good in the hand, will double up into equal lengths and fit in a quiver with a bottom rod if I wanted to chop and change on the day.

 

[Nigel Whittingham]

I love mine : It feels good in the hand, will double up into equal lengths and fit in a quiver with a bottom rod if I wanted to chop and change on the day.
You already said it all really! Does everything i’ve asked of it. Nice with small Roach, decent Chub & i’ve had the odd Pike to 14lb (while fishing for Perch)
No doubt they aren’t as good as the Acolytes (because they don’t cost as much?) but for the reasons mentioned i think they are a really useable rod.

 

[John Newman]

I have 13, 14 & 15ft float rods that I carry made up in a Drennan 3 rod quiver or sometimes a Drennan double rod sleeve. Initially it is a bit of a faff packing a three piece rod down but you soon work out a good technique. If you are targetting barbel I think the Acolyte specimen or alternative power float rod would be more suitable.

 

[Richard Isaacs]

Anyone have any experience with one of these. I'm in the market for a rod specifically for trotting, I'd sort of settled on the 14ft acolyte specimen after handling one on the bank, had a waggle with the 15ft in the shop and also saw this. It feels good in the hand, will double up into equal lengths and fit in a quiver with a bottom rod if I wanted to chop and change on the day.

I’ve used one afew times and Personally I don’t think they make brilliant trotting rods but they do make very good specimen waggler type rods.
For trotting I like something more tippy in action and these seem to be quite stiff in the tip and have a reasonably powerful all through action.

I do get the convenience of traveling with 2 piece rods but once you’ve taken a 3 piece made up a good few times there’s actually nothing to it and it’s very easy to break them down made up and store them as well. Opens up a lot more doors in terms of choice and length.

 

[John Newman]

If you do decide to go down the three piece route and keep them set up I can recommend the Matrix rod bands. They are nice and stretchy and the velcro fastening holds tightly. You may, of course, want to add tip and butt protectors for further protection.

Search new

www.fishmatrix.co.uk

 

[Alan Palmer]

I bought one when they first came out as I thought it would be ideal for trotting small livebaits on the river for perch, roving between swims. Nice playing action and a good balance between finesse and power down below for the job but what really annoyed me was a few times after hooking a decent fish the extension bit would twist slightly misaligning the rings a little when applying some side strain…not a lot but enough to annoy me into selling it. Maybe just my rod as I’ve not heard other complaints

 

[Neil Blood]

I didn’t get along with this rod. Initially it seemed perfect as a 13ft rod, which I could rig up at home then transport to the river bank in a 6ft rig sleeve.

Primarily I used it on the Severn for laying on under a float with lobworms. The action in the top two thirds, was just too light and floppy, leading down a powerful bottom third.

I did catch a Perch PB with it of 3.15lb, but I nearly lost it, when it dived for the stickups under my feet. On another session I was fishing close to a snag, again for Perch. When the float buried and on striking, a couple of fish found the snag. The fish get a head start when hooked, as its not until you hit the bottom third of the rod’s playing action that you feel in control.

As a result of both the above experiences, I moved the rod on.

Its a shame that Drennan stopped making the 13ft Acolyte Compact Plus. They always go for good money when they come up on ebay.

 

[Stephen Scaysbrook]

I've got a 13ft Acolyte compact which as I'm sure you all know has a foot of the handle screws on/off so as the rod can be left made up.. I prefure this than a telescopic section which must have a step in the blank.. It was the old way Drennan made the rods 2 piece 13ft or 2 piece with a dolly section.. Nice rod to use..

 

[Simon Rolph]

I used one for a season for Barbel on the Wye. It wasn’t too bad but a bit undergunned in some of the fast water swims especially when getting fish to the net. I changed to a Mark Tunley 13’6 specialist float which is similar in that the butt section has a telescopic extension keeping it to a 13’6 two piece , but the rod is far more capable for the swims I like to fish.